Sensible Colorado: Working for an Effective Drug Policy

On Thursday, February 4th, starting at 1:30 PM the House Judiciary Committee will begin hearing testimony regarding S.B. 109 (Sen. Romer’s doctor regulation bill) in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the State Capitol.  All patients and providers are urged to attend this important hearing.

**Bill will waive fee for indigent medical marijuana patients**

On Monday, February 1, 2010 Senate Bill 109 passed the Senate by a vote of 34-1.  In addition to clarifying the definition of a doctor patient relationship the bill establishes the process for patients who qualify as indigent to have the annual medical marijuana registry fee waived.  “This is a tremendous victory for many seriously ill patients who are on fixed incomes and have been previously burdened with this expense for the past decade”, said Dan Pope of Sensible Colorado.  Answering the call of these patients was the Sensible Patient and Provider Coalition (SPPC) which strongly pushed for the waiver as it made it’s way through the Senate.  The SPPC, made up of various patient and provider groups, will continue to work with legislators as the issue of medical marijuana works it’s way through the capitol.

**Council Bill 34; Licensing of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Denver**

Please join the executive director of Sensible Colorado, Brian Vicente, as he addresses the Denver City Council during it’s final public hearing regarding the licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver. You can read Council Bill 34 clicking here.

WHAT: Denver City Council public hearing on the licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries

WHERE: Denver City Council Chambers, 1437 Bannock St., 4th Floor, Room 451, Denver CO

WHEN: Monday, January 11, 2010 at 5:30 PM

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
  

Senators Chris Romer, Pat Steadman and former Senator Bob Hagedorn in attendance

Over 300 medical marijuana patients, providers, and activists came together on Saturday afternoon at the University of Denver to discuss their concerns with state lawmakers regarding proposed legislation of Colorado’s medical marijuana industry. The discussion produced many very positive consensus points which will be incorporated into a letter that Sensible Colorado will be sending to all state lawmakers on behalf of Colorado’s medical marijuana community.

Acknowledging the need for a legal framework to properly produce and distribute medical marijuana, the vast majority of those in attendance were in agreement that any future regulations should be patient driven, and should in no way limit or restrict licensed patients’ safe, convenient and affordable access to their doctor recommended medicine.