U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary

THC driving limit's passage means pot critic William Breathes may never drive legally again

Yesterday, a marijuana activist said that a controversial THC driving bill, a version of which failed each of the past two years, appeared to be a lock for passage -- and he was right. The measure breezed through by a 24-11 vote despite what critics describe as an almost total lack of scientific evi ... More >>

THC driving bill up for final reading, activist fears passage after previous failed attempts

Yesterday, most of the drama at the State Capitol involved an Amendment 64 repeal proposal that fell short. But while that was happening, a THC driving standard proposal that had apparently been killed by a Senate committee last month not only rose from the dead but passed two readings. It's headed ... More >>

Marijuana: THC driving bill back from the dead, but will it get vote on Senate floor?

In addition to a provision calling for marijuana magazines to be treated like porn at general retail outlets, HB 13-1317, the main bill concerning the implementation of Amendment 64, features about twenty pages devoted to establishing a THC driving standard that was seemingly killed by a Senate comm ... More >>

Marijuana magazines to be treated like porn, and other oddities of main pot bill

Earlier this week, marijuana attorney Warren Edson gave us his first take on the House-approved draft of HB 13-1317, the main regulatory measure pertaining to the implementation of Amendment 64. Now, after weighing in on issues like vertical integration for retail pot shops and temporary exclusivity ... More >>

Marijuana: Law enforcers' letter to Hick freaks out over pot bills

We've been following the rapidly evolving marijuana bills intended to enact voter-approved Amendment 64, which allows adults 21 and over in Colorado to use and possess small amounts of cannabis. So, too, have assorted law enforcement groups -- and judging by a letter that several organizations sent ... More >>

DUI treatment: Bill attempting to separate treatment from probation supervision fails

A bill that would bar Colorado private probation companies from also providing chemical dependency treatment to an individual client has failed for the second year in a row. The question at the center of our cover story, "Blow Back," was whether providing both services was a conflict of interest. L ... More >>

Marijuana bills loaded with new amendments -- including one to revive THC driving limit

Yesterday, we noted that the marijuana bills needed to implement Amendment 64, which allows adults 21 and over in Colorado to use and possess small amounts of cannabis, would be facing their first tests. But the exams are far from over. The most high-profile of the bills squeaked out of its first c ... More >>

Marijuana: THC driving bill fails for third year -- but will it rise from the dead again?

Earlier this month, the latest version of a THC driving bill that had failed the past two years seemed to be on a steady march to passage despite e-mail protests and petitions. But no: Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-1 to squash the measure again. Why? One advocate believes the l ... More >>

Tom Clements: Murdered prison chief seen in new video urging drug-law reform

Tom Clements, the reform-minded head of the Colorado Department of Corrections who was murdered at his home last month by a parolee, makes a posthumous appearance in a new video advocating for one of his favorite causes: more substance abuse treatment for chronic, low-level offenders, freeing up cos ... More >>

Michael Bennet on the Group of Eight's introduction of massive immigration bill

Immigration has become more than a "hot-button" issue in the United States. It is a critical component to how the country functions in the foreseeable future. Undocumented immigrants are not going to stop coming into the country simply because there might be rules or laws against it. Instead, it's ... More >>

Marijuana: THC driving bill reaches senate committee next week -- right after 4/20

The current incarnation of Colorado House Bill 1114, the THC driving bill gained House approval earlier this month and is headed for the Senate Judiciary Committee next Monday, April 22, after the 4/20 weekend. Given that timing, several activists -- including Cannabis University founder Michelle L ... More >>

Marijuana legislative update: Dispensary tax deductions and more

Yesterday we told you about HB 1114, the THC DUI bill, which is headed to the floor of the House, where it could come up for approval as early as this week before being sent off to the Senate. While that and the pending legislation surrounding Amendment 64 are hot topics, a few lesser-known marijua ... More >>

Medical marijuana industry-related bills alive in House and Senate

A Colorado House bill that would create a marijuana responsible-vendor program in the state moved through a second Senate reading Monday without any amendments, paving the way to final approval on a third reading. If passed -- which seems likely at this point -- HB 1061 would allow the state Medica ... More >>

Marijuana: Eric Holder says fed response to Colorado law coming soon

Yesterday, eight former DEA administrators sent a letter to ranking members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (see it below), encouraging them to quiz U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder about why the Justice Department hasn't cracked down on Colorado and Washington state over their recently passed ma ... More >>

Marijuana: United Nations board says Colorado pot law violates international treaties

As we reported earlier today, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder didn't choose his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee to share the Justice Department response to marijuana laws in Colorado that contradict federal policy. The measures contradict international treaties, too, as a new rep ... More >>

Marijuana laws in Colorado, Washington should be nullified, say ex-DEA administrators

Tomorrow, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee -- and eight ex-heads of the Drug Enforcement Administration suggest that members ask him why the hell he hasn't brought the hammer down on Colorado and Washington state for their respective pot laws. That ... More >>

Rape kits: Michael Bennet touts bill to enhance evidence processing

Rebecca Gershten and Becca Beall Oschner know the importance of rape kits. In 2005, both women were victimized by serial rapist Brent Brents. Their rape kits helped lead to his capture. "Thankfully, our rape kits were processed in record time, which provided the proof necessary to arrest him," Gers ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Industry Group promotes new THC driving bill

Today, the Colorado General Assembly will meet in a special session called by Governor John Hickenlooper. The guv wants lawmakers to address issues left in limbo at the end of the regular term, including civil unions and a controversial THC driving bill that members of the Medical Marijuana Industry ... More >>

LGBT advocates fight Catholic Charities' threat to stop adoptions if civil unions are legalized

Video below.​Gay advocacy group One Colorado has started an online petition to fight against what it calls "scare tactics" by Catholic Charities, whose reps testified at the Capitol last week that if lawmakers legalize civil unions, it may stop providing adoption and foster care services. Why? ... More >>

Civil unions bill approved by Senate committee in emotional session

Update: After more than six hours of grueling public testimony and three senators on the verge of tears, a Senate committee approved the Colorado Civil Unions Bill. The measure, a step toward granting same-sex couples parental and property rights similar to those enjoyed by married couples, passed ... More >>

Same-sex couples could get a belated valentine from Senate Judiciary committee

The Colorado Legislature has a date with cupid a day after Valentine's Day. At 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the Colorado Civil Union Act in the old Supreme Court Chambers. The bill would provide same-sex couples the same legal protections and ben ... More >>

THC driving limits bill is back, may have votes to pass despite William Breathes's blood test

Morgan Carroll.​Update: HB 1261, a bill to set THC driving standards, was put on hold by the Senate judiciary committee last month -- and committee chairwoman Senate Morgan Carroll says Westword medical marijuana critic William Breathes's blood test was a factor in the decision. Now, though, ... More >>

Medical marijuana lobbyists out in force during HB 1043 committee hearing (PHOTOS)

Nancy Spence.​With medical marijuana clean-up bill HB 1043 under scrutiny from U.S. Attorney John Walsh, it's no surprise that the medical marijuana lobbyists were out in force when the measure went before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. Representatives of the Medical Marijuana Indus ... More >>

Letters: Readers thank pot critic William Breathes

THC driving bill on hold: William Breathes blood test results a factor, advocate says

Flickr​Yesterday, shortly before a senate committee took on a bill to set THC driving limits, Westword published the results of medical marijuana reviewer William Breathes's blood test, which showed he was almost three times over the proposed standard when sober. The committee subsequently dec ... More >>

THC blood test: Pot critic William Breathes nearly 3 times over proposed limit when sober

​Last week, in advance of today's Senate debate over a bill that would set THC driving limits, I had blood drawn (for a second time) to see just how much active THC was in my blood even after a night of sleep and not smoking for fifteen hours. As it turns out, I've got a lot. So much that I a ... More >>

Denver won't have a rhyme in time for National Poetry Month

Civil Union Act should pass in CO House if not blocked by extremists, says Sen. Pat Steadman

Pat Steadman.​Update below: Today, in all likelihood, SB 172, intended to legalize civil unions in Colorado, will be okayed by the state senate, following debate yesterday that warmed the heart of its sponsor, Senator Pat Steadman. Next, however, the bill must be approved by the Republican-con ... More >>

How the music industry will change in 2011

​In the past decade, the music industry has seen a lot of changes, but it has struggled to keep pace with technology, piracy and consumer demands. Already this year we've started to see a few more changes take shape, from crackdowns on piracy websites, a resurgence of interest in the currently ... More >>

Badlands: From Ground Zero of the Immigration Crisis Along the Mexican Border

Sex offenders get a reprieve from the Colorado Legislature

Two weeks ago, after a nine-hour public hearing on House Bill 10-1364, industry experts thought they'd successfully stomped out an effort to remove the words "no known cure" when referring to sex offenders. Ninety percent of the people who work in the field agree that there's no cure for extreme sex ... More >>

Mark Udall confirms arrangement with Senator Jeff Sessions over Stephanie Villafuerte nomination

Mark Udall supports an inquiry into the Cory Voorhis case.​Still no resolution in the case of ex-ICE agent Cory Voorhis, who's fighting to get his old job back years after being sacked for passing information from a restricted database to gubernatorial candidate Bob Beaprez. But an interesting ... More >>

Rob Corry says Chris Bartkowicz medical marijuana bust proof the DEA has gone rogue

Rob Corry doesn't want the DEA to go rogue anymore.​You didn't think attorney Rob Corry would remain silent after the Drug Enforcement Administration raid on the home of Chris Bartkowicz, did you? After all, Corry's among the most vocal of all Colorado's medical marijuana advocates, and if he ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: The next election's a year away, and we're still cleaning up 2006

​The 2010 election is less than a year away, and judging from this past Tuesday's vote, things are going to get plenty messy. But here in Colorado, we're still cleaning up after the dirty dealings of 2006. The gubernatorial race was particularly bad, with 527s and party operatives pushing the ... More >>

Wake Up Call: The week ahead -- when worse comes to verse

Before we were panicked about swine flu and twisted by torture-memo leaks, we were terrified by the Devil Horse, Luis Jimenez's killer sculpture that stands guard outside Denver International Airport, its red eyes shooting deadly lasers at unsuspecting passersby. Or are those glowing orbs actually ... More >>

Did Governor Ritter flip-flop on needle exchange?

Photo from Wikipedia Commons.Bill Ritter once supported needle exchange, but now he's silent on the issue. Listen to Ritter's testimony on a 1998 bill seeking to legalize syringe exchange in Colorado. Colorado lawmakers last tackled the legalities of syringe exchange -- the topic of this week's fe ... More >>

Janet Napolitano’s sorry service in Arizona makes her a terrible choice for Homeland Security secretary

Senators urge NFL to show games to more people. Because, you know, what else would senators have to do?

Grazin' Hell

Bush put former industry lobbyists in charge of public lands. Now a deal with a Wyoming rancher has the stewards running for cover.

Head of the Class

With his grades and high school activities, Pablo is an ideal candidate for college, except for one hitch: He's illegal.

R.A.V.E. Review

The R.A.V.E. Act could mean trouble for even legitimate promoters.

The Paper Chase

Elvis is dead -- but Columbine lives on.

Follow That Story

Colorado Legislators Play It Safe

Off Limits

Saying goodbye to one of Denver's more interesting journalists.

Off Limits

Making Book on Bill Owens

Questions about the religious right are this GOP candidate's cross to bear--or is that bare?

Letters

The Marlboro Woman

The AG's campaign fund is nicotine-stained--and critics say she's dragging her feet on tobacco suits.

The Senator's Son Was Indiscreet

Once upon a time, Hank Brown's appointee for a federal judgeship bailed out young Harry Brown.

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