In what can only be considered one of those "duh?" moments, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said last week that more than 4,200 medical marijuana registry applications are on hold after law officers observed potential patients being seen by someone other than a doctor. State law requires a legitimate doctor-patient relationship before a doctor can recommend medical marijuana. However, most Coloradans have long suspected or perhaps even personally known that the system of obtaining medical marijuana registry cards is subject to manipulation and fraud. [continues 206 words]
Sheriff, Former Mayor ADD Elbow Grease to Petition Drive Medical marijuana dispensaries and grow operations would be banned from Fort Collins under an ordinance proposed by a group of city residents that includes Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith. Supporters of the ban are expected to start collecting signatures for petitions backing the proposal as soon as Friday, city officials say. Proponents would have 60 days to gather the signatures of 4,214 registered Fort Collins voters to get the proposed ordinance before the City Council. If the petitions are picked up Friday from the city clerk's office, the deadline would be July 19. [continues 677 words]
A Loveland medical marijuana dispensary will have to close its doors by September despite pleas from its customers to keep it open. The Larimer County commissioners on Monday voted unanimously to deny a land-use application for Organic Roots, a medical marijuana center at 418 Eighth St. SE. The industrial area that houses the center is just outside Loveland city limits. The commissioners said the shop does not fit in with the area, which includes a few residential properties and may someday be annexed into the city of Loveland. City voters last year approved a measure banning medical marijuana businesses. [continues 513 words]
A judge on Tuesday denied a request to allow three Loveland medical marijuana dispensaries to remain open while attorney Robert J. Corry fights against cities prohibiting the sale of medical marijuana. Judge Daniel Kaup ruled in 8th Judicial District Court that the temporary restraining order and permanent injunction requested were not proved by three medical marijuana dispensaries and two unnamed medical marijuana patients, represented by Corry. "Granting an injunction would disserve the public," Kaup said. "It goes against the expressed voter will and the majority of voters in the city of Loveland." [continues 533 words]
The city of Loveland is not the only Colorado municipality with an issue about medical marijuana centers on its ballot this November. Loveland also is not the only city with a small but vocal group of supporters beginning campaigns to get voters to allow the licensing of the centers on a local level. Cities like Aurora and Broomfield have similar issues on the ballot, as well as some counties, like Garfield (home to Glenwood Springs) and El Paso. Other cities have ballot issues only on the taxation of medical marijuana centers, like Pueblo. [continues 1068 words]
A $54,000 price tag is enough to give anyone pause. So, it is little wonder the Loveland City Council balked last week when presented with that cost for placing a medical marijuana question on the November Larimer County ballot. Fortunately, city leaders talked themselves through this bout of sticker shock on Aug. 17 and agreed to continue with plans for asking residents whether to allow or ban medical marijuana businesses in the community. Although the 5-4 Council vote was extremely close on continuing with the election, it is important city leaders went forward with plans for seeking the community vote. [continues 97 words]
LOVELAND - Seven Loveland medical marijuana dispensaries have joined to form the Loveland Association of Wellness and recently drafted a resolution outlining the group's efforts to ensure their businesses are more acceptable to the community. Additionally, the businesses plan to host open house events from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Aug. 24. Anthony Freitag, co-owner of Paradise City Caregivers, said he hopes the open houses bring residents into the dispensaries, allowing them to see what the businesses do. [continues 102 words]
Seven Loveland medical marijuana dispensaries have joined to form the Loveland Association of Wellness and recently drafted a resolution outlining the group's efforts to ensure their businesses are more acceptable to the community. Additionally, the businesses plan to host open house events from 11 a.m. to noon Aug. 17 and Aug. 24. Anthony Freitag, co-owner of Paradise City Caregivers, said he hopes the open houses bring residents into the dispensaries, allowing them to see what the businesses do. [continues 257 words]
LOVELAND - While the Loveland City Council voted Tuesday on official ballot language to put the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries in voters' hands, shop owners were busy drafting suggested regulations and making their way to shops around town to help tame some of the more outrageous slogans and signs on dispensaries. During Tuesday's meeting, the council unanimously approved official language to place the issue on the Nov. 2 ballot. After some discussion, the ballot question was finally worded so that a "yes" vote means the voter wishes to allow the city to permit and license the dispensaries. [continues 410 words]
While the Loveland City Council voted on official ballot language to put the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries in voters' hands Tuesday, shop owners were busy drafting suggested regulations and making their way to shops around town in to help tame some of the more outrageous slogans and signs on dispensaries. During Tuesday's City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved official language to place the issue on the ballot for Nov. 2 of this year. After some discussion, the ballot question was finally worded so that a "yes" vote means the voter wishes to allow the city to permit and license the dispensaries. A "no" vote means [continues 393 words]
After more than four hours, the Loveland City Council ended discussion about medical marijuana dispensaries in the city with a 7-2 vote early Wednesday morning to suspend the licensing of such businesses, unless Loveland voters decide otherwise this November. A slew of passionate residents spoke to the council Tuesday night in defense of legal, licensed marijuana dispensaries. Many claimed to be card-carrying patients; others were business owners. Some admitted purchasing marijuana illegally before it was available as a legal medical treatment. [continues 957 words]
Earlier this month, Loveland resident Nancy Ulibarri stood before the Loveland City Council and asked for the right to vote on an issue dividing the community: medical marijuana. Ulibarri, a 16-year resident, is not a medical marijuana user. In fact, she opposes having medical marijuana dispensaries in the community because they provide too many opportunities for abuse, she said. Still, Ulibarri is a concerned resident who hopes to speak out about the city of Loveland's future. "I think that since this is such a controversial, hot-button issue, it's something that you should let Loveland's citizens decide," Ulibarri told the City Council. "It's not right to have nine people make a decision for the rest of us on this issue." [continues 129 words]
