Colorado issues first medical-marijuana business licenses in U.S.

[kpete]

Source: The Denver Post

Colorado issues first medical-marijuana business licenses in U.S.
The Denver Post
POSTED: 10/27/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT
UPDATED: 10/27/2011 07:57:15 AM MDT



Colorado has begun issuing the first state medical-marijuana business licenses in the nation, the culmination of a more than year-long application process for dispensaries and marijuana- infused-products makers.

The state has issued 11 licenses to businesses in Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Littleton, according to the state Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division of the Department of Revenue. Another seven have been notified they are likely to receive a license. And the state has sent out letters to local governments for 467 dispensaries and products-makers to double-check that those businesses have local approval — one of the final steps in the licensing process.

The first license to a Denver business was presented Wednesday to Dr. J's owner Tom Sterlacci at a meeting of an industry workgroup. The presentation received a standing ovation.

"It's very historic," Sterlacci said. "Now we're not standing alone with the feds. We have the city and the state standing with us."




Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/marijuana/ci_19202854#ixzz1bzf9dcBr

[tridim]

1. Impossible, DU told me Obama was "cracking down" on legal MMJ

This simply can not happen.

K&R BTW.

[Fuddnik]

2. Who are these "feds" he's refering to?

Read the last paragraph.

"Medical-marijuana advocates say Colorado's regulations for cannabis businesses are the most comprehensive in the nation, and they credit the rules' thoroughness with shielding the businesses from federal raids. John Ingold, The Denver Post"

[tridim]

4. Unfortunately Cannabis is still illegal federally.

The potential remains for federal raids by the DEA even though the Obama Administration ordered them to stop raiding state legal MMJ operations.

[frylock]

5. perhaps the obama administration needs to be a little more forceful..

in reiterating their desire to allow MMJ dispensaries to remain open at the states discretion. somehow i don't think that will be forthcoming. do you?

[Fozzledick]

6. Nope!

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread, kpete.:thumbsup:

[Defectata]

7. We're also trying to get a measure on the ballot

to straight-out decriminalize marijuana in 2012. Arguments are ongoing on how to word the resolution, but essentially I hope it ends up being something like "regulate like alcohol".

BTW, remember that federal agencies need local boots on the ground to do most of their bidding. The more clout local government gives MMJ establishments, the harder it is to get LEOs to cooperate.

[musiclawyer]

8. Make it simple

word it such that all laws criminalizing cannabisd and hemp are repealed

place the licensing of retail sales and duty to draft regulations under the jurisdiction of the department that regulates liquor

place public education under the jurisdiction of the state dept of health

place tax collection and rate setting and regulations thereto under the jurisdiction of the revenue department

exempt from licensing all home from growing up to a small fixed number of live plants with hefty fines for violations. The latter is key; you want incentives to keep home grow completely separate from commercial. When the lines are blurred there tends to be chaos and conflict from third parties.

[RainDog]

9. k&r n/t