Colorado issues first medical-marijuana business licenses in U.S.

cassanova · #1 10-27-2011, 11:54 AM

Colorado issues first medical-marijuana business licenses in U.S. - The Denver Post

Colorado has begun issuing the first state medical-marijuana business licenses in the nation, the culmination of a more than year-long application process for dispensaries and marijuana- infused-products makers.

The state has issued 11 licenses to businesses in Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Littleton, according to the state Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division of the Department of Revenue. Another seven have been notified they are likely to receive a license. And the state has sent out letters to local governments for 467 dispensaries and products-makers to double-check that those businesses have local approval — one of the final steps in the licensing process.

The first license to a Denver business was presented Wednesday to Dr. J's owner Tom Sterlacci at a meeting of an industry workgroup. The presentation received a standing ovation.

"It's very historic," Sterlacci said. "Now we're not standing alone with the feds. We have the city and the state standing with us."

Medical-marijuana advocates say Colorado's regulations for cannabis businesses are the most comprehensive in the nation, and they credit the rules' thoroughness with shielding the businesses from federal raids. John Ingold, The Denver Post

metron · #2 10-27-2011, 11:59 AM

Unfortunately all the progress that has been made, based on the will of the people of CO, could be dashed in an instant.

MakiSupaStar · #3 10-27-2011, 12:55 PM

Sweet. Congrats to people of colorado. I for one really enjoy this aspect of California.

sandmangeck · #4 10-27-2011, 12:58 PM

I for one, cannot WAIT until we move out to Colorado in May. Giggity, Giggity.

Kirkowitz · #5 10-27-2011, 01:04 PM

That's progress. Good to hear!

**jmattbassplaya** · #6 10-27-2011, 01:13 PM

YEAH ***** YEAH ***** YEAH *****! YEAAAAAAAH it's a partay!

IconBasser · #7 10-27-2011, 02:12 PM

cool.

cassanova · #8 10-27-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metron

Unfortunately all the progress that has been made, based on the will of the people of CO, could be dashed in an instant.

I'm curious to see how it pans out. IIRC, the federal government classifies Marijuana as a schedule 1, controlled substance, hence illegal nation wide, couple that with the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, this whole thing could come crashing down fast.

metron · #9 10-27-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

I'm curious to see how it pans out. IIRC, the federal government classifies Marijuana as a schedule 1, controlled substance, hence illegal nation wide, couple that with the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, this whole thing could come crashing down fast.

Right, we are ok for another year. After that who knows.

One thing i do know is times are good on the front range! Very good

**jmattbassplaya** · #10 10-27-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

I'm curious to see how it pans out. IIRC, the federal government classifies Marijuana as a schedule 1, controlled substance, hence illegal nation wide, couple that with the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, this whole thing could come crashing down fast.

It'll be legal within 5-10 years. The last Gallop polled showed 50% of Americans in favor of legalizing it (with some polls showing even higher numbers). It's really just a matter of older generations dying off.

gustobassman · #11 10-27-2011, 03:56 PM

California may have be able to use this in our fight for some sort of regulation. San Diego is getting pooped on by the feds right now. Fed attorneys have turned their fight towards the landlords of the rented properties and are threatening them with forfeiture and fines if the places do not close within 45 days (this was announced about 2 weeks ago) because they are selling a schedule 1 drug.. Also they are threatening to go after publications or television ads that promote the use of schedule 1 drugs (which MM MJ is under federal law). There is a local radio show dedicated to this cause and local television show which airs on a public broadcasting network around 10:00 pm on sunday nights which has interviews with growers, patients, doctors, etc... A few longtime local free publications who have taken the opportunity to make money on print ads (which are all pretty mellow, i haven't seen many "aimed" at 18 y.o. olds) for dispensaries could very well be fined heavily to the point of closing or just shut down altogether. However free publications called "nug" and "mota" which are available at dispensaries give it a much more high-profile, lifestyle-oriented appeal.

So much for state's rights. Good on you Colorado.

tekdiver500ft · #12 10-27-2011, 04:03 PM

Colorado isn't first - Michigan was. The licenses have since been repealed, based upon:

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

I'm curious to see how it pans out. IIRC, the federal government classifies Marijuana as a schedule 1, controlled substance, hence illegal nation wide, couple that with the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, this whole thing could come crashing down fast.

It probably will. The Constitution specifically disallows the various States from penning laws that are more lenient than any Federal statute. They can be stricter, but not more lenient. I guess we'll see how this one plays out...

cassanova · #13 10-28-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

Colorado isn't first - Michigan was. The licenses have since been repealed, based upon:

It probably will. The Constitution specifically disallows the various States from penning laws that are more lenient than any Federal statute. They can be stricter, but not more lenient. I guess we'll see how this one plays out...

That's all we can do, just wait and see.

I'm curious to know why/how the feds can still classify Marijuana as a schedule 1 controlled substance though. IIRC, to be in that classification, the drug has to show no legitimate medicinal value. Science has long since proven that pot does in fact have medicinal purposes.

cassanova · #14 10-28-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

It'll be legal within 5-10 years. The last Gallop polled showed 50% of Americans in favor of legalizing it (with some polls showing even higher numbers). It's really just a matter of older generations dying off.

I can't really say much on this without getting political.

Providing it doesn't squash the rights of the minority, these politicians are hired to do the will of the majority. We shouldn't have to wait for them to die off before doing what the majority wants.

As long as things like alcohol, timber, and other industries are allowed to funnel money to legislators, and states can generate millions from marijuana related arrests, then I don't see it becoming legal even in the next 10 years. I hope it does, but I just can't see it happening.

In short, I believe it's still illegal in part, because of all the revenue it generates to the counties/states/federal government, by keeping it illegal.

sandmangeck · #15 10-28-2011, 02:26 PM

Just a matter of time.

Simo98 · #16 10-28-2011, 04:27 PM

Hurry up an Legalise it nation wide so "Little America" (Australia) can get their share.

Joe Gress · #17 10-28-2011, 04:30 PM

Great step forward to say the least.

Sijjvra · #18 10-29-2011, 06:23 AM

They're giving us hell in Michigan with the MML right now (they being the Feds), but with more and more states voting for legalizing or partially legalizing, eventually I'm hoping people just get fed up with their rights being tromped on by the federal government. I've my own theories as to why the Feds are fighting this so hard when all the facts are out there, and people keep demanding the legalization of it - mostly to do with the money Big Pharm would lose if we stopped eating so much of their "medicine".

Anyway, it's a huge can of worms, but if the States keep fighting together on this, one day it'll come to pass, just like the end of prohibition. I'm not even a fan of alcohol, but I believe in the right for an adult to do as they please so long as it's not endangering (such as meth or some other really toxic, addictive nastiness) yourself or others, no matter if it's with a beer or with a joint. If it's in the privacy of your own home or in a safe, designated place, I dislike the idea of being told what we can and cannot do by bigwigs and money grubbing corporations.

Demon_Hunter · #19 10-30-2011, 12:08 PM

Medical Marijuana shops are already on every street here in Colorado Springs.

Funny thing is, you'd think with this being a "conservative, religious town" there'd be a massive uproar, but, nope.

Now if all the idiot gangbangers would all get themselves a prescription, smoke the pot and just chill and watch cartoons and eat nachos and quit robbing and killing people this place would be a tad better place to live.

Muaguana · #20 10-30-2011, 03:42 PM

Interesting how so many people are elated in this thread, several using the word "party" in their post, and I'd bet that most are not suffering from any sort of illness that could be effectively treated by smoking pot. They're just the type of people who like to get high for no reason. Fan-****ing-tastic... just what we need: more potheads.