Earlier today, it seemed like HB 1284, the bill to regulate the medical marijuana industry, had cleared its highest hurdles. But more obstacles lie ahead. Today, Charlotte Jackson, assigned to the legislative bill room at the state capitol, confirms that the House rejected the changes to HB 1284 made by…
On March 31, Erick Schmuckal was taken from a Broomfield courtroom to a cell for violating his probation by acting as a medical-marijuana patient and caregiver, as he’s licensed to do in Colorado. Yesterday, Schmuckal told us about his three weeks-plus in jail, as well as his upcoming fights against…
On March 31, Erick Schmuckal was transported from a Broomfield courtroom to jail for violating probation — by acting as a medical marijuana caregiver and patient, which he’s licensed by the State of Colorado to do. Schmuckal was originally sentenced to 120 days. But while he only served a little…
It’s been a busy day for the Corry family. Earlier today, attorney Jessica Corry spoke about a legal and industry coalition formed to potentially sue over portions of HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill nearing passage. Now, her husband and fellow attorney Rob Corry is going after Senator Scott…
The Daily Show’s send-up of the Denver medical-marijuana scene earlier this week didn’t thrill everyone in the MMJ community. Westword marijuana critic William Breathes, in a post about what viewers didn’t see, noted reading “blogs and posts from folks in the Colorado MMJ community… about how they were disappointed in…
Although HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill (read the latest version here), has been passed by the Senate, it won’t be law until the Colorado House and Governor Bill Ritter sign off on it. Nonetheless, the measure already faces the promise of legal challenges. Today, attorney Jessica Corry, who…
Even the wiseacres at The Daily Show have noticed Denver’s booming medical marijuana scene — not to mention William Breathes, one of our MMJ critics. But Breathes isn’t just a pretty face (albeit one whose mug was obscured by smoke and more during his Daily Show appearance) — and he…
As Colorado’s medical-marijuana industry grows, marijuana dispensaries of all types and sizes are proliferating around the state. Some resemble swanky bars or sterile dentist offices; others feel like a dope dealer’s college dorm room. To help keep them all straight, Westword is offering a no-holds-barred look at what goes on…
As we reported yesterday afternoon, HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill, was passed by the Senate on its second reading — and at least at this writing, it appears to be on the fast track to passage and a trip to Governor Bill Ritter’s desk. As for the bill…
For the most part, the marijuana movement has long been seen as a predominantly male group — but that’s about to change. Just in time for Mothers Day, a variety of local pot activists (most of them female) are launching the Women’s Marijuana Movement with the belief that the fairer…
Is HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill, on the cusp of passage? Could be. The state senate passed the bill on its second reading this afternoon, pushing it one crucial step closer to becoming law. As Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation’s Matt Brown concedes, the measure could still be…
For the last few weeks I’ve been curious as to how The Daily Show would use the three-plus hours of footage they got with me last month. I was paraded around the Westword office in a gas mask bong, got to burn a bowl in the conference room, took over…
In February, HIghlands Ranch’s Chris Bartkowicz showed off his home medical marijuana grow to Channel 9, after which he was promptly busted by the DEA — an arrest that earned criticism from MMJ advocate Rob Corry and even Representative Jared Polis. Despite such support, Bartkowicz reportedly planned to plead guilty…
Earlier today, we told you about five new amendments being floated by Senator Chris Romer and others in relation to HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill, which the senate is scheduled to debate today. Just last week, Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation’s Matt Brown declared that “enough was enough”…
Yesterday, we told you about another batch of eleventh-hour amendments to HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill, by co-sponsoring Senator Chris Romer, who’d previously suggested banning 21-year olds from dispensaries, among other things. The bill is slated to reach the Senate floor today, but that doesn’t mean the amendments…
The Daily Show’s long awaited dissection of Denver’s medical marijuana industry finally reached the screen last night, and the results were smokin’. Along with the anticipated ganja gags (a pile of cheeseburgers makes a guest appearance), correspondent Jason Jones stumbled upon a real story: The competition between larger dispensaries, represented…
The Grand Hyatt Denver will be hopping this Saturday, as folks gather to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, the local drug-policy reform organization better known as SAFER. Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, Denver City Councilman Chris Nevitt, and columnist and morning show host David…
The story that led Channel 31’s newscast last night — about dogs eating marijuana edibles — was remarkable in a couple of ways. The cutesy, goofy opus, which gobbled up the first five minutes of the newscast (see it below), was impossible to parody, since it pretty much satirized itself…
An attempt to kill HB 1284, the medical marijuana regulatory bill, fell short yesterday — and that’s fine by Sensible Colorado’s Brian Vicente, a prominent MMJ advocate. “I think we’re seeing desperation on the side of law enforcement,” he says, “and I also think they can’t see the forest for…
Yesterday, a last-ditch effort by Republican lawmakers to derail HB 1284, a bill to regulate the medical marijuana industry, by pushing MMJ questions to the November ballot failed. That means the legislation is expected to reach the senate floor this week — yet Senator Chris Romer is still interested in…
Last Wednesday, we shared with you the flurry of alterations made by a senate committee in HB 1284, a bill intended to regulate the medical marijuana industry. On Friday, the bill headed to an appropriations committee, where significant shifts weren’t anticipated. But while the main fight is still expected to…
There have got to be safer places to cultivate marijuana than in Broomfield. Cops there are among the most aggressive in the state when it comes to busting weed grows. Note that the late March arrest of Brian Joseph Strick was the fourth pot-cultivation bust there over a 45-day span…
