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It has been 12 years since Colorado voters endorsed a big change in marijuana laws by passing a medical-marijuana initiative in 2000.
But now that Colorado voters are considering Amendment 64, another big change in marijuana laws, some medical-marijuana advocates are apprehensive.
The amendment would make it legal for anyone over 21 to use marijuana and also create a recreational-marijuana retail industry.
Amendment 64 is not intended to change anything about current medical-marijuana law.
"We went to great length to ensure that that system is in no way jeopardized," said Amendment 64 proponent Brian Vicente.
But that is not to say the amendment wouldn't affect medical marijuana. Indeed, a law protecting marijuana use for any purpose could transform the state's roughly $172 million medical-marijuana industry.
There are about 104,000 people who hold a state medical-marijuana-registry card and pay $35 a year – plus the cost of a doctor's visit – to renew. A legal way of obtaining marijuana without those expenses could cause the number of patients to drop significantly.
Medical-marijuana businesses, too, may decide to switch over to the recreational market. Amendment 64 foresees this: People who hold a medical-marijuana-dispensary license are given preferential status and an application fee capped at $500 – as opposed to $5,000 – when seeking to open a recreational-marijuana business.
"You're going to be first in line to expand your customer base from 2 percent of the state's population to potentially 100 percent of the adult population," attorney Rob Corry said before a crowd of medical-marijuana business owners at a Thursday night forum in Denver.
But making that jump is not without peril.
The expansion of state law to protect recreational marijuana use could also invite a federal crackdown, said medical-marijuana activist Jason Lauve.
"The feds almost seem like they're looking for a reason to go after Colorado," Lauve said.
Those who remain in the medical-marijuana system would retain some advantages if Amendment 64 passes. Medical-marijuana patients can possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana – as opposed to 1 ounce under Amendment 64 – and they also have an "affirmative defense" against prosecution if they need to possess more for their particular ailments.
And medical-marijuana businesses might be less exposed to federal punishment, Lauve said, creating a dilemma for business owners.
"The people I've talked to, it's been split," Lauve said. "There are some who want to stay medical ... and there are some on the other side who want to switch over."
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: denverpost.com
Author: John Ingold
Contact: Contact Us - The Denver Post
Website: Colorado medical-marijuana advocates ponder Amendment 64's impact - The Denver Post
But now that Colorado voters are considering Amendment 64, another big change in marijuana laws, some medical-marijuana advocates are apprehensive.
The amendment would make it legal for anyone over 21 to use marijuana and also create a recreational-marijuana retail industry.
Amendment 64 is not intended to change anything about current medical-marijuana law.
"We went to great length to ensure that that system is in no way jeopardized," said Amendment 64 proponent Brian Vicente.
But that is not to say the amendment wouldn't affect medical marijuana. Indeed, a law protecting marijuana use for any purpose could transform the state's roughly $172 million medical-marijuana industry.
There are about 104,000 people who hold a state medical-marijuana-registry card and pay $35 a year – plus the cost of a doctor's visit – to renew. A legal way of obtaining marijuana without those expenses could cause the number of patients to drop significantly.
Medical-marijuana businesses, too, may decide to switch over to the recreational market. Amendment 64 foresees this: People who hold a medical-marijuana-dispensary license are given preferential status and an application fee capped at $500 – as opposed to $5,000 – when seeking to open a recreational-marijuana business.
"You're going to be first in line to expand your customer base from 2 percent of the state's population to potentially 100 percent of the adult population," attorney Rob Corry said before a crowd of medical-marijuana business owners at a Thursday night forum in Denver.
But making that jump is not without peril.
The expansion of state law to protect recreational marijuana use could also invite a federal crackdown, said medical-marijuana activist Jason Lauve.
"The feds almost seem like they're looking for a reason to go after Colorado," Lauve said.
Those who remain in the medical-marijuana system would retain some advantages if Amendment 64 passes. Medical-marijuana patients can possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana – as opposed to 1 ounce under Amendment 64 – and they also have an "affirmative defense" against prosecution if they need to possess more for their particular ailments.
And medical-marijuana businesses might be less exposed to federal punishment, Lauve said, creating a dilemma for business owners.
"The people I've talked to, it's been split," Lauve said. "There are some who want to stay medical ... and there are some on the other side who want to switch over."
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: denverpost.com
Author: John Ingold
Contact: Contact Us - The Denver Post
Website: Colorado medical-marijuana advocates ponder Amendment 64's impact - The Denver Post
