Requests to open medical marijuana businesses in Castle Rock will be denied, Town Council decided Tuesday.

Council voted 4-3 in support of a motion that said, "In light of the fact that the possession,
use and sale of marijuana in all forms remains illegal under federal drug laws, notwithstanding Amendment 20 to the Colorado Constitution, I move to direct the Town manager to strictly enforce section 1.10.010 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code and all similar Code previsions with the express purpose of preventing commercial medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation to be opened or operated within the municipal limits of the Town of Castle Rock."

The referenced section of the Code says that "applicants seeking approval from the Town for development, building permit, variance or any other matter regulated by the Town are responsible for complying with all laws, including federal and state regulations."

As such, the Town will cease processing all medical marijuana business license applications that have been submitted, and applicants will receive notice of denial.

Prior to Council's action, two dispensaries had received business licenses from the Town. Those cases currently are under legal review.

Colorado voters in 2000 approved Amendment 20 to the Colorado Constitution, which allows caregivers to provide medical marijuana to patients suffering from "debilitating medical conditions" who have state-issued registry cards. However, the dispensaries did not become common throughout the state until this year, when the federal government ended its enforcement of dispensaries in states where medical marijuana is allowed.

Several other Colorado cities and towns, including Aurora, Broomfield, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Greeley, Greenwood Village, Parker and Superior, have chosen to prohibit medical marijuana businesses within their limits.