Pubdate: Wed, 16 Oct 2013
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2013 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Joshua Hutton

BEST STRAINS IN THE CITY, ETHICS COMPLAINT AND MORE

Watching the weed

Last week, Colorado Ethics Watch filed a campaign-finance complaint 
against No Over Taxation, a group opposed to Proposition AA. In order 
to combat the proposed retail-marijuana excise tax of 15 percent and 
sales tax of 10 percent, attorney Rob Corry has been passing out free 
joints at events in Denver and Boulder. One question, asks Ethics 
Watch: Who's funding the pot?

"Normally when we file complaints, we're dealing with an elaborate 
cover-up," says Luis Toro, the group's director. "However, that's not 
the case this time: Mr. Corry has been very open with us. We are 
dealing with legitimate misinformation and uncharted legal territory."

What makes the situation more complex is that the campaign finance 
report on file with the Secretary of State's Office indicates that no 
one has donated any money for the free marijuana.

"No money may have been fronted for the joints; however, I still 
think there's a value to the marijuana," says Toro. "Corry doesn't, 
but I do. Our hope is that this is resolved in time for people to 
cast an educated vote." The director is also hoping that the 
resolution sets a precedent for the use of marijuana in political campaigning.

Colorado citizens take to the polls Nov. 5 to decide on Prop AA.

Winner, winner ...

The results of the third annual Best Meds competition are in, and 
according to dailydoobie.com, first-place winners include Mountain 
Med Club for its Tangerine Haze, a sativa; Canna Caregivers for its 
Blue Cheese, an indica; Briargate Wellness Center for its hybrid 
Cheese Wreck; and Canna Caregivers again for its bubble hash.

The Colorado Springs-based contest, hosted by Rob and Sarah Tillery 
of Club 710 fame, gives MMJ patients the opportunity to vote on their 
favorites by picking up sample packets at participating centers.

Keef crumbs

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will go 
before the Board of Health on Wednesday, Oct. 16, to request a 
rulemaking hearing to change the MMJ application and renewal fee. The 
proposed new fee would be $22, instead of the current $35, "as a 
result of an excess reserve in the medical marijuana cash fund," 
reads a survey issued prior to the meeting.

To get a deeper look at marijuana advertising, the Colorado Springs 
chapter of the American Advertising Federation is hosting a panel of 
ad professionals, marijuana growers and industry experts. The event 
comes at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Tim Gill Center for 
Public Media (315 E. Costilla St., rmpbs.org/timgillcenter). RSVP to 
Kelsey Prescott  Admission is $12 for 
members and $17 for non-members.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom