Despite being one of the first states in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana, Colorado gets a C+ when it comes to ensuring patient access to the drug, a national medical cannabis advocacy group said in a new assessment. Americans for Safe Access said it downgraded Colorado this year because of a new law that […]
medical marijuana
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: After 20 years, it’s clear that marijuana is not ‘medicine’
In 2000, Colorado bought a pig in a poke. We truly didn’t know what we were getting. Can we finally admit it? It may have seemed like a good thing in 2000. We voted to legalize the use of marijuana for certain medical conditions that were known to be accompanied by chronic pain, nausea and […]
Posted inHealth, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers’ effort to curb illegal use of high-potency marijuana by teens is stoking privacy concerns
State lawmakers and medical marijuana patient advocates are concerned that a bill at the Colorado state Capitol to regulate cannabis concentrates, in part by tracking purchases, could compromise patient privacy. Colorado uses “seed-to-sale” software known as METRC to track cannabis production from the moment a seed is planted to when it’s harvested, turned into a […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers aim to enact strict new regulations on marijuana concentrate, medical cannabis
Marijuana concentrate and medical marijuana would be subject to strict new regulations under a bill introduced Friday in the Colorado legislature that’s aimed at curbing teen use and adult overconsumption of high-potency cannabis. House Bill 1317 would require that dabs — concentrated cannabis that comes in a wax form and is made by extracting THC […]
Posted inEducation, Health, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Senate passes bill making it easier for children to receive cannabis-based medication at school
Colorado’s Senate has passed legislation to make it easier for children with complicated medical conditions to receive cannabis-based medication at school. Wednesday’s 33-1 vote sends the bill to the House. One champion of the legislation is Republican Senate minority leader Chris Holbert, who cited emotional testimony by Benjamin Wann, a Douglas County student who takes a cannabis-based […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, Health, Politics and Government
How much do we know about marijuana’s medical capabilities after 163 years of claims? Just a little.
It’s not so much the claims made about the magic qualities of cannabinoids that prick up the ears — curing tuberculosis, anxiety, chronic pain, liver disease. Pretty standard hype in a world of consumers slathering themselves inside and out with anything labeled CBD or THC. It’s the year. The advertising hype about miraculous treatment of […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Why military veterans should have expanded access to medical cannabis
I am a military veteran, and cannabis saved my life. I served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2008 to 2015 before being honorably discharged. During my time in service I suffered multiple injuries ranging from overuse injuries to my knees, hips, back and blast […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, News
Greeley still shuns marijuana, but it’s starting to embrace hemp as a new cash crop
Five years ago, Clifford Clift would have been disgusted by the fragrant plants growing in his backyard. That’s the devil’s weed, he would have said through gritted teeth, probably with some dad joke about how the world was going to pot now that his state was legalizing marijuana. Now Clift, at 79, plants 7 acres […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Lobbying spending sets new record in Colorado, as interests shift to influence Democratic-controlled Capitol
The aggressive agenda pursued by Colorado’s Democratic-controlled legislature this year – including bills on oil and gas regulation, family leave policies, climate change and health care – contributed to record spending on lobbying. Business interests, associations, nonprofits and other groups spent more than $36.4 million on lobbyists in fiscal year 2019 to influence Colorado lawmakers […]
Posted inBusiness, News
Where does Colorado’s marijuana tax money go? The state made a flow chart to answer the $1 billion question
Marijuana sales tax collection since recreational sales began in 2014 in May surpassed $1 billion, Colorado officials said Wednesday. That’s a major milestone for a burgeoning industry, which has sold more than $6.5 billion in that time period. Colorado now has almost 3,000 licensed marijuana businesses and more than 40,000 people who are licensed to […]