Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jan 2014
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Section: Cannabiz
Copyright: 2014 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Bryce Crawford

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION AT MAGGIE'S FARM, CITY COUNCIL WANTS LOWER POT
PENALTIES AND MORE

All's well at the farm

Though the state's regulations ban the use of some 60 chemicals in the
growing process, Maggie's Farm (maggiesfarmmarijuana.com) was recently
certified to be free of more than 300 different synthetic pesticides
and fertilizers. The recognition comes from Clean Green Certified, a
California-based business that says it uses the same criteria as the
USDA's National Organic Program.

"We're not doing anything different than we were before," says owner
Bill Conkling, "but we finally got somebody to come out and actually
acknowledge and legitimize why we can call our product a premium product."

With two Maggie's MMJ centers in Colorado Springs, and recreational
locations planned in Pueblo County and Manitou Springs, it's a product
headed for ever more people. Conkling says he's ready for it,
especially considering he says he applied for a license in Manitou the
day after Colorado Springs announced its ban.

"Sure, I expect it to be busy. I mean, it's only one of two in all of
El Paso County," he says of his Manitou location, which is tentatively
slated to open to RMJ in late April. (Absolute Manitou Wellness Center
will be the other.) Luckily, the space at 141 Manitou Ave. has "more
capacity to do more sales than my largest, newest center has."

'We're overreacting'

At Monday's work session, Colorado Springs City Council directed city
staff to come back in two weeks with ordinances prohibiting the
possession of marijuana on city property, including the airport,
changed to no longer include jail as a possible penalty.

"I understand the need for something at the airport, to protect
ourselves from any federal regulations in the airport," said City
Councilor Jan Martin. "But in the rest of the city I really think it
should be treated like alcohol. And just like Councilor [Joel] Miller
said, I don't want this showing up on somebody's record as a drug
violation when it's legal in the state of Colorado. I think we're
overreacting a little bit with these penalties."

Keef crumbs

According to the Associated Press, the Colorado Supreme Court will
soon hear the case of former Dish Network employee Brandon Coats, who
was fired in 2010 after a drug test revealed marijuana use. Despite
our state having increasingly progressive pot laws, nothing restricts
employers from similar actions, and the Colorado Court of Appeals last
year upheld the initial ruling that the firing was legal.

Attorney General Eric Holder made headlines last week for saying in a
speech that the federal government would soon announce rules that
allow banks to work with marijuana businesses. However, notes
POLITICO: "Such a legal memo wouldn't be enforceable in court and
would amount to less than the kind of clear safe harbor many banks say
they would want before accepting money from pot businesses." 
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