Jefferson Co. residents urge: No recreational pot

Residents in Jefferson County sent a message to county commissioners Thursday night: They they don’t want recreational marijuana businesses in rural areas of the county.

At a public meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to direct staff to come up with an ordinance that would ban six marijuana business categories, including sales and production of pot.

More than 20 people spoke about the issue, including Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins.

Adkins said if recreational marijuana was allowed in the county, his office wouldn’t have enough resources to enforce the laws.

County Commissioner Mike Ahern said he wants residents to decide on keeping the ordinance during the November 2016 elections.

“Forty-five percent of (county voters) did want to legalize it (last year) and have all these rights and privileges, and 55 percent did not,” Ahern said. “I think the question is, do we want to allow industrial grow areas and stuff in the county?”

The commission will introduce the ordinance on Oct. 28. It will need to be passed by local leaders to take effect.

Voters in Jefferson County will have the final say on the matter in the November 2016 election.