THE STATE
Needy MMJ patients will get registry fee waived
Starting Dec. 1, low-income MMJ patients will not have to pay the Colorado Board of Health’s $90 registration fee, the Denver Post reports. Patients who want the fee waived must demonstrate that they are in need by, for example, qualifying for food stamps and earning a net income of less than $903 a month. Sales taxes will also be waived.
The Cannabis Therapy Institute had initially lobbied the board to reduce the fee to $10 for all patients. The fee was set at $90 after Amendment 20 passed in 2000.
Citizens group rises up to stop proposed dispensary ban
A Fort Collins group is opposing a proposal seeking to ban medical-marijuana centers, cultivation operations and marijuana-product manufacturing locally, the Denver Post reports. Citizens for Safer Neighborhoods says the proposed ban would deny access to medicine for more than 8,000 local patients, harm the local economy and prompt the black-market sale of cannabis, among other negative impacts.
“As long as medical marijuana is legal in Colorado, we need to have it regulated in controlled ways for people to access it if they have the right to,” Terri Gomez, of Citizens for Safer Neighborhoods, told the Post.
At press time, another group, Concerned Fort Collins Citizens, had submitted 7,579 signatures in support of the proposed ban to the City Clerk’s office. At least 4,214 of the submitted signatures must be from local registered voters. If this proposal were to move forward, the Council could adopt the plan or ask voters to weigh in as early as Nov. 1.
U.S. Rep Jared Polis: Legalize and tax cannabis
Congressman Jared Polis, who represents Colorado’s 2nd congressional district, believes the federal government should legalize and tax marijuana, according to an op-ed the U.S. representative recently wrote for the Wall Street Journal. Polis’ district includes Boulder, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster.
Polis proposed legalizing and taxing online gambling as well as cannabis as a way for the federal government to raise revenue (instead of taxes). The congressman has also co-sponsored (along with U.S. Reps. Barney Frank [D-Massachusetts] and Ron Paul [R-Texas]) the proposed Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011.
Pridefest announced for Aug. 29 in Boulder
The 8th annual Out Boulder Pridefest has been announced for Aug. 28 in Central Park, outboulder.org reports. The theme of the event is “Pride Around the World.” R&B singer (and season 2 American Idol contestant) Frenchie Davis is scheduled as the main stage’s headlining act. The fest will also include a family area, a beer and wine garden and vendors.
