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Colorado Could Become First State to Regulate & Tax Medical Marijuana

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The medicl argument is great. But i think we should start the argument at its base: IT'S MY BODY, I'LL DO WHAT I WANT WITH IT! Also, noone complains when oil companies come to their state and exploit thousands of acre of land and leave that way. Noone complains when strip mines dig deep into the earth and destroy that land, leaving major bodies of water polluted for the rest of time. Why is it that you complain about someone with the knowledge of growing pot coming to your town and sharing that knowledge. WAKE UP. Major corporations such as Walmart, Shell, Microsoft, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and many many others, exploit your land and your people and you do nothing about it. Prescription pills such as Oxycontin, Prozac, Adderall, Hydrocodone and many others are very very accessibly by your children and noone says a word. We let our doctors put us on these pills and the children steal them and selkl them and abuse them and noone complains. But one word about marijuana, a drug that noone has ever overdosed on, and the public goes nuts. It makes me truly truly sick.

Nick Wilkie of PA 11:08AM April 15, 2011

If marijuana is really a medicine, it should be prescribed by licensed physicians and dispensed by licensed and trained pharmacists (a stringently regulated and highly trained profession).
Some people take Oxy recreationally. Does that mean there should be Oxy dispensaries in every other storefront downtown?
If current rules forbid pharmacies from dispensing marijuana, work to change that. Here in Colorado many of us are appalled by the instantaneous negative effects this change of law has had on our towns. Those who speak of money have it right. It has nothing to do with compassion or healing. It has to do with quick and dirty self-serving profit.

Rab of CO 10:19PM April 17, 2010

One question: If taxing on the State level occurs and you pay taxes to the State, doesn't that throw up the red flag on the Federal level? In other words, paying taxes on MM would be an admittance of guilt on the federal level, wouldn't it? To be clear, I am all for legalization on the Federal level and it COULD be the revenue stream the states and feds have been looking for. I am afraid if I claim taxes on sales then I am admitting to the Feds I am engaging in illegal activity in their eyes. Just curious about this.

Rob of CO 1:44PM March 18, 2010

I am all for medical marijuana and I think things are unfolding just as they should with one exception. There should be a waiting period of at least 1 year (2 would be better) from the time someone moves to Colorado until the time he or she is eligible to grow or dispense medical marijuana. This would stop the influx of out of state people moving here just to make money off of marijuana. I don't think its fair that people who have not ever worked towards legalization in Colorado and have no long term interest in our state other then to exploit the current system to their own benefit. Long time locals who have paid taxes here for years deserve to benefit more then greedy out of towners here only to make a quick buck.

Z of CO 9:16AM January 14, 2010

Taxes have always been a peculiar thing in this country. They lead to bigger government and less freedom. And they NEVER go away once they are instituted. When the government takes responsibility for something, they also take the freedom that was associated with the thing that they just took over. Americans have been "giving" freedom away for years. So, as a note of caution to those of you who support taxing the medicinal marijuana industry, think twice. I wouldn't want the government in my grow room. I don't want anyone to even know where it is. I don't want to be subject to searches without a warrant. It is still my property, commercial or not. My business is in order and correctly wired and safe. I would not choose, therefore, to be subject to laws designed for irresponsible people. Not to mention, that I do agree with the post above stating that Marijuana use for medicinal purpose should NOT be taxed just as other medications are not. Those of you who think government involvement would be a good thing, take caution. We, as Americans have been "getting the govt involved" in far to many aspects of this country. It is effectively turning this country into the very thing that the constitution was written in reaction to. Let the local authority regulate this as they see fit.
As a side note: Why are there posts here comparing Medicinal Marijuana to Beer and Liquor? It is not even remotely related. So to say that MM should follow the same rules as liquor store is a rather ignorant statement, don't you think?

Chris of CO 1:09PM December 11, 2009

OK FIRST - Yes EASY ACCESS IS GOOD! Marijuana is good for many ailments. I'm sorry if your ailment is more life threatening than others but obviously you like it so why not let it be available for anyone else who chooses to use it!
SECOND - WHY THE BACKGROUND CHECK? This industry can consist of people who choose to live differently from the "norm". That being said some people that might be opening dispensary's may have a hang up on their background. Not because they are criminals but because they may have chosen a different way to live that has not been excepted by the rest of society or may have just made mistakes. If they are trying to open a business then obviously they want something good for themselves and should not be discriminated against.
THIRD AND FINALLY - MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL FOR ALL! this really doesn't need an explanation. I wish it would get figured out whether recreational or medical either way re -legalize it!
ONE MORE THING - THINK OF ALL THE BENEFITS OF HEMP!

Crystal of CO 1:09PM November 30, 2009

The State of Colorado regulates most industry & professions already. Somehow medical marijuana dispensories slipped through the cracks over the past 9 years & now since President Obama has called the federal drug enforcement agents off states with medical marijuana laws the panic button has been pushed.
Right now, several cities in Colorado have declared a moratorium on new dispensories & rightfully so. They were literally popping up overnight throughout the entire state. Futhermore, the state did not require criminal background checks on owners or employees of dispensories, much less know who these people are but also do not know where these dispensories are located.
Being in our own construction business & regulated by the State of Colorado for over 30+ years--my suggestions would be.
1. Set up a State regulatory agency for medical marijuana dispensories, & growers.
2. Require criminal background checks on owners before issuing licenses. Require that all employees of dispensories are licensed by the State also. The State currently does this with the gaming industry. During this process check for back owed child support payments & also insure that all taxes have been paid by owners & employess--as they currently do with the gaming industry.
3. Require a bond--such as the state requires for owners of bars & liquor stores.
4. Require that security systems are installed on dispensory locations to keep criminals from breaking in. Local municipalities will determine what locations will be appropriate.
5. Electrical & building code enforcement on home growers & registered grow rooms. It's apparent that the risk involved in someone who wants to grow their own medical marijuana along with most registered grow rooms-is that electrical codes & requirements have been completely ignored. Many of these home growers & registered grow rooms not only put themselves & their families at risk of fire & shock hazzard, but also put at risk firemen & law enforcement. Therefore, require that all grow rooms are completed by Colorado licensed electrical contractors & inspected by local or state electrical inspectors. Under current law home-owners on residential projects can install their own electrical on their living residence only. However, in the case of a grow room--it is more of a commercial application--which under Colorado State Statue would require that a Colorado licensed electrical contractor complete the installation & can insure that it is inspected by local or state electrical inspectors.
6. To protect unsuspecting/unknowing Landlords--require that grow rooms for individuals or registered grow rooms servicing dispensories--be located in owner-occupied properties.
7. Finally--Tax dispensories & growers that service dispensories.
I think just the above would be a deterent to many people who really shouldn't be licensed to distribute or grow medical marijuana.

KJS of CO 12:01AM November 30, 2009

The War on Drugs has been a dismal failure on two counts. It hasn't made a dent in either demand or profits. It has handed over to state and federal government bodies powers that ought to scare everyone no matter what their stance on actual drug usage is.
Here's a quote from that hippy hippy long haired libertine Milton Friedman, the economist:
"Every friend of freedom . . . must be as revolted
as I am by the prospect of turning the U.S. into an armed camp, by the vision of jails filled with casual drug users and of an army of enforcers empowered to invade the liberty of citizens on slight evidence."
--Milton Friedman
I don't agree with everything the Cato Institute espouses but they're right on target on this one.
More here: http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-180es.html

Mandy Cat of CO 1:28PM November 29, 2009

While dispensories are out of control in all states with medical marijuana laws. Why not do criminal background checks on owners of dispensories? Possibly even requiring a bond--as persons with liquor licenses are required to do. Taxation is great--I am all for it. Zoning regluations should be mandated along with some type of security systems installed in those dispensory locations--to keep criminals out.
As far as the growers of the product. Watching several programs on T.V.--the problem appears to be in the electrical systems they install. Many don't know what they're doing--so in many cases they start their homes on fire--& if law enforcement shows up they are exposed to shock hazzards, etc. So while in the process of regulating dispensories--allow building code enforcement on growers to clean this up too. Have growers registered with the dispensories they service--so all can be checked.

KJS of CO 8:21PM November 28, 2009

Who cares. Colrado is awsome and is leading the pack with intelligent discussion on the subject. The only reasons pot has been illegal for so long are for the purposes of discrimination and oppression. I know. I went to jail and got kicked out of college for it. Now at CSU you can take classes on marijuana cultivation and legislation. Isn't that Ironic.

SwanDiesel of CO 10:23AM November 28, 2009