Jacob Bell
New Member
Amid federal uncertainty over the medical marijuana industry, Gov. John Hickenlooper's somewhat quiet signing of additional regulations Thursday signified a friendly smoke signal for local business owners.
"We're excited Colorado is continuing forward to help legitimize the industry," Tanya Garduno, president of the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council, said Friday. "Everyone's been afraid with the federal warnings, so Colorado making sure there are unambiguous questions about our laws gives us a little more of a sure feeling."
Among other provisions, House Bill 1043 extends the moratorium on new businesses for another year, until July 1, 2012. The ban took effect July 1, 2010, in order for the state's Department of Revenue to create rules based on legislation that was passed last year and get a handle on what had become an explosion of businesses entering the market.
The state will promulgate its new rules in less than a month, on July 1, and begin processing more than 2,000 applications for permanent licensing of medical marijuana centers, grow operations and infused-product manufacturers that were filed before last year's moratorium started. Local jurisdictions, including El Paso County and the city of Colorado Springs, also will enact permanent licensing and policies.
"I'm guessing the Department of Revenue has their hands full with all of the pending licenses. To allow more businesses would be a paperwork nightmare. It also wouldn't be fair to bring in a lot of new business, when the rest of us have been struggling to come into compliance," said Jeff Sveinsson, owner of Cannabicare, a medical marijuana dispensary that opened about a year ago off Marksheffel Road.
Businesses have been preparing for the changing landscape of July 1, when nearly 100 pages of regulations will be enforced. Sveinsson said to come into compliance with the new regulations, he's investing about $15,000 more, on top of $40,000 he has spent on a security and inventory tracking system consisting of 30 cameras and individual bar code tags on each plant.
The restrictions cover every aspect of the business, including surveillance of the property, employee background checks, labeling, disposal of stems and transporting products.
The local market has been saturated with businesses, Garduno said. There are about 137,000 patients registered with the state; about 11 percent of those live in El Paso County, she said.
Before last year's deadline, the state received applications for 206 centers and infused-product manufacturers in Colorado Springs and 11 in El Paso County, plus several grow operations, which the state does not disclose.
But now, Garduno said, "Things are falling out considerably."
At the end of April, Colorado Springs had about 94 medical marijuana businesses, Garduno said. As of last week, the number had dropped to 60, she said. A few businesses also have closed in unincorporated El Paso County.
"People are dropping like flies. They didn't realize the headaches from the government and the uncertainties," Garduno said. "A lot of businesses are closing or up for sale."
Even with the moratorium, businesses can be sold to new owners, who can relocate them.
Sveinsson predicts that more businesses will go under in coming weeks because "they can't come up with the $5,000 to $20,000 to come into compliance by July 1."
Even with the state's exhaustive regulations, the industry remains in flux. Approved by Colorado voters in 2000, medical marijuana is still illegal on the federal level. Businesses began proliferating after President Barack Obama took office and announced he would relax federal prosecution. But in April, the 15 states that have legalized pot for medicinal uses began receiving warnings.
Colorado U.S. Attorney John Walsh wrote in an April 26 memo to state legislators that his department "would consider civil actions and criminal prosecution regrading those who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries."
Chairwoman Amy Lathen said El Paso County's board of commissioners has received numerous letters from federal authorities, stating that it's a federal crime to manufacture and sell a controlled substance.
Commissioners have asked the county attorney's office to investigate the federal government's apparent reversal on the issue.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: gazette.com
Author: Debbie Kelley
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Freedom Communications
Website: Businesses applaud new MMJ clean-up bill
"We're excited Colorado is continuing forward to help legitimize the industry," Tanya Garduno, president of the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council, said Friday. "Everyone's been afraid with the federal warnings, so Colorado making sure there are unambiguous questions about our laws gives us a little more of a sure feeling."
Among other provisions, House Bill 1043 extends the moratorium on new businesses for another year, until July 1, 2012. The ban took effect July 1, 2010, in order for the state's Department of Revenue to create rules based on legislation that was passed last year and get a handle on what had become an explosion of businesses entering the market.
The state will promulgate its new rules in less than a month, on July 1, and begin processing more than 2,000 applications for permanent licensing of medical marijuana centers, grow operations and infused-product manufacturers that were filed before last year's moratorium started. Local jurisdictions, including El Paso County and the city of Colorado Springs, also will enact permanent licensing and policies.
"I'm guessing the Department of Revenue has their hands full with all of the pending licenses. To allow more businesses would be a paperwork nightmare. It also wouldn't be fair to bring in a lot of new business, when the rest of us have been struggling to come into compliance," said Jeff Sveinsson, owner of Cannabicare, a medical marijuana dispensary that opened about a year ago off Marksheffel Road.
Businesses have been preparing for the changing landscape of July 1, when nearly 100 pages of regulations will be enforced. Sveinsson said to come into compliance with the new regulations, he's investing about $15,000 more, on top of $40,000 he has spent on a security and inventory tracking system consisting of 30 cameras and individual bar code tags on each plant.
The restrictions cover every aspect of the business, including surveillance of the property, employee background checks, labeling, disposal of stems and transporting products.
The local market has been saturated with businesses, Garduno said. There are about 137,000 patients registered with the state; about 11 percent of those live in El Paso County, she said.
Before last year's deadline, the state received applications for 206 centers and infused-product manufacturers in Colorado Springs and 11 in El Paso County, plus several grow operations, which the state does not disclose.
But now, Garduno said, "Things are falling out considerably."
At the end of April, Colorado Springs had about 94 medical marijuana businesses, Garduno said. As of last week, the number had dropped to 60, she said. A few businesses also have closed in unincorporated El Paso County.
"People are dropping like flies. They didn't realize the headaches from the government and the uncertainties," Garduno said. "A lot of businesses are closing or up for sale."
Even with the moratorium, businesses can be sold to new owners, who can relocate them.
Sveinsson predicts that more businesses will go under in coming weeks because "they can't come up with the $5,000 to $20,000 to come into compliance by July 1."
Even with the state's exhaustive regulations, the industry remains in flux. Approved by Colorado voters in 2000, medical marijuana is still illegal on the federal level. Businesses began proliferating after President Barack Obama took office and announced he would relax federal prosecution. But in April, the 15 states that have legalized pot for medicinal uses began receiving warnings.
Colorado U.S. Attorney John Walsh wrote in an April 26 memo to state legislators that his department "would consider civil actions and criminal prosecution regrading those who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries."
Chairwoman Amy Lathen said El Paso County's board of commissioners has received numerous letters from federal authorities, stating that it's a federal crime to manufacture and sell a controlled substance.
Commissioners have asked the county attorney's office to investigate the federal government's apparent reversal on the issue.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: gazette.com
Author: Debbie Kelley
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Freedom Communications
Website: Businesses applaud new MMJ clean-up bill
