Colorado-Medical-Marijuana-Blog

In an effort to make the public more aware of Amendment 64 regarding the initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has posted a billboard near Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The billboard shows a young woman with a headline underneath stating, ‘For many reasons, I prefer marijuana over alcohol. Does that make me a bad person?’ This billboard has sparked a literal outrage in the community from those who oppose the legalization of marijuana. It is the feeling among this community that advertisements such as these are encouraging young people to choose drugs over alcohol when neither one is a smart choice.  The Campaign was quoted in a statement as saying, ‘We are not telling people what to think. We are simply asking them to think. Many opponents in the community believe this billboard is in extremely poor taste and efforts have been made to see that the billboard is removed.

Some advocates against medical marijuana use in Colorado claim fully legalizing the substance will just encourage chronic users to come out of the woodwork, which would lead to larger crimes. Others, however, feel that full legalization will mean providing greater benefits to those with life-threatening illnesses who are currently hamstringed by state and federal rules and regulations. A lawyer in Longmont, Colorado recently found herself supporting legalization upon discovering she had contracted a deadly, aggressive form of breast cancer. Using medical marijuana was the difference between living and dying as it enabled her to eat and not vomit during the grueling 18 month round of chemotherapy treatments. To this lawyer, advocating and supporting full legalization may enable others in similar predicaments better access to the life saving treatment they might require.

According to House Bill 1261, drivers in Colorado using medical marijuana while driving may be subject to a DUI arrest. The bill is intended to set limits on the amount of THC – the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that a driver is allowed to have in their system while driving. House bill 1261, stating the amount of THC can only be 5 nanograms, has one more vote in the House before it moves on to the Senate. The Cannabis Therapy Institute, a Colorado-based medical marijuana advocacy organization, is currently urging supporters to oppose House Bill 1261, claiming the bill to be unnecessary and unfounded and is aimed at targeting medical marijuana patients for DUI arrests.

Boulder cannabis enthusiasts are enjoying stronger turnouts for the annual 4/20 rally. Last year, a crowd of around 10,000 people gathered together in what is referred to as the Norlin Quad near the University of Colorado campus. Approximately 20 to 25% of that number was estimated to be students of CU. Many cannabis users claim Boulder provides a more comfortable setting than Denver though spokespeople for CU tend to find the event annoying and not a very good representation of what the college is about. In the past, efforts have been made to deter the crowd of marijuana gatherers such as fertilizers on the lawn and turning on the sprinklers, but attempts have been unsuccessful. Police officials will be keeping an eye on the crowd but keeping a distance. However, any littering will be met with steep $1,000 fines.

Colorado medical marijuana patients are gearing up for what is known as International Cannabis Day on April 20^th. The gathering, which begins at 4:20 pm, has become a Colorado tradition as people get together to celebrate their favorite plant. The rally is held at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver and for the first time in Colorado history, the City of Denver has granted a permit for cannabis re-legalization activists to officially hold their rally in the park. In previous years, the rallies have been relatively small, mostly due to the inability to obtain a permit. However, this year’s rally is expected to have a record turnout. Many dispensaries, including Colorado Medical Marijuana, are expected to attend the rally to show their support as well.

Now that restrictive Bills are in place, advocates for Colorado cannabis are staging for the next repercussive move. Marijuana advocates are expected to specifically push for statewide legalization of the production, sale, and possession of marijuana. Representatives of NORML expect to have a Bill ready for public vote in place for the 2012 election. As many have foreseen, the language of the Bill should be expected to mirror alcohol laws and restriction. Since Amendment 20 passed, the battle for legalization of marijuana in Colorado ensued. To be frank, medicinal marijuana was always intended to open the door for pure legalization; it is just coming to the precipice. One thing is certain: the battle over cannabis has just begun and the upcoming battle will be intriguing to say the least.

As the debate over Medicinal marijuana in Colorado rages on, many lawmakers have proposed regulations and Bills in an effort to regulate the booming Colorado cannabis industry. Many proponents, advocates, lobbyists and entrepreneurs argue strict regulation will squelch a legitimate industry that could possibly help mend a weak economy.   Colorado marijuana is, in fact, proving to be a legitimate business capable of providing enough jobs and tax revenue to benefit the economy. Unfortunately, illegitimate businesses, fly by night opportunists and underground protests have created a counterproductive element to the medical cannabis cause. Amendment 20 was originally intended to provide medicinal marijuana to legitimate patients via a caregiver. Now, according to the opposing view, there is a Colorado medical marijuana dispensary on every corner. Many opponents argue that the Amendment has been taken advantage of, thus creating a back door to pure legalization. Although this is not the intention, one can certainly acknowledge this perception. Bill 1284, for example, is the newest proposition up for vote in the Senate. Its main intent is to limit Colorado medical marijuana dispensary licenses as well as limit the amount of patients a caregiver can provide for.  Although this is a simplistic interpretation of Bill 1284, it is essentially an effort to slow the booming industry. Unfortunately, the industry will become more tightly regulated, whether Bill 1284 passes or not. Medicinal marijuana is certainly a legitimate industry providing a quality product to those in need. However, over exposure and an inversely proportional boom in highly visible dispensaries have soured public perception. Regulation is a necessary and inevitable consequence to every controversial industry, cannabis in Colorado is no different.

Most advocates of medical marijuana in Colorado focus on the medicinal benefits of Colorado Cannabis. True as this may be, perhaps this is just the first step for a blooming industry. Obviously, much controversy has surrounded the legitimacy of the newly flourishing industry. Opponents of the product tend to constantly site concepts like morality and social dangers as if medical marijuana in Colorado has already torn the moral fabric of society. It seems, in contrast to this belief, the industry has already provided a beneficial product and a potentially limitless expanding business prospect.  After all, there is a reason why over 300 Colorado medicinal marijuana dispensaries opened their doors in less than a year, thus creating one of the fastest growing and profitable industries in history. Unfortunately, this is both a gift and a curse for the industry: business exponentially expanded in a short time, but that ended up creating more skepticism and fear among the general public. Objectively speaking, legalizing Colorado cannabis would create business opportunities, provide jobs, and would provide literally billions of dollars to state and federal government in sales tax alone. For now, the battle will rage on just to keep the medical industry alive. Perhaps in the near future, fear and skepticism will fade away, allowing the industry thrive as it really should.