Pot Providers Under Attack

from Brian Vicente, Executive Director, Sensible Colorado I thought you might be interested in a story of statewide concern regarding a Hearing on July 20 where the CO Board of Health is voting to weaken the state medical marijuana law. In short, the Board will be considering a number of changes to the law including limiting state-licensed "caregivers" to only providing medical marijuana for five patients. Currently, caregivers can help as many patients as need their aid, and this has lead to a growth in both people using the program (currently almost 8000, up from 4500 in January) and in emerging medical marijuana storefronts ("dispensaries") which provide safe access to medical marijuana for many patients. This "Five Patient Cap" is aimed at shutting down these dispensaries, and would greatly limit patient access to this doctor-recommended medicine. More information is available in last week's Denver Post article "What is State Smoking?" available here. Sensible Colorado is organizing the public opposition to these proposed regulation changes and we have secured opposition letters from U.S. Congressman Jared Polis, the Northern Colorado AIDS Project, the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, and other prominent individuals and organizations. We plan on having over 1000 patients/advocates in attendance at this Hearing and-- in an unprecedented move- the state has rented a giant auditorium on the Aururia Campus (Denver) to accommodate this public interest. Buses have been rented to bring in patients from both Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs.