Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Ingold

Marijuana Legalization's Aftermath

STATE MUST SET REGULATIONS

The head of the national organization that was the political brain 
behind marijuana legalization in Colorado said Thursday he would try 
to negotiate with the federal government on implementing the measure.

Rob Kampia, the executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, 
said he hoped to discuss with Justice Department officials how to 
regulate the marijuana stores that the measure creates. The goal, he 
said, is to create rules that would be "the least offensive to the 
federal government" in order to avoid a federal crackdown.

"I don't think they're going to issue a memo," Kampia said. "If we 
get any response from them, it will be verbal, and it will be private."

How the federal government, which considers marijuana possession and 
sales illegal regardless of state law, responds to the passage of 
Amendment 64 will determine what the law ultimately looks like in 
Colorado. A spokesman for Gov. John Hickenlooper said Thursday that 
Hickenlooper is scheduled to speak with U.S. Attorney General Eric 
Holder about the matter Friday.

The law gives lawmakers and state Department of Revenue officials 
until July 1 to adopt regulations for marijuana stores, which could 
start opening in January 2014. Mark Couch, a spokesman for the 
Revenue Department, said officials there are studying the issue but 
will wait for better direction on crafting regulations from the legislature.

State Sen. Pat Steadman, a Denver Democrat who has been heavily 
involved in creating regulations for medical-marijuana businesses, 
said lawmakers have only begun to think about regulating 
recreational-marijuana stores.

"It's not like everybody has it all figured out," Steadman said. 
"That remains to be seen."

Couch said the department will have to work quickly to write 
regulations after the legislative session ends in May. For 
comparison, it was a nearly year-long process for the department to 
write and implement medical-marijuana business rules.

"We consider it a very tight timeline," Couch said.

Kampia spoke Thursday at the opening day of the National Marijuana 
Business Conference, at the Sherman Street Event Center in Denver. 
The conference is a gathering of cannabis business owners- and 
prospective owners-from states where medical marijuana is legal or 
medical marijuana laws are being considered.

The Marijuana Policy Project provided more than $1.2 million in 
contributions and loans to the committee backing Amendment 64, state 
records show. It is a major backer - through financial and political 
muscle - for medical-marijuana and legalization campaigns nationwide.

Ed Rosenthal, a legendary marijuana grower, author and activist from 
California, said the votes will be an inspiration to activists in other states.

"It's going to be really dynamic as people realize it can be done," 
he said during a break.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom