Latest Medical Marijuana Bill Takes Aim at Dispensaries
Latest Medical Marijuana Bill Takes Aim at Dispensaries
Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Medical marijuana was once again a hot topic at the capitol Thursday as lawmakers held their first debate over a bill that would regulate the dispensaries that sell the drug.
These dispensaries are all over our community. More than 40 have opened up in Colorado Springs alone. It’s become a big business, one some lawmakers say needs to be regulated.
On the steps of the state capitol medical marijuana advocates and patients gathered in protest of a proposed bill. They are concerned that the bill infringes on patients’ rights. Dispensary owners share the same concern.
“My biggest concern is limiting the patients access to the medicine,” said Kenny Brock, owner of Old World Pharmaceuticals in El Paso County. He says if passed, the bill may force him out of business. One provision requires dispensary owners to grow about 75 percent of their product, something Kenny wouldn’t be able to do.
“It would certainly change the way we purchase,” Kenny said.
Peter Trujillo, co-owner of Trichome Health Consultants, a dispensary in Old Colorado City, is also concerned about the bill’s impact.
“If businesses like this are generating revenue, taxable income for the city, why wouldn’t they want us around to help out with the economy instead of sending all the money back to the black market,” Trujillo said.
Under the proposed bill, dispensaries would have to get licensed through the Department of Revenue just like liquor stores and patients who choose to buy from the dispensaries would not be allowed to grow their own marijuana. The bill also currently calls for a year long moratorium on new dispensaries and cities could also vote to ban them in their own communities.
Trujillo says he welcomes restrictions. “We want to be as legal and legitimate as possible.”
He just thinks the focus needs to be on the business operations, not on the patients who need medical marijuana.
The bill would also ban pot possession within 1,000 feet of a school. Some say that could prevent people from using medical pot in their homes.
Lawmakers are also opposed to this bill saying it legitimizes the dispensaries.
This bill still faces a long road ahead in both the house and the senate before being passed into law.
