cannabisnews.com: Colorado's Medical Marijuana Law Raising Issues
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Colorado's Medical Marijuana Law Raising Issues
Posted by CN Staff on June 25, 2010 at 11:14:10 PT
By Steven K. Paulson, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press
Denver -- Colorado's new medical marijuana law hasn't even gone into effect, and police, attorneys and lawmakers have identified dozens of problems that could hamper regulation and enforcement. There are questions about zoning laws. Authorities say it's hard to investigate compliance. Correct dosages are unknown. It's difficult to locate potentially dangerous growing operations. And the lack of a federal medical marijuana law raises serious questions for banks.
"We are probably going to have to do some tweaking, but we haven't seen the regulations that state agencies will put on the books," said Rep. Tom Massey, a Republican from Poncha Springs who sponsored the measure. Massey said local communities were given authority to make their own rules regulating dispensaries, but some issues are off-limits, including regulation of caregivers. Massey said one big issue is finding a way to prevent organized crime from moving in and taking over. "We've heard issues of Russian mafia, the Mexican mafia. We want to make sure this business stays clean and heavily regulated," Massey said. Massey said there are no established dosages and it may take years to come up with medical standards. He said patients are allowed to possess two ounces of the drug, but nothing prevents repeat purchases. The law also keeps the location of marijuana growers secret. Attorney General John Suthers and some news outlets objected to that provision. Under the new law, backers say muncipalities can pass regulations to keep grow operations out of residential areas. Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates showed lawmakers and civic leaders attending the annual Colorado Municipal League conference on Thursday photographs of dangerous growing facilities powered by dozens of extension cords plugged into the wall that were being fertilized with dangerous chemicals which were dumped into the water supply. He said lawmakers need to review the confidentiality requirements in the new laws. "I fully expect that a year from now, when you folks reconvene, there will have been at least one tragic fire as a result of this activity," Oates told lawmakers. Attorney Corey Hoffman told lawmakers federally chartered banks are refusing to accept deposits from dispensaries over concerns about accepting drug money and a federal medical marijuana law that could fix it has been stymied. He said many legal questions have been raised that may have to be sorted out by lawmakers and the courts, including zoning laws, public safety issues, licensing fees, confidentiality requirements, regulation of grow houses, control over marijuana food products, advertising limits, search and seizure laws, workplace consumption and property rights. The new law is one of 50 that go into effect July 1. Other new laws include reducing late vehicle registration fees, repealing special interest tax refunds and barring slow-moving vehicles from the left lane of I-70 on steep uphill stretches.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Steven K. Paulson, Associated Press WriterPublished: June 25, 2010Copyright: 2010 The Associated PressCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #11 posted by John Tyler on June 25, 2010 at 19:10:28 PT
it will be legal
Some politicians still can’t understand that legal medical cannabis means that it is legal. Organizations that engage in this enterprise are legal, not criminal. It is easier and more profitable for organization to engage in legal enterprises, so there is no need to do really criminal stuff. (Criminal activity has a high overhead cost. A business has to try to keep the overhead cost low.) Have you ever heard of drug store employees’ battleing with employees of rival drug stores or alcohol or tobacco distributors for that matter? Of course not, this is just a “red herring” the prohibs are parading around try to scare themselves and their diminishing group of followers.
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on June 25, 2010 at 14:57:53 PT
Hey, The GCW
I thought I'd try to post that "So sorry" and not have to put anything in the message space. It posted.Cool.
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on June 25, 2010 at 14:55:44 PT
So sorry.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on June 25, 2010 at 14:54:56 PT
Wrong thread...
I was wondering at the "Hemp King" that looks like Harold or Kumar. I haven't read the entire article yet. It looks interesting.
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Comment #7 posted by The GCW on June 25, 2010 at 14:54:48 PT
Why would mafia be interested?
The Russian mafia and the Mexican mafia has to 1st compete with the state capitol mafia over this farce.I bought a bottle of wine about 2 weeks ago and I didn't notice any Russian mafia, Mexican mafia or any other mafia. It looked like the legal and regulated sales of alcohol eliminated the mafia in that situation. But that's just My observation. Maybe they were hiding under the desk in the back room. BLOW BACKIf they are honestly worried about mafia, they can get rid of the mafia, legalize and regulate this extremely popular plant. ***I almost think they are idiots making the mafia claim because any educated child can see through this argument.I suspect they are just conveniently using the M word though.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on June 25, 2010 at 14:53:06 PT
Comment 1
I wonder if we know him here at C-News.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 25, 2010 at 13:46:09 PT
Deadline Looms for Medical Marijuana Businesses
June 25, 2010URL: http://www.gazette.com/articles/businesses-100793-deadline-looms.html
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on June 25, 2010 at 13:06:32 PT
organized crime
Russian mafia? The only "organized crime" Colorado has to worry about is in the State Capitol.and such concern over "controlling the dosage"!! They never worry about controlling the dosage with beer or vodka, or tobacco. The whole issue is scapegoating. The harder they demonize one class of people, the more they can exploit them. Cannabis is dangerous we in the State House must collect $50,000 from every store that sells it! And they say the mafia is Russian, give me a break
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Comment #3 posted by dongenero on June 25, 2010 at 12:21:17 PT
uncharted territory?
"Massey said one big issue is finding a way to prevent organized crime from moving in and taking over." How did we do that with alcohol?
If only we knew how we resolved that organized crime issue, we could apply a similar strategy to cannabis.Hmmmmm, thinking......thinking......hmmmm.How's the saying go? You can lead a simpleton to water but, you can't necessarily make him understand the simplest of concepts.
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Comment #2 posted by ekim on June 25, 2010 at 11:47:16 PT
Science Friday on NPR at 3pm
the show will be on Med Cannabis the pros and consNational Public Radio
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 25, 2010 at 11:39:04 PT
Idaho News From The Associated Press
Idaho GOP Leery of Medical Marijuana Push*** June 25, 2010 IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) - Idaho Republican convention delegates snuffed out a resolution supporting legalization of medical marijuana.Foes at the Idaho state GOP convention in Idaho Falls said Friday that encouraging such a plan would put the Republican Party at the forefront of a radical agenda and expose the party to accusations it's a radical organization.Rep. Tom Trail, a Republican from Moscow, is trying to get Idaho in line with states like Colorado and California that are easing restrictions on marijuana as long as it's used medically to treat chronic pain or debilitating diseases.But among traditional Idaho Republicans, there is still deep concern that relaxing restrictions would encourage illegal drug use.Failure of the resolution is a bad sign for Trail's efforts in the 2011 Legislature.Copyright: 2010 The Associated PressURL: http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=12710640
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