New bill proposed in Colorado will be bad for patients, growers and dispensaries

[Baddog40]

They would have to change the amendment so it would take a Vote.

Do you know the difference between an amendment and a bill?
The Legislative Branch writes bills and creates laws. There is nothing in the amendment that will change, patients will still be able to grow their 6 plants, they just wont be able to sell it to anyone, so quit spreading misinformation.

What is in the bill will prohibit caregivers from selling unless they get a growers license and even then they can only sell to dispensaries. Patients will only be able to buy from dispensaries (or chiropractors and nurses, wtf?) This will be good for dispensaries and bad for everyone else.

 

[HossCartwright]

Do you know the difference between an amendment and a bill?
The Legislative Branch writes bills and creates laws. There is nothing in the amendment that will change, patients will still be able to grow their 6 plants, they just wont be able to sell it to anyone, so quit spreading misinformation.

What is in the bill will prohibit caregivers from selling unless they get a growers license and even then they can only sell to dispensaries. Patients will only be able to buy from dispensaries (or chiropractors and nurses, wtf?) This will be good for dispensaries and bad for everyone else.

THANK YOU! THIS IS 100% CORRECT!

Now, if anybody knows what to do about it from here maybe we can start organizing and focus on a solution rather than infighting. My only resource is Matt Brown at COMMR. I emailed him this morning to volunteer and I'm waiting to hear back. If anyone can suggest additional resources for fighting this bill beyond what has already been mentioned, please tell.

 

[sac beh]

Now, if anybody knows what to do about it from here maybe we can start organizing and focus on a solution rather than infighting. My only resource is Matt Brown at COMMR. I emailed him this morning to volunteer and I'm waiting to hear back. If anyone can suggest additional resources for fighting this bill beyond what has already been mentioned, please tell.

Whatever the Republicans did to block and water down all attempts to change the health care industry from a racket to a patient-based care system. The MMJ community in CO right now isn't perfect in all respects, but its on a fine course, patients generally get their medicine, the presence of small, medium, and large caregivers will provide greater choice for patients, and we will continue to see more small businesses, product testing services, and patient-focused treatment options joining in to help. A bill like this will steer us onto a course similar to that of health care where a few big guys control prices and care for all patients. I can imagine that it bothers many politicians that with the traditional health care racket system in danger, a cannabis-based health care system is developing mostly on its own in a free market based on a citizen-approved constitutional amendment--and it works! Its an upside-down world.

 

[HossCartwright]

Whatever the Republicans did to block and water down all attempts to change the health care industry from a racket to a patient-based care system. The MMJ community in CO right now isn't perfect in all respects, but its on a fine course, patients generally get their medicine, the presence of small, medium, and large caregivers will provide greater choice for patients, and we will continue to see more small businesses, product testing services, and patient-focused treatment options joining in to help. A bill like this will steer us onto a course similar to that of health care where a few big guys control prices and care for all patients. I can imagine that it bothers many politicians that with the traditional health care racket system in danger, a cannabis-based health care system is developing mostly on its own in a free market based on a citizen-approved constitutional amendment--and it works! Its an upside-down world.

What dispensary do you work for? Patients will not benefit from this bill at all. This Bill will only benefit the dispensaries and large scale commercial growers who could care less about quality control. Quality is going to go down the crapper for legal patients and everybody growing the good pot is going to get pushed back underground. Then the price of the good pot is going to go back up to compensate for the risk. So unless you're a patient who likes smoking cheap, crappy meds, a commercial warehouse grower, or a dispensary then you should be opposed to this Bill.

 

[sac beh]

What dispensary do you work for? Patients will not benefit from this bill at all. It will only benefit the dispensaries and large scale commercial growers who could care less about quality control.

Hoss, you completely missed my point. I don't work for a dispensary. I'm a ganja lover, and I support it being legalized, used, and grown by all. I'm offended. To quote myself:

A bill like this will steer us onto a course similar to that of health care where a few big guys control prices and care for all patients.

^^ That's a racket. Its organized crime. Its not free. And its how our current health care system works. The whole point of my post was that patients won't benefit from this bill at all, but rather they will benefit from the course we are currently on which, despite its faults, provides patients a large array of options from caregivers big and small. I probably confused you with my health care comparison. You see, I believe the current health care system is a racket, but the MMJ community in CO is working largely outside of the traditional system and is thus freer and more patient-focused. The bill would kill this and turn it into a racket also, where a few big guys control prices and care for all patients.

I was trying to answer your question of what we can do to kill the bill. And my response was that hopefully the same will happen to this bill as happened to attempts to reform our health care system early on in the debate: water that bill down or provide enough bad media exposure to its contents that it will fail.

 

[HossCartwright]

Hoss, you completely missed my point. I don't work for a dispensary. I'm a ganja lover, and I support it being legalized, used, and grown by all. I'm offended. To quote myself:

^^ That's a racket. Its organized crime. Its not free. And its how our current health care system works. The whole point of my post was that patients won't benefit from this bill at all, but rather they will benefit from the course we are currently on which, despite its faults, provides patients a large array of options from caregivers big and small. I probably confused you with my health care comparison. You see, I believe the current health care system is a racket, but the MMJ community in CO is working largely outside of the traditional system and is thus freer and more patient-focused. The bill would kill this and turn it into a racket also, where a few big guys control prices and care for all patients.

I was trying to answer your question of what we can do to kill the bill. And my response was that hopefully the same will happen to this bill as happened to attempts to reform our health care system early on in the debate: water that bill down or provide enough bad media exposure to its contents that it will fail.

My bad man. I read your post a few times and couldn't tell what you were trying to say exactly. There were sentences that seemed to show support for both sides but your second sentence suggested overall support of the bill. I'm a bit on edge as of recent. I've got the stressed out grower blues lol.

Anyway, watering down the bill and providing bad media exposure is what the folks I mentioned earlier at COMMR do (I think). So supporting non profits like COMMR through monetary/volunteer donations is the only step I know to take at this point.

 

[sac beh]

My bad man. I read your post a few times and couldn't tell what you were trying to say exactly. There were sentences that seemed to show support for both sides but your second sentence suggested overall support of the bill. I'm a bit on edge as of recent. I've got the stressed out grower blues lol.

Anyway, watering down the bill and providing bad media exposure is what the folks I mentioned earlier at COMMR do (I think). So supporting non profits like COMMR through monetary/volunteer donations is the only step I know to take at this point.

No worries. Maybe you already posted this and I missed, but does COMMR have a website?

 

[draco]

Do you know the difference between an amendment and a bill?
The Legislative Branch writes bills and creates laws. There is nothing in the amendment that will change, patients will still be able to grow their 6 plants, they just wont be able to sell it to anyone, so quit spreading misinformation.

What is in the bill will prohibit caregivers from selling unless they get a growers license and even then they can only sell to dispensaries. Patients will only be able to buy from dispensaries (or chiropractors and nurses, wtf?) This will be good for dispensaries and bad for everyone else.

This is a peek into the future of canna pharma (or canna recreational) if we don't watch our shit. Hell the way of it, after legalization they may find a way to make growing illegal. Don't laugh. This is the time to get active because the tracks are being laid for the future of our beloved ganja in CO... medical or legalized...

You guys convinced me that I gotta move on this... Thanks for the kick in the ass...

 

[HossCartwright]

No worries. Maybe you already posted this and I missed, but does COMMR have a website?

Thanks for understanding man. COMMR does not currently have a website up that I am aware of. I think they used to, but when I tried to go there it wanted login information ???

Here is the bulk email I got from him:


Hello!

As I'm sure most of you now know, the details of Senator Romer's draft legislation hit the press this week. And, I'm guessing there are no shortage of questions about "what does this mean?!?"

Our team had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Romer late last week and walk through the summary of his current draft. We had a chance to ask questions and discuss the points where we don't currently see eye-to-eye. For those of you who haven't seen the summary yet, read The Westword's coverage here:

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/12/read_the_latest_draft_of_senat.php

If you're interested in all the details, I attached a PDF with the full text of his current draft. I had a chance to chat with Sen. Romer yesterday afternoon and he also sent me a copy of the op-ed he wrote with House Republican Tom Massey, his co-sponsor on this bill. Especially if the current draft left you confused or upset, take a few minutes to read this op-ed:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-romer/medical-marijuana-a-commo_b_384196.html

While most of us would probably agree we don't like the current draft of regulations, I think this op-ed helps give everyone a better idea of the issues we need to address. Rather than just scream about things we don't like, let's give a number of ideas we can live with that address the same issues. When you read things like this Op-ed or other articles; post a comment. Point out specific problems and offer ideas for how to better fix them. All these stories have links to share on Facebook, Twitter and email; so use them! Call or email your state representative and senator (http://www.comaps.org/allsearch.html). Ask them their position on this issue and express your thoughts. For those of you building a medical marijuana business, contact the "other" professionals that you work with and ask them to help spread the message. We have hired countless accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, insurance agents, graphic designers, marketing specialists, security experts, electricians, building contractors and every other imaginable professional to help get our industry to this point. Talk to these professionals and explain why we need them to speak up on our behalf.

Chris Romer dropped the gauntlet this week, and now we can either address the issues head-on or have the rules of our industry written for us. We formed Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation to be a voice for our industry and in a very short period of time we have had great success "getting in the room" as our lawmakers are writing these new regulations. But, this is only the very first step. We need the support of every one of you to keep building this momentum. We have lobbyists talking to our representatives, PR specialists getting our message into the hands of the media, and political consultants helping guide us through this difficult process. You also have me working full-time on getting our message out to the public and teaching our elected officials both the reality and, most importantly, the promise of our industry. All this work is important and in an incredibly short period of time it has yielded amazing results. But, this team doesn't come for free. A single full-page ad in The Denver Post costs around $17,000/day. A single 30-second TV ad to the Denver viewing area costs close to $1,000. A 30-second radio ad on a single station can cost close to $200. If we are going to get our message out to the public, it won't be cheap.

If we are going to have OUR voices heard, WE need to be the ones to make that happen and it all starts with cash from our industry. This is COLORADO's medical marijuana industry being formed, and it needs to be COLORADANS involved in this industry that make their voices heard.

For the dispensaries involved, we need you to donate $1,000 for every month that you've been open. If you are a patient, donate the cost of 1 week's medicine. If you are a grower, donate $100 for every pound of medicine that you have produced this year. If you are a business professional hired by our medical marijuana industry, donate 10% of the profit you've earned working with our medical marijuana professionals. And if you are none of the above but still want to help, think about what a well-regulated medical marijuana industry is worth to you and make a donation.

We are on the verge of creating the new model of what a responsible medical marijuana industry looks like, but we aren't there yet. For our patients, for our business owners, for the public, and for every other state trying to figure out how to help their patients with a responsible medical marijuana - this is a fight we have to win.

This is the moment we have all been waiting for.


Matt

This is a peek into the future of canna pharma (or canna recreational) if we don't watch our shit. Hell the way of it, after legalization they may find a way to make growing illegal. Don't laugh. This is the time to get active because the tracks are being laid for the future of our beloved ganja in CO... medical or legalized...

You guys convinced me that I gotta move on this... Thanks for the kick in the ass...

Welcome to the fight! If you find any good activism channels/resources/leads please share.

 

[Baddog40]

What we need is a person or group that is going to represent the growers. The dispensaries have their guy, Rob Corry, who undoubtedly will go along with what they want because thats where the money is. The dispeneray owners are loving this as it will give them complete control over the market, both on the wholesale and retail end. I say we need to form a group and get things into action now.

 

[cobcoop]

If anyone can suggest additional resources for fighting this bill beyond what has already been mentioned, please tell.

Basically get the word out, write letters to Romer (though I doubt it will make a **** hairs bit of difference at this point he's running with it), and your state representatives. Once this gets introduced I'm sure there will be planned protests, and an opportunity for the community to voice their opinions, so we need LOTS OF PEOPLE to show up. I know for a fact there are many in the state legislature who would just as soon leave this issue alone.

Let your rep's know that like it or not the experts in marijuana are not chiropractors (generally speaking, I'm sure there are a few ) they are growers, patients, and caregivers. Read over the bill, pick out some of the most blatantly ridiculous passages, and make concise points.

We are not helpless in these types of situations, and history has shown that we can be victorious, every little battle at a time.

 

[scarred4life]

everyone in CO really needs to organize and resist this vicious, euphemistic attack by Romer. Reading through the bill, a few things really shocked me. Please set me straight if my interpretation is wrong

---Applicants for a dispensary or growers license would have to post their residential addresses in public view on the proposed sight of a grow or dispensary????
(Please rob or kidnap me now!!! I've got lots of $ and bud, and here's where I live.)

--- Grow op/Dispensary applications (including all the sensitive information about the sight and the applicants) would be accessible to the public?????????????
(To make sure your robbery is successful, here's the blueprints to my grow/dispensary, and here's exactly what I have there....)

---You must have a preexisting relationship with your dr. to ask for a rec, and docs can only offer recs to a percentage of their patients??????????
(I've NEVER met someone who got a rec through their primary physician....please direct me to the nearest dr/chiropractor/nurse who is willing to put their federal certification at risk)

All this seems rather ironic, considering the bill states at the end that all this is necessary for the public safety and wellbeing of CO...
Does CO stand for corporate oligarchy?

 

[Smiles Out Loud]

first post long time CO Red Card holder.

my bad, I feel stupid, can't figure it all out, bowing out for good.

 

[Bud Spleefman]

This will not go through. It is all BS.
This needs the People to vote it through.
<snip>

We are safe till the people change the STATE CONSTITUTION. the Senate can not change the STATE CONSTITUTION.

Heed my word...we are safe no matter what. The Laws can not be changed unless the People vote on this. nuff said.

quit whinning

Look, if you don't understand the legal process then that's fine but why ask everyone to be complacent? THE PEOPLE DON"T VOTE FOR LAWS MADE BY THE STATE CONGRESS. No one gets to vote on it except our State Lawmakers. So, no matter how silly or far-fetched you find it, how completely out of touch with reality it may be, it COULD EASILY get passed. The other State Senators will discuss it, maybe modify it, then the State House of Reps get's it, they discuss it, they come to an agreement on what it should contain, and they send it to Ritter, and it's Law. There is NO PUBLIC VOTE. No SURVEY OF PEOPLE ON ICMAG. NO QUESTINAIRE HANDED OUT AT THE DISPESARY. Nada, nothing, zilch.

As for the State Constituition, this will be a REGULATORY AGENCY TO OVERSEE WHAT WAS CREATED BY AMENDMENT 20 in the STATE CONSTITUTION. Show me where it says they can't regulate Marijunana in Amendment 20?

Honestly, you ought to think before you post about a topic you obviously know nothing about.

 

[Surrender]

Why are we letting an ex-banker write the MMJ law?

 

[Baddog40]

first post long time CO Red Card holder.
This will not go through. It is all BS.
This needs the People to vote it through.
The moment it is ok'd if so, there are 5 lawyers who are ready to file a Suit, that will stop it asap.
Hoss you are full of hot air...deflate and take a chill pill, and quit passing on BS to the people here.
We are safe till the people change the STATE CONSTITUTION. the Senate can not change the STATE CONSTITUTION.

Heed my word...we are safe no matter what. The Laws can not be changed unless the People vote on this. nuff said.

quit whinning

Something tells me marijuana may not be beneficial to everyone.

 

[draco]

first post long time CO Red Card holder.
This will not go through. It is all BS.
This needs the People to vote it through.
The moment it is ok'd if so, there are 5 lawyers who are ready to file a Suit, that will stop it asap.
Hoss you are full of hot air...deflate and take a chill pill, and quit passing on BS to the people here.
We are safe till the people change the STATE CONSTITUTION. the Senate can not change the STATE CONSTITUTION.

Heed my word...we are safe no matter what. The Laws can not be changed unless the People vote on this. nuff said.

quit whinning

I appreciate your opinion but do you really think that if we leave the rule making to Romer and his ilk that the interest of the people will be served?

Man do I have a used car for you...

The laws are being formed right now; they are not being changed. Do you get that part?

This is no time to be sitting on our hands.

 

[draco]

Let's make use of this:

http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2009A/csl.nsf/DirectorySen?openframeset

 

[milehighmedical]

Well, I'm relieved I can still grow my own. But what about non-profit caregiving? And when I say that, I actually mean non-profit. I'm not saying "non-profit". I'm signed for my girl friend and several close, long-time friends. They don't have the resources to grow their own, nor do they have the resources to pay for all their meds without doing unreasonable damage to their finances. I do it for fun, it's my hobby, a passion if you will. Feels good to hand someone a bag who's on the verge of tears and five minutes later they're laughing and smiling, asking me if I'll take them to get something to eat. I don't feel like I'm doing anything morally wrong when that exchange occurs.

Not to mention, the doctor I've had for the last 10+ years HATES marijuana with a passion. He still waves those bullshit brain scan charts in my face when I go anywhere near the topic. But he's an excellent doctor for any other purpose. Do you know how terrible it is to deal with that bullshit when I'm trying to get serious, professional help? That's why I go to a referral service.

How do I find a new doctor to form a relationship with that I know is cannabis friendly? Can I even do that without breaking the law? I'd love to see a cannabis friendly doctor for all my needs, but the truth is that some of the best doctors (for everything other than cannabis) are very conservative. I won't sacrifice the highest quality health care I can afford so I can have a sub-par doctor who's cannabis friendly. Give me a fucking break.

...done venting.

 

[HossCartwright]

Senator Romer to Attend Cannabis Holiday Health Fair

We just received notice that state Senator Chris Romer, who will be
sponsoring a bill designed to put half of all Colorado dispensaries out of
business, plans on attending the Cannabis Holiday Health Fair on Sunday at
noon. Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown, who is proposing a different
ordinance to regulate medical cannabis in Denver, will also be there. We
hope you take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit with these
lawmakers and urge them to support patient rights. Caregivers are
encouraged to bring their patients to tell their stories!

Cannabis Holiday Health Fair
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Holiday Inn Denver-Central
4849 Bannock St., Denver, CO
(1-25 and 48th Avenue)

The event is FREE and open to the public.

The Cannabis Health Fair is a public and legislative outreach event
designed to answer questions about cannabis as medicine and how to become a
legal patient in Colorado.

Absolutely no cannabis medicine is allowed at this event. There will be
information, exhibits and videos of cannabis, as well as unique gifts for
the holidays.

For more information, see:
http://www.CannabisHealthFair.com/