Pubdate: Tue, 07 Sep 2010
Source: Denver Daily News (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Denver Daily News
Contact:  http://www.thedenverdailynews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4274
Author: Peter Marcus
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?277 (Cannabis - Medicinal -  Colorado)

MMJ PATIENT TRACKING?

Medical Pot Advocates Concerned About Draft Rules for Industry

Medical marijuana advocates are concerned that proposed new 
regulations for the industry will result in patient tracking, scaring 
patients away from wanting to be a part of the system.

The Cannabis Therapy Institute is asking advocates to oppose the 
draft rules by the Colorado Department of Revenue because they say it 
will lead to fear.

The rules, released at the end of August, consist of 92 pages of 
proposed regulations. Much of it will become the basis for permanent 
regulations for the burgeoning medical marijuana industry in 
Colorado, and perhaps set a template for states across the nation.

But while state regulators say they are only developing 
"protections," patients and advocates are arguing that the rules 
would violate constitutional rights to privacy as a patient.

"Caregivers reluctantly gave up their constitutional right to provide 
medicine to their patients, and now they are faced with volumes of 
new regulations and thousands of dollars more in costs to bring their 
'centers' into compliance," states an e-mail to supporters from the 
Cannabis Therapy Institute, referring to Medical Marijuana Centers, 
or dispensaries.

One of the draft rules calls for dispensaries to use surveillance 
cameras to record every transaction and processing step, known as 
seed-to-sale monitoring, says the Cannabis Therapy Institute, which 
has reviewed the entire proposal several times since it was released 
at the end of August at a Department of Revenue workgroup meeting on 
medical marijuana regulation.

Dispensaries would also be required to link their point-of-sale 
systems with their video surveillance systems, and patients would be 
required to place their medical marijuana registry cards and driver's 
license in a space on the counter so that the cameras could capture 
it. Advocates fear this move will lead to patient tracking and 
privacy violations.

Matt Cook, head of the Colorado Department of Revenue's Medical 
Marijuana Enforcement Division, explains the Web-based tracking 
system as necessary for enforcement. The system will be able to tell 
if a patient has visited multiple dispensaries, seeking to have 
multiple primary caregivers. Under Colorado law, a patient is 
technically only allowed to have one primary caregiver. Dispensaries 
will then be encouraged to turn the patient away.

"They have begun writing the hundreds of pages of regulations, which 
are forcing these formerly legal business owners out of business," 
says the Cannabis Therapy Institute.

The advocacy group for medical marijuana patients also believes the 
Web-based tracking system will scare people away from registering.

"If patients have to swipe a card and get into a government database 
every time they buy medicine, no patient will want to be part of the 
program," states the Cannabis Therapy Institute.

Cook, however, sees the issue as being about enforcement and fairness.

"This is all about a level playing field and putting some protections 
in place," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom