cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Access Eases Medical Marijuana Access Eases Posted by CN Staff on November 20, 2007 at 05:18:16 PT By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News Source: Rocky Mountain News Colorado -- Access to medical marijuana will be easier as a result of a ruling by a Denver judge. District Judge Larry Naves last week overturned a state health department policy that restricted providers of medical marijuana to five patients.The ruling endorses a settlement reached between the health department and attorneys for AIDS patient Damien LaGoy, who sued after his caregiver request was denied in May based on the five-patient rule. The denial forced him to buy marijuana on the street, LaGoy said."I was in a very dangerous situation," LaGoy said at a news conference Monday. "I was trying to get medical marijuana from some of the darkest spots in town, risking my life at times. I actually have been robbed once trying to find medical marijuana. Also, you never know what you're getting."LaGoy, who has AIDS and hepatitis C, said marijuana helps control his nausea and gives him an appetite. "Medical marijuana is about the only thing that helps," he said.Naves granted an injunction this summer preventing the health department from enforcing the policy, which he said was adopted by the department in a closed meeting in 2004.That ruling led to negotiations in which the state agreed not to enforce the five-patient rule and to notify patients, caregivers and others when considering policies affecting medical marijuana users.Naves subsequently overturned the five-patient policy, saying its adoption violated the Colorado open meetings act."The health department just randomly selected five as the limit in a secret, clandestine meeting that was not open to patients or caregivers or doctors or the scientific community," said attorney Brian Vicente.Dan Pope, whom LaGoy chose to be his caregiver and supplier of medical marijuana, said he hopes the ruling "will pave the way for establishing regulated dispensaries to provide medical marijuana in a safe, reliable way."Supporters say the ruling is a victory for as many as 1,800 medical marijuana users in Colorado.Health department spokesman Mark Salley said the department will take a new look at a "whether a limit is warranted and what that should be."Whatever the department does, Salley said, would involve public comment.Note: Policy overturned that set a 5-patient limit per provider.Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)Author: Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain NewsPublished: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 Copyright: 2007 Denver Publishing Co.Contact: letters rockymountainnews.comWebsite: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/Related Articles: Pot Law on Holdhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23151.shtmlMedical Pot User, 47, with AIDS Sues Statehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23111.shtmlProsecutors Drop Pot Charges Against AIDS Patienthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22185.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on November 20, 2007 at 15:07:25 PT It is nice to see ...however, very few judges are willing to exercise the system and engage a check or balance, or to even hold an opinion that is contrary to those of their politician buddies. Let's hope we start seeing lots more of it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 20, 2007 at 08:31:20 PT dongenero I agree totally. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dongenero on November 20, 2007 at 08:03:08 PT functional checks and balances? Nice move by the district judge. Open meetings?, yes!It is a pretty neat thing to see a system of checks and balances working to ensure freedom and democracy.Now, if we could get more government to that point. Especially the Feds! This current administration has really mucked the system up with the elite executive power BS. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment