Colorado: A Model for Medical Marijuana?
Those of us feeling perturbed by the recent parade of California officials trying to undermine that state’s medical marijuana laws might find comfort in the recent trends of another medical marijuana state: Colorado.
After 53% of voters in the Centennial State approved a medical marijuana amendment in November 2000, Colorado has quietly emerged as a potential model for how states can responsibly and competently oversee the establishment of a medical marijuana industry.
There are currently more than 100 dispensing collectives statewide, an estimated 13,000 residents with valid medical marijuana cards, and 800 different physicians who have recommended them, according to recent figures. New dispensaries are being opened and considered in municipalities all over the state with little reported opposition.
When protests have been raised, municipalities have, by and large, purposely avoided the type of reactionary backlash seen in California and instead tried to strike a balance among the collectives, patients and critics through discussions and regulations—not orders to shut down. For example, several skeptical municipalities have decided to place temporary moratoriums on new dispensaries until they decide how best to regulate the establishments.
This difference between California and Colorado might best be seen when comparing some of their top lawmen. In California, L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley said all collectives are illegal and “are going to be prosecuted.” In Colorado, by stark contrast, Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett has said he wants to be the country’s most progressive D.A. when it comes to medical marijuana. He has even said he’s willing to consider full marijuana legalization.
And if these signs aren’t encouraging enough, the Denver Post is reporting that the tiny valley town of Ophir (population 163) will decide on Tuesday whether to consider becoming the state’s first municipality to grow medical marijuana as a way to make up for lost tax revenues.
Says planning and zoning chairwoman Sue Beresford, “A town can dream, can’t it?”
Tagged with: California and collectives and Colorado and Medical Marijuana and revenue by the author
24 comments
“Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garrett has said he wants to be the country’s most progressive D.A. when it comes to medical marijuana. He has even said he’s willing to consider full marijuana legalization.”
I’m swooning for this duder. Go Colorado!
Its inevitable. Cannabis will be legal and the DEA will have to go after real drugs,hard drugs and even at that the DEA may wake up one day to a world that treats even hard drugs differently than we do now. Some may not see it,this fight to control what you put in your own body is the start of getting governemnt out of our lives.
I can’t remember where I saw it, but I watched a youtube video about a guy that documented his acquisition of a medical MJ card in the Denver area. It was awesome, because all he had to have was records of long time chiropractic visits due to pain related to nerves. I may have to start getting a paper trail of chiropractic visits for when Missouri gets medical MJ. Or maybe we can get some politicians and police officials to pull their heads out of each others asses and JUST LEGALIZE IT!!
Ben, go for it….. if you can start a paper trail and score medical marijuana do it!!!! the way i see it, you are not really doing anything all that bad…. its not like the insurance companies will be paying for the medication…. might as well use the insurance that you pay thousands upon thousands of dollars for to protect yourself against johnny law!
i really really really really wanna try some of cali’s medical grade weed…. it looks soooo good compared to the crap i buy…. then again, i only spend $130 for an ounce i just use a good vaporizer and it makes it seem like good mids or low highs
Someday our hard earned income, we reluctantly fork over to the thieves calling themselves insurance providers, will be used to pay for our medical marijuana. Or we will be allowed to produce our own, just like we produce our tomatoes, peppers, apples and peaches. Lets just hope some jerk doesn’t pass a law stopping, or taxing us on those plants also.
This is a good working model for a cannabis state. I hope some day there is a standard for all 50 states, and that it comes soon.
yay! some people in this country with some common sense.
…FTW!!!
STAN is THE MAN
The nation’s next Drug Czar
medical this medical that ,,,, thats all they talk about on this blog , here is a thought why dont we hand MJ over to big pharma, cause thats all i see on this blog , why dosen’t this web page ever support full legalization, maybe jus maybe , someone at mpp dosent want full legalization, just ask anybody who supplys medical MJ if they want full legalization, they will all say NO, so this will be my last post on mpp, at least theres norml.
stretch…. mpp wants full legalization just as much as everyone else…. mpp isnt selling medical marijuana…. medical marijuana is a real good way to get full legalization and people are more inclined to accept medical marijuana first than full legalization….. go to youtube and look up mpp on them… you will see all the times someone from mpp goes on the news and talks about why marijuana should be legalized
Ben, I already got my paper trail going on. Then again, its still in the process of being written. Just today, my doctor perscribed me OXYCOTIN. I asked for him not to and even though he forced me to take the script, I WILL NOT FILL IT. I take 120 percocet 10mgs a month, along with several nerve meds, xanex, lexapro, etc etc etc. I cannot wait for MMJ to come to Missouri. I will be the first to be knocking on my doctor’s door. I want legalization too, but I dont want to be in pain first. PLEASE LEGALIZE MMJ for MISSOURI TODAY! stop the lies
embracing medical marijuana is not a cop out. especially when it is the most recent news in the war against prohibition. MPP is fighting on all fronts in this war. legalization proponents are not getting audiences with the prohibitionists, but medical marijuana issues are.
we are fighting 80 years of brainwashing, and over a third of Americans STILL think marijuana is as harmful as alcohol.
13 MMJ states so far, more to come. about the same number of states have de-criminalization policies.
some of those states have seen that marijuana is NOT the boogieman prohibitionists have warned of. crime did NOT skyrocket, and people don’t have to step over stoned potheads to get to church.
soon some state is going to push the envelope concerning legalization for a safer choice of recreational substances.
perhaps Colorado.
one step at a time.
one state at a time.
stretch, small steps. If the medical model passes it won’t be long till full legal model passes.
So the conservatives were right? Med pot IS just a backdoor attempt at legalizing marijuana! Wait till Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh hear this, I can hear the “See I Told You SO”’s now.
That rocky mountain high just reached another level. Colorado – A sensible place to live.
The husband was interviewed for a job in Oregon, he’s qualified but with 11% unemployment in the state it’s a stretch. Reason for Oregon is so I can get medical MJ. If Oregon doesn’t work out then we’re trying Colorado next.
Thanks for the timely news MPP, enjoy each and every one. As far as the bitching I keep reading here from commenters about MPP not doing enough – all I can do is roll my eyes in disbelief.
Stan Garrett progressive? Watch him and hold him accountable. He says one thing to the press and does another. Horrible DA wanting some positive press on cannabis while he still prosecutes people for cannabis. Nice job Stan! Keep prosecuting sick people and you’ll find yourself jobless.
1sue, you have the right idea and the right honest open minded inteligence LET SUE BERESFORD BE THE VOICE OF COLORADANS
LEGALIZE IT!!!!!!!!
to quote “a town can dream can’t it” a country can do the same right??!!!!!!!!
politically speaking, I think I’m in love despite being an iowan
new study straight from the U.K . Awesome read….check it out. Yes WE Cannabis
Maternal Tobacco and Alcohol Use, But Not Marijuana, Associated With Psychotic Symptoms In Offspring, Study Says
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Wales, United Kingdom: The maternal use of tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy is linked with increased incidences of psychotic symptoms in adolescents, according to the results of a longitudinal study published in the October issue of The British Journal of Psychiatry.
Investigators at the University of Bristol in Great Britain assessed whether maternal use of tobacco, alcohol, or cannabis during pregnancy increased the risk of psychotic symptoms in their offspring. Researchers examined the drug use habits of the mothers of over 6,300 adolescents – approximately 12 percent of which exhibited some symptoms of psychosis.
Authors concluded: “Frequency of maternal tobacco use during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of suspect or definite psychotic symptoms (in offspring.) Maternal alcohol use shows a non-linear association with psychotic symptoms, with this effect almost exclusively in the offspring of women drinking >21 units (approximately a half-pint of beer or a glass of wine) weekly. Maternal cannabis was not associated with psychotic symptoms.”
It all starts with voting people! I was a resident of Colorado at the time and voted yes for medical marijuana. So, keep voting and don’t give up!
I live in Colorado, i have a MMJ licence, i find it reassuring that this state has not only made MMJ available, but wrote it into the constitution making any attempt to remove it take a two third vote of the state assembly JUST to put it to the vote of the people, who voted it in anyway! PERFECT STORM! its here to stay for a long time!
I love the high quality and availability of the medication, and i do not have to deal with “slim shady” on the street corner to get a harmless and helpful herb.
The wave is here, lets all ride it and repeal the FEDS schedule one classification of marijuana and make it available to all that want and need it!
420!
As a child of the 70*s I am thankful that it is happening in my lifetime. With each successive state once in a majority could sway federal law. I am a native Coloradoan and actually surprised as to the voter sentiment as I don’t follow stats polls etc.
I have experienced the adverse effects of the spirits and by far during times of abstinence this natural gift was my savior from stressing anymore than I already was.
Carry on. What’s right is right.
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