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Montezuma County nixes Bong-A-Thon

Planning commissioner: Event is too risky

Montezuma County officials have denied a permit for North America’s oldest marijuana event to be held outside Stoner.

Planning director LeeAnn Milligan said Colorado Invitational Bong-A-Thon officials filed a special-use permit to hosts the 32nd annual event outside Stoner earlier this month. Commissioners opted not to approve the permit, saying the county lacked the time to advertise a public hearing before the event, planned for July 31 through Aug. 2.

Planning and Zoning member Dennis Atwater also informed commissioners that the board was unanimous in its objection to grant the special-use permit, saying it was “too risky.”

“We should nip it in the bud,” Atwater said.

Reached by telephone after the commissioner’s meeting on Monday, event organizer Chris Jetter was dumbfounded, stating he had been bounced around to multiple county officials since mid-May. Jetter didn’t attend Monday’s meeting.

“I was unaware the commissioners were even meeting until this morning,” Jetter said. “It’s sort of short-sighted on their end.”

Jetter added that his attorney would be in contact with county officials.

“It’s a private party on private property,” said Jetter.

Despite the county’s objection, Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin told commissioners the event was likely to be held as advertised. Event tickets were capped at 1,200 last year.

“How do we handle the situation?” Nowlin asked commissioners.

“You picked the wrong time to run for sheriff,” joked commissioner Larry Don Suckla.

County attorney John Baxter suggested a court injunction could be issued, but he added the effort might be futile if organizers proceeded with plans to host the event without a permit.

Baxter added he would check to see if land-use code violations were a jailable offense.

“They can’t legally do it,” said Baxter of the organizers. “The concern is how to get people to disperse.”

Nowlin said his greatest concern was marijuana use by those younger than 21. The event website states that no one younger than 21 will be allowed. Nowlin added other areas of concern included possible noise and traffic complaints.

“We don’t have enough people to stop this,” said Nowlin.

Complaining that the department would be understaffed to handle the projected crowds, Nowlin said he could be forced to cancel planned vacations by deputies as well as require deputies to work overtime.

Nowlin informed commissioners that he and his deputies have legal authority to enter the private 12-acre property, but they must protect people’s constitutional rights.

“If they follow the law, there’s not a lot I can do about it,” said Nowlin.

For the past six years, the annual “competitive bong smoking” event was previously held in South Park.

Individual events, one which calls for smoking 3.5 grams of marijuana, and team events, including a seven-member relay for smoking a quarter-ounce of marijuana, are planned.

Guest tickets are available online for $80, and Golden tickets sell for $420.

For more information, visit www.bong-a-thon.com.



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