Colorado Medical Marijuana Blog

Colorado medicinal marijuana is an extremely hot topic these days. There are basically three polarized points of view on the subject.  On one side, there is the moral point of view.  Most people on this side argue that marijuana has been an illegal narcotic for decades and should remain so. To this group, legalizing medicinal marijuana in Colorado tears the moral fabric of society. Next, there is the legal and lawmaker point of view. Many in this camp have grown used to the illegality of Colorado marijuana and push for stronger, more stringent regulation of the flourishing industry. Other lawmakers have also advocated the medical and financial benefit of marijuana and have lobbied for appropriate regulation, especially surrounding Colorado marijuana dispensaries. Recently, the State Senate pulled back a bill that would have crippled the dispensary business. No matter what controversy exists, one fact remains: the business of Colorado medical marijuana is a booming industry ripe with unlimited revenue streams for business owners, cultivators, and government alike. One cannot deny the potential for revenue in the form of both employment and taxation of medical marijuana in Colorado.

Two recent controversies have been tied to Colorado medical marijuana and Colorado marijuana dispensaries. In Denver, police are investigating an alleged connection between a residential shooting and Denver Medical Marijuana. According to police, although the shooting happened in a private residence, the shooting may have been related to a medicinal marijuana transaction. Denver police are not giving any more information at this time. In Weld County, a Colorado marijuana dispensary owner is receiving a daily citation from police due to a paperwork issue. Apparently, the owner’s paperwork was not processed in time to avoid the 75 day moratorium imposed by the county. As a result, his business is receiving a daily citation until he either closes his business or the matter is resolved in court. The legitimacy of both cases could be argued, but the fact remains that more controversy and litigation will be on the horizon. For now, the court of public opinion is still in session as lawmakers, businesses, and caregivers prepare for the inevitable increased regulation of medical marijuana in Colorado.  

Currently, there is an estimated 300+ Colorado Marijuana dispensaries open for business in the greater Denver Metro area. In fact, over 170 dispensaries have been issued sales tax licenses in the month of December alone. On average, the Denver City Treasury is processing 25 sales tax licenses a day for Colorado medical marijuana dispensaries. This represents more business locations than Starbuck’s Coffee shops and liquor stores in the Denver Metro area. Moreover, Denver currently has more dispensaries on a per-capita basis than the city of Los Angeles, making Colorado the official cannabis capital of America according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. As dispensaries open at this astronomical rate, tighter restrictions will be inevitable. The Denver City Council is presently convening in an effort to create more restrictions for dispensaries and pushing for reform to current Colorado medical marijuana laws. So far, the focus is to keep dispensaries from opening near schools. Other restrictions include prohibiting on site consumption of medical marijuana in Colorado. 

Colorado medical marijuana laws are under further scrutiny by political officials in an attempt to form a set of reasonable regulations that will benefit both businesspeople who seek to open dispensaries and local people who claim dispensaries are contributing to unsafe conditions of local neighborhoods. Spokespeople for Governor Bill Ritter are hoping by working with local officials and lawmakers they will be able to provide some guidelines on how to rein in abuses to the Colorado medical marijuana law while still providing necessary benefits to those who truly require the drug for health reasons. While most state officials are hoping to deal with the medical marijuana issues at hand in a reasonable, calm fashion, there are still those who believe by continuously revising the laws, officials are setting themselves up for an all out war. It is unclear at this time whether a new bill will be filed in 2010.

The controversy between Colorado medical marijuana dispensary’s rights and the policies of the local cities in the state seems to be growing stronger. As the demand for medical marijuana dispensaries grows, lawmakers will be required to place more detailed attention on what will be allowed in the state. Earlier this year, CannaMart, a locally owned medical marijuana dispensary, was shut down by the City of Centennial who claimed that the local dispensary was not clear on their application for a business license as to what they were selling. CannaMart is claiming that they followed all proper regulations and were clear on their application. Lawyers for the dispensary state that since Colorado voters cleared the sale of medical marijuana, cities are not justified in banning the dispensaries. CannaMart has chosen to file a lawsuit against the city of Centennial to get their business license reinstated. A judgment is still being awaited and a decision is expected later this week.

Currently, most Colorado medicinal marijuana dispensaries sell more than just the green buds one would expect. Edibles are becoming more popular among dispensary clients. Most dispensaries sell edible products ranging from scones to lollipops. Edibles are becoming popular for a myriad of reasons; taste, convenience and discretion being a few. After all, a lollipop is much easier to conceal and less offensive in the public eye than a giant cloud of smoke. Some users claim that the medicine is “time released” when eaten. Some particular dispensaries, more like “connoisseur shops,” carry gourmet items such as chocolate mousse and paella. Others have incorporated it into our favorite comfort foods such as pizza. As the business grows, diversity will be a large part of survival. The connoisseur type client will grow to expect creative flavors and edibles to enhance their experience. In time, more edibles will be available as their popularity grows and medicinal marijuana becomes a more accepted part of the daily culture.