Pubdate: Wed, 24 Dec 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
Column: CannaBiz

STATES SUE OVER CANNABIS, COLORADO APPROVES RESEARCH MONEY AND MORE

Or change your laws

As the beginning of the lawsuit filed last week puts it, "Come now 
the States of Nebraska and Oklahoma, by and through their Attorneys 
General" ... to stop legalized marijuana. The states are suing the 
state of Colorado in the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to get the 
federal government to curtail Colorado's industry.

The joint suit cites the Controlled Substances Act and various 
international treaties in its argument. It requests the Supreme Court 
declare Amendment 64 unconstitutional, stop Colorado from further 
implementing legal marijuana and, of course, pay the states' attorney fees.

"In passing and enforcing Amendment 64, the State of Colorado has 
created a dangerous gap in the federal drug control system enacted by 
the United States Congress," reads Point 7 of the suit, which you can 
read in its entirety at tiny.cc/tsgarx. "Marijuana flows from this 
gap into neighboring states, undermining Plaintiff States' own 
marijuana bans, draining their treasuries, and placing stress on 
their criminal justice systems."

Observers are skeptical, with Vanderbilt University law professor 
Robert Mikos writing, "Not surprisingly, I think the suit lacks 
merit. As I've explained before, Congress can't force states to 
criminalize marijuana." The Marijuana Policy Project is circulating a 
petition to get the states to withdraw the suit, drawing almost 
15,500 signatures as of early this week. For his part, Colorado 
Attorney General John Suthers, a candidate for Colorado Springs 
mayor, says his office is "not entirely surprised by this action" but 
"will vigorously defend against it in the U.S. Supreme Court."

Meanwhile, investors at ArcView Group say the 2014 national cannabis 
industry was worth $1.5 billion, and forecasts growth to $10.2 billion by 2018.

New research, maybe

Last week, the Colorado Board of Health approved $8.4 million in 
grants to organizations interested in studying the effect of cannabis 
on various ailments. The approved research includes Parkinson's 
disease, brain tumors in children, post-traumatic stress disorder - 
which the board has repeatedly refused to add to the list of approved 
maladies that warrant an MMJ card - childhood epilepsy, IBS and spinal pain.

The funds come from registration fees paid to join the medical 
marijuana registry, which the Patient and Caregiver Rights Litigation 
Project, led by Kathleen Chippi, says is illegal. The group is suing 
the state to block the grants, reports the Denver Post.

New year already?

Party with Studio A64 (332 E. Colorado Ave., studioa64.com) at its 
NYE 2015: Infusion Gala Dinner. Held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 31, 
it features three courses infused with cannabis with "VIP access to 
upper and lower deck party." Tickets are $49.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom