Med. Marijuana Group Plans Ballot Initiative - cbs4denver.com

Описание: Med. Marijuana Group Plans Ballot Initiative
DENVER (CBS4) ― 02.04.2010
Reporting: Terry Jessup

State lawmakers resumed their debate on Thursday on two new bills aimed at regulating medical marijuana. But a non-profit group is trying to get the issue of regulation away from lawmakers and back in front of voters.

A group called Sensible Colorado says a proposed ballot initiative is their plan B just in case lawmakers pass legislation their group finds unacceptable.

DENVER (CBS4) ― 02.04.2010

State lawmakers resumed their debate on Thursday on two new bills aimed at regulating medical marijuana. But a non-profit group is trying to get the issue of regulation away from lawmakers and back in front of voters.

A group called Sensible Colorado says a proposed ballot initiative is their plan B just in case lawmakers pass legislation their group finds unacceptable.

The medical marijuana advocates would have to gather 75,000 signatures by July in order to get the issue on the November ballot.

One of several things the groups doesn't like about the pending legislation lawmakers are considering is a provision that would let individual Colorado towns and cities enact their own laws to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries.

"That to us is an un-workable provision," said Brian Vicente with Sensible Colorado. "People get sick in every corner of this state and we don't think medical marijuana patients should be treated like second class citizens who are forced to get on the bus and leave their community to go to another town that allows them to have access to medical marijuana."

The advocacy group also does not like a provision that states patients can't smoke medical marijuana on the dispensaries' premises. The group argues that patients won't have access to expensive vaporizers they can't afford to keep in their homes.

Sensible Colorado said they might not go through with the ballot initiative if the legislature passes a bill they like.

HIV patient Damien LaGoy hopes the legislature can craft a bill to regulate dispensaries that does balance law enforcement concerns with patients' rights.

But he is already worried about a provision that would make patients under 25 get recommendations from two doctors before they can get their medical marijuana treatment.

"There are responsible young people out there, some of them work here," said LaGoy.

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