Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO) Copyright: 2014 Colorado Springs Independent Contact: http://www.csindy.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536 Author: Bryce Crawford COLORADO CRACKS DOWN ON PLANT COUNTS, HOLDER WILLING TO RESCHEDULE CANNABIS, AND MORE Palmer Lake Still Out Last week, the voters of Palmer Lake rejected the option to overturn a ban on recreational-marijuana stores - barely. Just 57 votes separated the two sides, with 538 people voting to uphold the ban, and 481 people voting to allow RMJ. The Gazette quoted Palmer Lake Wellness Center owner Dino Salvatori as saying he would begin collecting signatures to ask the question again in November. Our call to the center was not returned by deadline. Why up, doc? Since 2000, it's been possible for recommending physicians to pencil in a higher allowable plant count for patients than just the default six. This could be necessary, for example, if somebody's making certain tinctures, which often require pounds of product instead of ounces. However, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on April 1 sent notice "to all physicians active on the Registry to inform them of changes in the process for ... recommendations in excess of the constitutional standard," thus tightening the rule. The state now says allowable proof includes "patient progress notes detailing dose related effects, lab results, and diagnostic testing results (e.g. EEG reports for patients with epilepsy). Physicians also must reference or provide copies of published, peer-reviewed studies supporting the medical necessity." Help us help you Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the Obama administration would be happy to look at rescheduling cannabis from its current status as a Schedule I substance - with "no accepted medical use" - with lawmakers' help. "It is something that ultimately Congress would have to change, and I think that our administration would be glad to work with Congress if such a proposal were made," Holder was quoted by The Huffington Post as telling the House Appropriations Committee. Keef crumbs The Colorado Small Business Development Network will host "Medical & Legalized Marijuana: The Impact on Small Businesses" at 8 a.m., Thursday, April 10, at the El Paso County Citizens Center (1675 Garden of the Gods Road, #1107, 667-3803). Tickets are $10. The Pueblo Chieftain reports that two more RMJ stores have been licensed to open in Pueblo County: Hashish House (428 S. McCulloch Blvd., pueblodispensary.com) and the Organic Seed (41 N. Precision Drive, coloradospringsmmj.com). Talking to the Dallas Morning News, Gov. John Hickenlooper explained his opposition to Amendment 64 this way: While he knew that the drug war has been "one of the worst social policy failures in the history of the country," he "didn't want Colorado to ... become the butt of late-night TV jokes." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D