Medical Marijuana Doctors THCF Medical Clinics

**Hearing Thursday at 1:30 PM**

On Thursday, March 4, starting at 1:30pm, the Colorado State Legislature will hear the first reading of a bill which seeks to regulate dispensaries– and weaken patient rights.  This bill, HB 1284, which was largely authored by law enforcement, threatens to cripple the state medical marijuana law in a number of ways. (You can read HB 1284 by clicking here)

Here are a few of the most damaging provisions of the bill:

• Prohibits patients from living near schools.  Patients could not possess medicine within 1000 feet of a school, which means patients could not live near schools.

• Patients could not join together with family members or others to share grow space.

• Would allow cities and towns to ban dispensaries– forcing sick patients to “get on the bus” to find medicine.

Here’s how you can help fight HB 1284 Attend the Thursday Hearing.  Legislators need to hear from patients and professionals about how damaging HB 1284 will be.  This Hearing should begin around 1:30 at the State Capitol in Denver in the Old Supreme Court Chambers (2nd floor).  Please show up, dress nice, and spread the message to “vote no on HB 1284.” Call your state legislator Every state legislator should hear how bad HB 1284 is.  You can find and contact your state legislators here. Note you will need to enter your nine digit zip code to find your state rep and senator.  Find your full zip code here.

Sensible Colorado is excited to welcome national experts from Americans for Safe Access (ASA) to Colorado to lead a number of important trainings this week.

See the workshop schedule below.

In response to recent raid activity, ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer and ASA CA Director Don Duncan will host special dispensary staff trainings and community response meetings.

Community Response Meeting:

This FREE meeting is open to all community members that want to participate in a coordinated response during and after raids. During this meeting, we will create a step-by-step community response to raids (rallies, protests, media, alert system), assign roles and tasks, and create a mechanism for ongoing outreach for community support.

Raid Preparedness Training:

This training will walk dispensary staff through protocols that they can have in place to make any law enforcement encounter as successful as possible.

Being ready can help keep a bad situation from getting worse - and it may keep staff and patients out of jail. Participants learn how to prepare in advance, how to stay safe when the police show up, and what may happen afterwards. This cutting edge training includes role plays and tools to create an effect raid plan at your dispensary.  (There is a $50 per person fee that will be collected onsite at the training)

SCHEDULE

Friday February 26th (Denver)
4:00-6:00p  Raid Preparedness Training
7:00-9:00p  Emergency Response Community Meeting Location Local Product of Colorado

1260 22nd Street Denver, CO 80205

Saturday February 27th (Grand Junction)
4:00-6:00p  Raid Preparedness Training
7:00-9:00p  Emergency Response Community Meeting Location God’s Gift Dispensary 571 32 Road Clifton, CO 81520 Sunday February 28th (Colorado Springs)
4:00-6:00p   Raid Preparedness Training
7:00-9:00p   Emergency Response Community Meeting Location Cannabis Therapeutics 957 East Fillmore St. Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Monday March 1st (Ft. Collins)
4:00-6:00p   Raid Preparedness Training
7:00-9:00p  Emergency Response Community Meeting

Location Lincoln Center 417 West Magnolia Street Fort Collins, CO 80521

In a large showing of solidarity, Sensible Colorado along with its allies protested very visibly directly across the street from the Fillmore Auditorium where President Barack Obama was appearing.  The protest garnered tremendous media attention and drew attention to the recent DEA raids on legitimate medical marijuana facilities in Colorado.  Such raids violate the President’s formal policy on medical marijuana, and violate the Colorado Constitution.

**Protesters call for end to recent “rogue” DEA raids; Release of licensed provider and recent arrestee Chris Bartkowicz**

DENVER, CO — On Thursday, February 18, at an event to be attended by President Obama, medical marijuana patients and supporters will participate in a protest of the continuing federal raids of medical marijuana patients and providers in Colorado.  This event is a response to the recent Drug Enforcement Administration raids of two front-range medical marijuana testing facilities and the Feb. 12 raid of a licensed medical marijuana grower in Highlands Ranch.

“These DEA raids are out of compliance with both the will of Colorado voters and that of the White House,” said Brian Vicente, event organizer and director of Sensible Colorado.  “In particular, the recent, armed raid and arrest of licensed medical marijuana provider Chris Bartkowicz, highlights the rogue nature of the regional DEA office.  “President Obama needs to be made aware of this agency’s miscreant actions.”

Colorado voters passed a medical marijuana law in 2000.  In October, 2009, the Department of Justice issued a memo instructing federal agents to refrain from focusing resources on the arrest and prosecution of individuals following state medical marijuana laws. That memo is available here.

WHAT:   Medical Marijuana Protest at Event Attended by President Obama

WHO:    **PHOTO-OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE** with Sign-Waving Medical Marijuana Patient, Providers, and Supporters.

WHEN:  Thursday, February 18 from Noon - 1:00 PM

WHERE:  Across from the Fillmore Auditorium, at the corner of Colfax and Clarkson in Denver, CO.  See Directions HERE

Sensible Colorado to file statewide ballot initiative to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries.

DENVER, CO — On Thursday, February 4, at the Office of Legislative Council in the State Capitol, Brian Vicente, executive director of Sensible Colorado Action, will file a statewide ballot initiative to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and production facilities.  In the face of threats by state officials to restrict dispensaries, this initiative will amend the Colorado Constitution to require the state legislature to establish comprehensive regulations governing this emerging health care industry.  The campaign will need to file over 75,000 signatures by July in order to qualify for the November 2010 ballot.

**Note ballots petitions are not yet available to sign.  Please check our website for further updates.**

On Thursday, February 4th, starting at 1:30 PM the House Judiciary Committee will begin hearing testimony regarding S.B. 109 (Sen. Romer’s doctor regulation bill) in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the State Capitol.  All patients and providers are urged to attend this important hearing.

**Bill will waive fee for indigent medical marijuana patients**

On Monday, February 1, 2010 Senate Bill 109 passed the Senate by a vote of 34-1.  In addition to clarifying the definition of a doctor patient relationship the bill establishes the process for patients who qualify as indigent to have the annual medical marijuana registry fee waived.  “This is a tremendous victory for many seriously ill patients who are on fixed incomes and have been previously burdened with this expense for the past decade”, said Dan Pope of Sensible Colorado.  Answering the call of these patients was the Sensible Patient and Provider Coalition (SPPC) which strongly pushed for the waiver as it made it’s way through the Senate.  The SPPC, made up of various patient and provider groups, will continue to work with legislators as the issue of medical marijuana works it’s way through the capitol.

**Council Bill 34; Licensing of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Denver**

Please join the executive director of Sensible Colorado, Brian Vicente, as he addresses the Denver City Council during it’s final public hearing regarding the licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver. You can read Council Bill 34 clicking here.

WHAT: Denver City Council public hearing on the licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries

WHERE: Denver City Council Chambers, 1437 Bannock St., 4th Floor, Room 451, Denver CO

WHEN: Monday, January 11, 2010 at 5:30 PM

On Dec. 19, 2009, several hundred Colorado medical marijuana “Stakeholders”–patients, providers, medical professionals, and elected officials—gathered at the University of Denver Law School to discuss impending state-level regulations in this area.  After hours of discussion by patients and policymakers, the following points of consensus have emerged.

State-level Regulations:

• Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Establish statewide, uniform application and licensing for dispensaries and growers
• Establish a Board within DORA (Dept. of Regulatory Affairs) to serve as a licensing authority for clinics and growers.  The Board should be comprised of experts from the medical marijuana field including patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and others
• Establish a uniform sales tax statewide and a regular retail sales tax at city/county level
• Allow incorporated caregiver entities to be recognized as a caregiver, including protection for employees of these organizations
• Define differences between personal/small grower and commercial grower.  Provide the caregivers with ID cards.
• Utilize existing health and safety enforcement, food quality & labeling requirements for MMJ edibles
• Allow local municipalities to regulate zoning issues, but not ban dispensaries
• Establish a 24 hour call line for law enforcement personnel
• Prohibit employers from firing an employee on the sole basis of off-work, off-site medical marijuana use
• Provide Colorado universities the authority to research medical marijuana
  

Senators Chris Romer, Pat Steadman and former Senator Bob Hagedorn in attendance

Over 300 medical marijuana patients, providers, and activists came together on Saturday afternoon at the University of Denver to discuss their concerns with state lawmakers regarding proposed legislation of Colorado’s medical marijuana industry. The discussion produced many very positive consensus points which will be incorporated into a letter that Sensible Colorado will be sending to all state lawmakers on behalf of Colorado’s medical marijuana community.

Acknowledging the need for a legal framework to properly produce and distribute medical marijuana, the vast majority of those in attendance were in agreement that any future regulations should be patient driven, and should in no way limit or restrict licensed patients’ safe, convenient and affordable access to their doctor recommended medicine.

The December 19th Medical Marijuana Stakeholder Meeting hosted by Sensible Colorado, along with our friends at DU Law NORML, will be held at:

University of Denver Sturm College of Law: Forum

2255 East Evans Ave., Denver, CO 80208-0001 (see map)

This event will take place from 1:00-4:00 PM. Sensible Colorado would like to invite all interested medical marijuana patients, providers, advocates, and lawmakers to attend this important meeting.

**Calling all Patients, Providers, and Advocates**

SAVE THE DATE: On Saturday, December 19, 2009 Sensible Colorado and allies will be hosting a Stakeholder Meeting to craft a unified legislative agenda for 2010.

In the face of a new legislative session, when numerous state officials have declared their intent to run statewide medical marijuana related bills, it is crucial that the voices of patients and advocates are not forgotten.

Please attend this important meeting which will include presentations by legislators and national and local leaders. Come hear an update on pending legislation and give input on what policies you think would best help patients and caregivers.

WHAT: Stakeholder meeting to discuss Medical Marijuana policy in 2010

WHEN: Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 1-4PM

WHERE: Denver, CO (final location TBA)

WHO: This event is free and open to the public.  Join patients, providers, legislators, and advocates.

Stay tuned for more details - including exact event location - as the meeting date draws nearer.