Buena Vista adopts temporary moratorium on ‘natural medicine’ businesses to craft local rules

The Buena Vista Board of Trustees on Aug. 26 adopted an emergency ordinance placing a temporary moratorium on processing applications for “natural medicine” facilities (sometimes described in the meeting as healing centers) while town staff drafts local rules on allowable locations, hours and operating conditions.

Joel and town attorney Jeff explained that recent state law requires municipalities to allow certain licensed natural‑medicine operations but gives local governments limited authority to regulate time, place and manner. The town currently has no code provisions specific to these facilities. Jeff said the town’s authority is narrower than the municipality’s authority for marijuana licensing: municipalities may control zoning, hours and some operating conditions but generally cannot ban licensed facilities outright under the state regime.

Trustees approved a six‑month temporary moratorium to allow staff and counsel to draft zoning and operational language, then return to the board for formal adoption. Trustee Roe moved the emergency ordinance; Trustee Swisher seconded. The board voted in favor.

Staff and counsel said the moratorium will be used to evaluate possible approaches — including location limits, hours of operation, signage and distance rules — and to ensure local regulations comply with state law. No specific numeric limits or locations were adopted; the moratorium pauses new applications while the town develops regulations.