How did this former district attorney explain his reasons for backing legislation that many law-enforcement officials around the state absolutely loathe? By arguing that they "strike a delicate balance between protecting public safety and respecting the will of the voters."
That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. But from a political standpoint, it makes sense to emphasize that a legislative solution had to be found in the wake of Amendment 20's passage almost a decade ago.
Here's Ritter's complete statement, along with a roster of other bills to which he added his signature:
GOV. RITTER STRENGTHENS MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVERSIGHTGov. Bill Ritter today signed two bills that will increase oversight of voter-approved medical marijuana in Colorado by strengthening the rules for dispensaries and physicians.
"In my State of the State Address in January, I called on the legislature to work with my office, law enforcement, the medical marijuana community and other stakeholders to bring bipartisan, common-sense solutions to the chaotic proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries in communities all around Colorado," Gov. Ritter said. "The companion measures I signed today strike a delicate balance between protecting public safety and respecting the will of the voters.
"House Bill 1284 provides a regulatory framework for dispensaries, including giving local communities the ability to ban or place sensible and much-needed controls on the operation, location and ownership of these establishments," the Governor said. "Senate Bill 109 will help prevent fraud and abuse, ensuring that physicians who authorize medical marijuana for their patients actually perform a physical exam, do not have a DEA flag on their medical license and do not have a financial relationship with a dispensary."
Gov. Ritter also signed the following bills into law this morning:
HB10-1005 Home Health Care
HB10-1033 Screening Brief Intervention Referral
HB10-1073 Colorado 2-1-1 Checkoff
SB10-002 Medical Ins Coverage Denials Appeals
HB10-1118 Reg Distressed Real Prop By Cnty Commrs
HB10-1125 Regulate Grease Collection & Disposal
HB10-1133 Foreclosure Amend Equity Purchaser Prov
HB10-1181 DPA Administrative Clean-up
HB10-1221 Sunset Licensing River Outfitters
HB10-1241 Register Fire Suppress Sprinkler Fitters
HB10-1278 Create HOA Ombudsman
HB10-1293 Study Ag Exemption Prop Tax
HB10-1329 Solid Waste User Fees
HB10-1334 Public Indecency And Indecent Exposure
HB10-1362 Inactive Special Districts
SB10-120 Prepaid Wireless Phone 911 Surcharge
SB10-181 Municipal Authority To Lease Land
HB10-1383 Funding Financial Assistance Higher Ed
HB10-1388 Cash Fund Transfers Augmnt Genl Fund
HB10-1391 Sunset Instacheck Firearm Transfer
HB10-1395 Interlocutory Appeals In Civil Cases
HB10-1401 State Info Tech Management
HB10-1405 Require State Highway Devolution Study
HB10-1408 Repeal Congressional District Criteria
HB10-1411 Natl Instant Crim Background Check Sys
SB10-199 Probate Code Revisions
HB10-1431 Renew Energy Facility Prop Tax Valuation
SB10-213 Suspension 2010 Interim Committees
For a complete list of Gov. Ritter's 2010 legislation decisions, visit www.colorado.gov/governor or click here.
