Print Agenda Memo

CITY OF CORTEZ
123 ROGER SMITH AVENUE
CORTEZ, CO 81321

Patrick Coleman
City Attorney
123 Roger Smith Avenue
Cortez, CO. 81321
pcoleman@cortezco.gov

Memorandum

To:

CORTEZ CITY COUNCIL

From:

PATRICK COLEMAN, CITY ATTORNEY

Date:

February 6, 2025

RE:

Ordinance No. 1332, Series 2025

BACKGROUND

In 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 that legalized "natural medicine," or plant or fungus-based psychedelic substances, including without limitation psilocybin and psilocin, for personal use and cultivation and the operation of state-licensed businesses known as "healing centers" and other medical spaces.

DISCUSSION

A temporary moratorium for six-months is a reasonable length of time for the City to preserve the status quo while it reviews, researches, develops, allows for public engagement, adopts, and implements local time, place and manner regulations of natural medicine businesses and products.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that Council consider adopting a temporary six-month moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for licenses or permits for natural medicine healing centers, cultivation facilities, product manufacturing, testing facilities, and any other related license or permit involving natural medicine to allow the City to draft and adopt local regulations concerning the same.

MOTION

If agreed upon by the City Council, a possible motion would be: I move that City Council adopt Ordinance No. 1332, Series 2025, an ordinance approving a temporary six-month moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for licenses or permits for natural medicine healing centers, cultivation facilities, product manufacturing, testing facilities, and any other related license or permit involving natural medicine to allow the City to draft and adopt local regulations concerning the same.

Attachments

Ordinance No. 1332, Series 2025