Dr. Ned Calonge, the Chief Medical Officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, is leaving his post in November to serve as president of The Colorado Trust. Below, Calonge talks in detail about the decision to rejoin the private sector, his goals at the Trust, and his…
Yesterday, Cannabis Therapy Institute’s Laura Kriho criticized Governor Bill Ritter’s proposal to use $9 million in medical marijuana fees to help make up for a budget shortfall. But Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation’s Matt Brown, sees the move as evidence medical pot is becoming increasingly entrenched in the system. “It…
Although Governor Bill Ritter signed medical marijuana bills earlier this year, he’s never been a big fan of the stuff. Still, he hopes to use $9 million in MMJ fees to help fill a $60 million budget hole — a decision that angers advocates upset by the tremendous backlog of…
While most ganjapreneurs have been focused on dispensaries and grow facilities, Vincent Palazzotto stands out for focusing on the needs of struggling patients. He’d already helped to start the non-profit Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of the Rockies (MMAPR) to provide low-cost services for indigent patients. Now he’s launched a new…
At 8:30 a.m. this morning, a preliminary hearing is scheduled in the case of medical marijuana caregiver Joseph Lightfoot, who’s charged with child abuse simply for growing pot in his home. Riah McBee can identify with Lightfoot’s situation. Last year, he faced similar accusations, and had to fight for months…
In July, attorney Rob Corry outlined his appeal on behalf of Frank Marzano, who was convicted of marijuana charges in 2007 after a search for a fugitive turned up medical marijuana. Two weeks ago, the Colorado Court of Appeals tossed the Marzano case on illegal-search-and-seizure grounds. But John Suthers isn’t…
Last month, we told you about Joseph Lightfoot, a man accused of child abuse simply because he grows marijuana in his home — something he’s authorized to do thanks to his caregiver status. Tomorrow, Lightfoot will appear at a preliminary hearing in Denver County Court — and attorney Dan Murphy…
Hundreds of medical marijuana clinics have opened across the metro area — it’s hard to throw rock and miss one. And while some would argue there too many, one benefit has been that once-vacant storefronts and buildings have been given a new lease on life as a pot shop. Some…
Chris Bartkowicz, the medical marijuana grower busted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in February after an on-camera interview with 9News, is hoping that a gaffe by the Associated Press isn’t a foretelling of the future…
Dr. Ned Calonge, who’s spent the past eight years serving as Colorado’s chief medical officer, will be leaving at the end of 2010 to take the top post at the Colorado Trust, a health foundation. During his tenure, Calonge has tackled health calamities as varied as anthrax scares, water-contamination crises…
The Wildflower Seed felt like a kid in a candy store when she stopped by Sweetleaf Compassion Center, our latest review of dispensaries. And our online dispensary directory can lead you to the sweets you’ve been craving. Click here to access our newly updated medical-marijuana directory…
This dispensary has closed. In “Mile Highs and Lows,” Westword offers a no-holds-barred look at what goes on behind the locked doors of marijuana dispensaries, whether they resemble swanky bars, sterile dentist’s offices or a dope dealer’s college dorm room. See our current dispensary list here, and keep reading for…
Correction: Representative Tom Massey, R – Poncha Springs, was responsible for the “genie in a bottle” quote originally referenced in this blog post — and now deleted. Our apologies. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers was recognized by his peers yesterday for his enforcement of drug laws across the state. Yes,…
Inspired by our own “Top 3 reasons why your bartender hates you” and “8 Reasons why your drug dealer hates you” from our sister paper, LA Weekly, we here at Mile Highs and Lows decided to throw together the entirely Top 5 Reasons Why Your Budtender Hates You…
It’s been 48 days since I first wrote about sending in my application to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for my Medical Marijuana Registry card — and still no sign of my new red card. The fact that they haven’t even cashed my check yet leads me…
Early Sunday morning, the body of Ken Rose, a man in his fifties, was found on the property of a medical marijuana farm in Pueblo County, where he is said to have worked as a watchman. But thus far, authorities don’t know if foul play was involved — and neither…
Which medical marijuana patients deserve financial assistance — and how long should they wait for it? This question arose during debate over House Bill 1284, part of the state’s new package of medical marijuana laws. Now, the health department’s new medical marijuana advisory group is trying to come up with…
While attorney Sean McAllister is taking on Westminster’s medical marijuana dispensary ban in court, the MMJ backers at the Cannabis Therapy Institute is helping those who want to use a petition to challenge a similar prohibition in Broomfield. Advocates have until August 20 to get 1,300 signatures to ask city…
Earlier this week, we told you about a lawsuit against Westminster’s medical-marijuana dispensary ban, which attorney Sean McAllister hopes will serve as a test case to challenge all such prohibitions in Colorado. But the prospect of litigation isn’t stopping municipalities from considering imposing such limits. Yesterday, El Paso County spent…
Last month in this space, dispensary owner and veteran Wanda James shared her excitement about the decision by the Veterans Health Administration to allow vets to use medical marijuana. But “excitement” isn’t a word that leaps to mind after reading the VHA’s directive on this policy shift. The majority of…
In his latest medical marijuana dispensary review, of Denver Relief, William Breathes is recognized. Busted! Meanwhile, other MMJ connoisseurs recognize our dispensary listings as indispensible. Click here to access our newly updated medical-marijuana directory…
In “Mile Highs and Lows,” Westword offers a no-holds-barred look at what goes on behind the locked doors of marijuana dispensaries, whether they resemble swanky bars, sterile dentist’s offices or a dope dealer’s college dorm room. See our current dispensary list here, and keep reading for William Breathes’s review of…
