White Paper documents need for Colorado medical marijuana dispensaries

As Colorado towns consider moratoriums and other actions, report urges common sense regulation

DENVER – Sensible Colorado, the state’s leading medical marijuana advocacy organization, has released a report entitled “Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: Benefits and Regulation”.  (you can read the report by clicking here).  This white paper outlines the need for medical marijuana dispensaries, or storefront shops, which provide state-sanctioned marijuana to qualifying ill Coloradans.  The report discusses the impacts of dispensaries on communities and includes regulation recommendations for lawmakers.  Sensible Colorado is distributing the white paper to all Colorado elected officials today.

“Its important that elected officials become informed on this critical, emerging issue,” said Sensible Colorado’s Brian Vicente, the report’s proponent. “State-licensed medical marijuana patients need storefront dispensaries in the same way that other sick Coloradans need pharmacies.  Incidentally, dispensaries sell a far safer substance than pharmacies– or even liquor stores.  Legislators should act compassionately and regulate these facilities, not prohibit them.”

Colorado voters passed a medical marijuana law in 2000, and there are currently around 10,000 state-licensed medical marijuana patients in the state– many of whom are served by storefront dispensaries.  About half a dozen Colorado towns– including Breckenridge, Durango, Winter Park, and Eagle– are currently considering local dispensary regulations.