Colorado-Medical-Marijuana-Blog

With the laws in Colorado regarding medical marijuana dispensaries changing more often than a traffic light at a busy intersection, dispensary owners are finding themselves in a constant state of stress trying to keep themselves in compliance with regulations. And with those changing laws comes an influx of business owners to state agencies looking to renew licensing and keep in compliance, while agency workers are finding themselves overwhelmed with requests. Many business owners, after waiting nearly six hours in line at the Department of Revenue’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division, found themselves leaving without a renewal. With so many business owners rushing to comply with state regulations before cutoff dates, the state is finding it difficult to keep up with the demand for renewals. In light of this struggle to keep in compliance, most state officials are being lenient when it comes to those trying to update equipment and renew licenses per the new laws. However, some business owners still remain concerned that with all the strict rules being put in place, it may all be in vain if tighter security keeps customers away.

Owners of medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado are finding it harder and harder to keep their businesses going and profitable as the state continues to pass stricter rules and regulations for business operation. Recently, the state made it mandatory for dispensary owners to have video surveillance cameras on 24/7 over their sales counter to record each and every transaction as well as a requirement that each store grow at least 70 percent of its marijuana itself. Dispensary owners feel that they are under too much scrutiny and that there is a lack of privacy which will result in patients simply going back underground to buy their product.

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.

Anyone who still thinks medical marijuana in Colorado is a sign of social degradation may want to rethink their stance. It has been argued by cannabis supporters that the industry could very well provide tax funds that would benefit the economy. Governor Bill Ritter has proposed a fund raid that will use $9 million in funds collected by card holder fees to support school funds; salaries, supplies, etc. Although this fund was initially intended to fund crime prevention of medicinal marijuana, it seems as though a surplus of funds created by card holder fees has provided this opportunity (according to the governor’s office). Seems a bit fitting that the industry so many have deemed as evil and morally reprehensible will supply funds to keeps schools on budget. Surely, there will be a backlash from opponents of medical cannabis as this money was originally intended for crime prevention. However, according to the governor’s office, this money is a surplus of revenue leaving the original fund with over $1 million with hundreds of fees still collected every day. Thank you, medicinal marijuana, for keeping our state schools and teachers properly funded.

As Colorado medical marijuana law and industry grow, there remains one major incident that will forever scar the face of medicinal cannabis: The Bartkowicz trial. Many may recall the medical marijuana caregiver who interviewed with 9News and showed his home and medicinal cannabis crop. DEA agents quickly raided his home and confiscated his crop. Bartkowicz is set for trial in late September on charges of cultivating marijuana with intent to distribute. The accused claims that he believed he was within State compliance. Unfortunately, his crop was larger than State law mandates. Currently, Federal prosecutors are attempting to ban any Colorado State Law or medicinal intent as they believe it is irrelevant to the case. It is true that Federal law supersedes all State law. Conversely, the accused should have the right to provide evidence that he was under the impression that he was under State Law compliance with intent to distribute for medicinal purposes. It seems a bit unconstitutional to throw out the defendant’s case citing “irrelevance” when it really comes down to the prosecution fearing it would create sympathy and relevant argument to the defendant’s case. Prosecution has every right to point out to the jury that Federal law supersedes State law, however, throwing out all evidence in defense of the accused is underhanded at best and borders on unconstitutional.

In spite of the overall controversial attitudes surrounding medical marijuana, the potential for employment and industry is significant. Certainly, there is already an obvious boom in the retail and growth of the product, but as the industry grows, so will the job opportunities. Foremost, there is serious potential in technology and growing apparatus. As demand grows, the need for larger crops will increase, thus the science and industry of growing cannabis will mature. Next, distribution could become a major player in the medical marijuana market. Obviously, as crops become larger, there will be a need for dispensaries to have product shipped to the store front. This is all just simple supply and demand concepts, yet opponents of Colorado medical marijuana seem to think that there is nothing good to come from the industry. Surely, it is not impossible to acknowledge the potential for industrious growth in the form of employment.