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The Hayden Town Board on Thursday will consider joining Oak Creek in passing a resolution supporting medical marijuana.

Hayden resident Don Nord, Oak Creek Town Board member Mike Kien and others will propose a resolution asking federal lawmakers to endorse the use of medical marijuana in Colorado.

Nord said he worries that law enforcement officers could raid his home and take the marijuana he uses to ease pain from cancer, diabetes and a heart condition.

In 2003, Grand, Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team officers confiscated 2 ounces of marijuana, several plants and growing supplies from Nord's home.

His effort to get the marijuana back eventually went to U.S. District Court. The case was thrown out this summer after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that federal authorities can prosecute medical marijuana users.

In 2000, Colorado voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing medicinal use of marijuana. Nord is among more than 650 registered medical marijuana users in the state.

With federal law trumping state law, the next step is to influence senators and representatives to change the law, said Brian Vicente, executive director of Sensible Colorado, an advocacy group for drug-policy reform and medical marijuana users.

"I think it's important communities speak out on behalf of medical marijuana patients living in their communities," said Vicente, who plans to attend the Town Board meeting Thursday.

Inspired by Nord, Kien helped write the resolution and voted in favor it, along with the rest of the Oak Creek Town Board members, earlier this month.

Nord, who has been gathering signatures on a petition to send to Colorado lawmakers, said many Hayden residents have supported him in his cause.

"I have talked to a lot of people here in town, and they are all for it," he said.

Kien recently spoke to two Steamboat Springs City Council members about the possibility of introducing a similar resolution in Steamboat, but they said the city was not ready, he said.

"All of the people in Steamboat that think they should pass a similar ordinance should call their council member," Kien said.

After the presentation, the Hayden Town Board will decide whether to vote on the resolution at its next meeting.

Also Thursday, the board will hear from Xcel Energy officials, who will update board members about plans for coal delivery to the Hayden Power Station.

The board also will discuss whether the town should keep its policy that makes residents responsible for sidewalk repairs. Town Manager Russ Martin wants to know whether that policy should carry over into the town's new land-use code in light of several requests that the town repair sidewalks.

The Town Board meets at 7:30 p.m. at Hayden Town Hall.

-- To reach Tamera Manzanares, call 871-4204 or e-mail tmanzanares@steamboatpilot.com.