cannabisnews.com: Postcard from Denver
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Postcard from Denver
Posted by CN Staff on February 27, 2010 at 05:03:56 PT
By Rita Healy
Source: Time Magazine
Colorado -- Walk into the basement showroom of the Colorado Patient Coalition, a marijuana dispensary located in a small medical plaza on the northern outskirts of Denver, and your nostrils fill with the same pungent odor that once stank up your college roommate's underwear drawer. But the visual cues are at odds with the Steppenwolf playing on the sound system: a uniformed security guard leans by the door, while grass is displayed in neatly labeled jars under glass. Along one wall is a large, horizontal one-way window, behind which, one assumes, are eyes sharper and brighter than those of the clerks and customers.
Fourteen U.S. states have voted to allow medical marijuana since California first legalized it in 1996; Colorado voters did so by amending the state constitution in 2000. But with drug possession still a federal offense, it wasn't until the Justice Department said in October it would refrain from prosecuting medical-marijuana cases that dispensaries began to proliferate. In Colorado, particularly, they've found fertile ground: when the first dispensary opened in the capital three years ago, it didn't even have a sign in the window. Today, according to an estimate by the Denver Post, the city has more pot shops than it does Starbucks, and twice as many as it has public schools. Denver is struggling to rein in its mushrooming number of pot stores. On Jan. 11, the city council passed an ordinance prohibiting on-site consumption of the drug and barring dispensaries from setting up within 1,000 ft. (300 m) of a school.But getting marijuana off Coloradans' minds might be tougher. The state has a waiting list 20,000 names long for the medical-marijuana cards that users must show at dispensaries. It's difficult to turn on local radio or TV without hearing about pot. Realtors assess how dispensaries affect local property values. Veterans debate pot's usefulness in treating posttraumatic stress disorder. In November, Westword, Denver's alternative weekly newspaper, hired a pot critic. Ricky Miller, a 50-year-old veteran who lost a foot in a medical mishap, still struggles with pain. "You get up in the morning, you sit on the edge of the bed, and you reach for your medicine. I use a water pipe," he says of his daily routine. "If I try to stand up without my medicine, I won't make it." For Miller, who volunteers at the Colorado Patient Coalition, medical marijuana is as necessary as his hospital bed, scooter, handicapped-access ramp and special lift chairs. And like them, it was recommended by a Veterans Affairs doctor. "Durbin Poison is a nice med. It won't wipe you out," Miller says to a young woman who has just walked in the door, sounding like a clerk in a high-end department store. "What will wipe you out?" she demands."Sour D," Miller replies. "Guaranteed."Like many in his field, he appears to sincerely believe that every customer is truly ill and will benefit from cannabis' medicinal properties. Yet the encounter puts into focus what many critics of the dispensaries allege: that they are increasingly the destination of choice for healthy folks who just want to get high — "18-year-olds breezing in and complaining about headaches," as a patient advocate describes them. Colorado's legislature is in the process of making things tougher for both customers and dispensaries. The state senate passed a bill that would require 18-to-21-year-olds to get approval from two doctors before allowing them access, and there's legislation afoot to require all dispensaries to be run as nonprofits. As of Feb. 8, Denver requires dispensary owners to undergo background checks, submit security plans and spend $5,000 in licensing and fees. Denver's 484 dispensaries already charge sales tax, which means that — financially, anyway — the city isn't hurting from their presence. In at least one way, they're even driving business: a dispensary security guard — an off-duty cop whose wife uses marijuana to alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia and who declined to give his name — says he is starting a security business that specializes in protecting pot shops. "There's a niche," he says with a shrug.Source: Time Magazine (US)Author: Rita Healy Published: March 8, 2010Copyright: 2010 Time Inc.Contact: letters time.comWebsite: http://www.time.com/time/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Vs4bEOB6CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #44 posted by Hope on March 03, 2010 at 13:07:25 PT
Pecking, backbiting thievery.
"... including around $8,000 in annual application, license and renewal fees."Yes, they're trying to peck people and businesses to death... and it seems they can do it.
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Comment #43 posted by FoM on March 03, 2010 at 08:02:29 PT
Boulder Works on Tougher MMJ Regulations
Boulder Works on Tougher Marijuana Dispensary RegulationsBy Dave Young, Reporter KDVR Denver March 3, 2010BOULDER - Boulder City Council heard lots of opposition to its proposed marijuana dispensary regulations Tuesday night.The city is proposing an ordinance that would create many of the same restrictions passed by Denver a few months ago, including around $8,000 in annual application, license and renewal fees."These fees, if we do come up with the money, I hate to say it but we'll have to pass these fees directly to our patients," said Adam Odoski, owner of the Village Green Society dispensary which opened in December.He operates one of about 105 Boulder dispensaries expected to generate nearly $1 million in tax and licensing revenue for the city this year. Odoski represented many who told city council members marijuana dispensary regulation is a two-way street."God did not create illegal plants," said Stephen Keenan, an advocate for moderate regulation, "And it's not just marijuana that we're talking about there's lot of plants on the planet that God put here for medicinal use."Opponents of the proposed ordinance as written say it will add tens of thousands of dollars to running what they call the "most burdensome and expensive business in Boulder right now.""If I sold guns I wouldn't have to go to my neighbor and say I sell guns, if I sold liquor which could kill people I wouldn't have to go to my neighbor and say I sell liquor, if I sold vicodin I wouldn't have to tell people I sell vicodin but because I sell marijuana which is harmless I have to go give my phone number and email to all my neighbors in case something happens," said dispensary owner Ryan Hartman."f you can be a caregiver and not a business really that distinction needs to be made more clear," said marijuana caregiver Brooke Wise.A few who spoke were in favor of even tighter regulation."So there's a likelihood of this dispensary drawing criminal behavior to our neighborhood, what are we supposed to do?" asked Bill Townsend, who said he's worried about the value of his townhome complex.After opening in December and already paying the city more than $600 in the sales tax, Odoski says Boulder needs to avoid cutting off a long-term revenue stream by driving many small shops out of business."Just a little bit more work needs to be done in conjunction with dispensary owners so they have a full understanding of what it means to manage a medical marijuana dispensary," he said.A coalition of groups wants the city to abandon current proposals and form a consensus building panel of dispensary owners and other caregivers, growers, city and law enforcement officials and work out regulations based on what's best for patients as well as everyone involved.Copyright: 2010, KDVR-TVURL: http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-boulder-pot-regs-030310,0,2451139.story
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Comment #42 posted by por1 on February 28, 2010 at 21:14:25 PT:
I am sure
hundreds of people if not thousands read through allot of what is said here.Its been the hottest topick for about a year here.Whether pro or con its on many minds.I see it as a good thing.Keep teaching becouse we have the attention of the masses.Fight reefer maddnes with truth and truth will someday win
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on February 28, 2010 at 19:23:12 PT
John Tyler
I wonder how many folks just stop by and check us out without commenting? With thousands of hits on some articles I would say many.
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Comment #39 posted by John Tyler on February 28, 2010 at 18:18:07 PT
Re #34
I read the article in the link. That plan is so lame I can’t believe it. I can see them wasting a lot more money and gaining nothing… again. Politicians are refusing to learn… again.
How about this… health care, education, and employment. Instead of more cops and corruption. People with their basic needs met are less likely to take up criminal activity to make a living.Great comments Hope.Welcome to our little group por1. I wonder how many folks just stop by and check us out without commenting?
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Comment #38 posted by Dankhank on February 28, 2010 at 18:03:56 PT
sick enough ...
Tintala and all ...I am a retired Army Officer and, as such, get most of my primary health care from a military hospital on an very busy Installation.Every young man/woman who comes to this hospital is a soldier, well-trained mentally and physically. No one I know says, "Why those boys and girls going to the hospital, they don't look sick?"They go to the doctor because ... they can. They got the best medical care in the world. No one else does, 'cept the rich, I imagine.If those soldiers were going there to get some Cannabis for their ills they might giggle, too.Instead they will get Motrin, Tylenol, some other pain remedy or other meds with peculiar side effects, whatever.
Nothing worth laughing about ... eh?
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Comment #37 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 17:47:20 PT
Hmmmm...
Bet beer, did they?
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Comment #36 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 17:42:29 PT
That ATT commercial
with the snowboarder snowboarding through space is very cool.
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Comment #35 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 17:13:05 PT
Those six steps in the ONDCP plan
have a powerful essence of Calvina Faye about them.
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Comment #34 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 14:21:28 PT
US-Mexico plan aims to cut drug use
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_14481819
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on February 28, 2010 at 13:35:53 PT
Hope
You said: I read where the feds, through local and federal authorities, are going to step up their attention to dealing with "users" of "drugs" in this country.The only thing I have read is in our state they will be going after people who are into selling pills or heroin. That has turned into a very big problem I have been told.
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Comment #32 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 13:18:32 PT
Por1
Welcome to C-News. I'm glad you decided to join us.If we can't figure out what you're trying to say, we'll likely ask you. But I bet we can.
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Comment #31 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 13:10:22 PT
Oh yeah...
I read where the feds, through local and federal authorities, are going to step up their attention to dealing with "users" of "drugs" in this country.
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Comment #30 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 13:06:10 PT
Dang it.
You may have to decipher that comment if you bother at all. I was trying to edit it, and it was mid edit and it seriously needed editing.... and instead posted it. Oops. So sorry.
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Comment #29 posted by Hope on February 28, 2010 at 13:03:24 PT
Please.
Patience.We have revolted against a grave injustice. We promised a war of words, reasoning, resistance, protesting, politics, and voting. We wanted to encourage people to think, instead of thoughtlessly supporting these disastrous drug wars. We promised talking and reaching out and cultivating, hopefully, sanity, with grace. Hopefully. We promised ourselves, "As long as it takes".My heart just went to such sad thoughts of Robin. She gave up too soon.Please. Patience will win, even against long standing injustice.I still believe that and hope that.Patience and love were lost when the Bower family was shot out of the sky. Patience and love were lost when Katherine Johnson was murdered by wildly violent agents of the government. Patience and love was lost at Rainbow Farm. What a horrible week that was.Just beware. Be cautious. Not paranoid. Cautious. Where is the power in Love, if there is any, or gentleness? Or intellect? It happened to all these Drug War Victims and more. Many more. And hideous things were done to people this side of death as well. The murdered and injured are far from the only victims of the war on drugs. http://victims.drugwarrant.com/ understanding and respecting human dignity even if those aligned against us don't. Have we reached the limits or lost all these yet?I understand wanting to fight, but we are fighting. I think we are. I think we've been pushing back against them... hard... for a very long time. I understand wanting to kick, to lash out, to grab someone in a headlock, and I understand wanting to defend yourselves, ourselves, and everyone else against this particular and blatant injustice and bad public policy. The prohibitionists haven't got much rug left under their feet.I still think we can do it. Maybe I'm wrong. But I think we can.Truth. Like Linda was talking about.
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Comment #28 posted by tintala on February 28, 2010 at 09:03:04 PT:
I work in a Dispensary part time in Boulder
The owner of the dispensary is my caregiver, I have learned alot from him, since our place was robbed last June, the moratoriums have thus gotten more rigid, aggressive and sometimes just random ignorance.I have seen it all there, boys 20 yrs old, coming in on skateboards, happily and gleefully choosing their kind bud as if they couldn't wait to show their friends... then another patient wheels himself to the (wheelchair unfriendly) entrance to our establishment. We pull him in to room where all the meds are, he says, 'I wish I could ride a skateboard to this place, those boys didn't look sick at all".. no doubt I say to myself, they probably suffer from "FINALS PTSD" lol... but really, when you see perfectly healthy kids coming into the dispensaries, you gotta wonder, what the HEck?Seems like since i became a mmj user, the cards are flying like candy, to ppl who don't really need em. Now there is a waiting list of 5,000 apps at the state... no wonder the legislature is acting up and trying to tighten regulations.... it's astonishing the amount of ppl who now consider themselves sick and need mmj.Boulder and Denver have more dispensaries now than liquor stores,which is ok by me, but it's makes for a huuuuge glut in the market here. I even haev neighbors applying to open a dispensary, it's like someone opened the flood gates...now the once "EMPTY" grow store i go to , has 2 lines out the freakn door and getting any type of personalized service is out of the question, the grow stores are busier than ever!!!!!. LOL.
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Comment #27 posted by por1 on February 28, 2010 at 08:39:23 PT:
FoM and runruff
Thanks for the welcome.It was mostly the two of you that made me decide to join in.These are quite the times we are living in.The state of Colorado is going nutts (as are many others)with MMJ.Half the state wants it leagal for all and the other half just wants it to go away.Its made political activists out of people that I would have never imagined would even care.The house and senate are flooded with calls and emails.They are having a rough time trying to regulate it becouse the people will not stand for to many restrictions.The feds are not looked at very kindly.The local cops for the most part now dont even bother.Quite the times
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Comment #26 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 20:27:50 PT
porl
Hopefully you will be judged by the content of your post and not by your grammar.Honesty and sincerity are what count with me.I like you already.
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 18:49:23 PT
por1
Welcome to CNews. We have good people on the site. We don't all always agree but we respect each others opinion and that is very important.PS: I will remove the extra post. That has happened to many of us.
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Comment #24 posted by por1 on February 27, 2010 at 18:40:01 PT:
plants and animals
are what keep me sane in this place and time that i live.
I have been watching the posts here for some time now.You guys are great and i thought that sence i am a colorado native , resident and mmj patiant/ex adict/ex felon/ex DEA target/and federal inmate I shouldnsay hi and you guys rock.Forgive my spelling i can read well but thereb is just something about english that i just dont get lol.
I have alot to say and this may be the place
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 11:17:02 PT
runruff
I could spend hours in my barn with my horses working with them and dreaming and not see anyone and I was very happy. I have always related to animals better then people.
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Comment #21 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 11:13:13 PT
I love animal stories...
...and does my Wife.My Wife adores animals, period!
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 11:04:14 PT
runruff
I would put mine in a pony cart and then my mom would let loose of the bridle and he would take off for about a mile or so and then stop. I mean stop. I had to get out and lead him home. I learned to turn him back towards home earlier so I didn't have to walk so far when he ran out of steam. LOL!
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 11:00:40 PT
runruff
You're so funny. Mine looked like the one on the right and he was a character. He sired a little Jenny and she was so soft and adorable.
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Comment #18 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 10:58:54 PT
BTW
I have alway loved mules and their free spirit.My Grandpa's Mules were named Henry and Mary, I rode them down to water many times!
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Comment #17 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 10:53:55 PT
Bush, Cheney and Walters all in one pic!
Aye, that's rare!
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 10:50:05 PT
runruff
Jackasses are cute animals in my opinion. I had one when I was a teenager and I named him Shadrach from the Bible story. LOL!Picture: http://drugsense.org/url/pcf6XtCL
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 10:47:04 PT
runruff
I understand what you mean. I am glad things are looking up for you. I am not patient because I want to see change in my productive lifetime but my oldest nephew who is just 5 years younger then me doesn't think marijuana legalization for everyone will happen in our lifetime but medical marijuana will. He is looking at this from not being involved in our issue. Some areas of the country just aren't even close yet but we'll keep moving right along.
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Comment #14 posted by BGreen on February 27, 2010 at 10:46:26 PT
jackasses just don't know when to quit!
It's easy, runruff. We quit when FoM tells us to quit. :)The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #13 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 10:34:51 PT
FoM and Friends..
I feel FoM and she is right!I need to take a step backward and take a deep breath!We have been through soooo much...I realize how keyed up I am and need to relax....?When the old mule retired from turning the stone at the griz mill, he spent the rest of his days walking in a circle around on old oak tree.What I am saying is some of us old jackasses just don't know when to quit!I'm getting tired though!
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Comment #12 posted by The GCW on February 27, 2010 at 09:45:34 PT
Hitler has a card
Good spoof Youtube video posted on the Denver Post about Summit county / colorado / cannabis politics.Colorado state Senate race latest in a line of ‘Hitler’ spoofshttp://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/26/colorado-state-senate-race-latest-in-a-line-of-hitler-spoofs/
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 09:17:19 PT
OT: Tsunami Advisory for Washington Coast
February 27, 2010A tsunami advisory has been issued for the coastal areas of Washington, Oregon, California, British Columbia and Alaska. The advisory comes after a massive earthquake off Chile sent waves across the Pacific Ocean.URL: http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=290506
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Comment #10 posted by ekim on February 27, 2010 at 07:57:03 PT
last year in Kal 1000 arrests for cannabis use
Charged dismissed in medical marijuana case in Kalamazoo; ruling gets into gray area of state lawhttp://www.mlive.com/kalamazoo/
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 07:55:41 PT
runruff
You are really good person. Thank you. This site is read by our enemies everyday. No one has ever gotten in trouble because of CNews. I have a heavy responsibility and take it all very seriously. Thank you so much for understanding.
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Comment #8 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 07:45:46 PT
FoM
My respect for you is immense, sometimes I am out of my element, sorry!
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 07:42:35 PT
runruff
I just had another thought. Years ago I watched a good forum get all kinds of radical people showing up because they followed a person to that forum. If that would happen to us then I have to deal with it and I really mind having to do that. I have serious issues going on in my life and I do want to keep my stress level down.
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 07:40:58 PT
FoM
I can see that maybe this line of talk is not right for this site? It just seems to fit that everyone here knows that there is and under-current out there that is not in the mood to take any bull. If I am off the track here I will pull it in for the sake of harmony on this site.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 07:37:58 PT
runruff
I don't know why we need to know about other conversations on other forums. Many of us aren't interested.
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Comment #4 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 07:35:12 PT
There are no threats intended here....
...or any where that I have heard?Suppose this and suppose that is not a threat.As for me? Am I doing anything wrong by reporting conversations I have heard over the internet?
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 07:27:00 PT
Hawaii Prepares Evacuations Ahead of Tsunami
I hope it doesn't hit Hawaii.URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61Q1A720100227
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 27, 2010 at 07:20:33 PT
runruff
I sure hope no one is threating anyone. They could possibly be arrested if they do.
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on February 27, 2010 at 06:41:49 PT
I have been up all night!
I have been talking with some serious men about the state of things, in Colorado mostly?Colorado should go ahead without fear. If I were DEA Agent I would get the heck out of that state now!Ruby Ridge and Waco are still battles cries for many.There would be a prize for the badge of Officer Sweetin a considered loud mouthed punk!Barack should put a steak in the heart of this demon child of Nixon's before they start the next civil war!There are men out there who carry the names and badge numbers of certain DEA Agents, ask "them" why? I would submit the name Ronald S. Wright, agent-punk-extraordinaire.This is only the natural course of events that was bound to take place in a country where fascism meets freedom head on!
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