2010 Medical Marijuana Legislation: Stakeholder Consensus Points

On Dec. 19, 2009, several hundred Colorado medical marijuana “Stakeholders”–patients, providers, medical professionals, and elected officials—gathered at the University of Denver Law School to discuss impending state-level regulations in this area.  After hours of discussion by patients and policymakers, the following points of consensus have emerged.

State-level Regulations:

• Establish statewide, uniform application and licensing for dispensaries and growers
• Establish a Board within DORA (Dept. of Regulatory Affairs) to serve as a licensing authority for clinics and growers.  The Board should be comprised of experts from the medical marijuana field including patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and others
• Establish a uniform sales tax statewide and a regular retail sales tax at city/county level
• Allow incorporated caregiver entities to be recognized as a caregiver, including protection for employees of these organizations
• Define differences between personal/small grower and commercial grower.  Provide the caregivers with ID cards.
• Utilize existing health and safety enforcement, food quality & labeling requirements for MMJ edibles
• Allow local municipalities to regulate zoning issues, but not ban dispensaries
• Establish a 24 hour call line for law enforcement personnel
• Prohibit employers from firing an employee on the sole basis of off-work, off-site medical marijuana use
• Provide Colorado universities the authority to research medical marijuana