Legalize it? Coloradans may get to vote next November on legalizing recreational marijuana use. At an info session in Colorado Springs last week, organizers of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol said they've collected more than enough signatures. Among medical marijuana business owners and patients in attendance, said Jessica Hogan, spokeswoman for the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council, there was one major concern: What will happen to MMJ if recreational marijuana is legalized for anyone over age 21 to buy? [continues 344 words]
Issue still divides proponent, council The possibility of a revote on the medical marijuana ban in Fountain appears to have gone up in smoke. Former Fountain City Councilman Al Lender said last week that a family emergency in Connecticut will force him to set aside his efforts to collect nearly 400 signatures from registered voters to place a question on the November ballot to overturn a voter-approved ban. "I'm pretty devastated over this; I've spent so much time and money. But my sister-in-law has terminal cancer, and that's more important," he said. [continues 543 words]
Amid federal uncertainty over the medical marijuana industry, Gov. John Hickenlooper's somewhat quiet signing of additional regulations Thursday signified a friendly smoke signal for local business owners. "We're excited Colorado is continuing forward to help legitimize the industry," Tanya Garduno, president of the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council, said Friday. "Everyone's been afraid with the federal warnings, so Colorado making sure there are unambiguous questions about our laws gives us a little more of a sure feeling." Among other provisions, House Bill 1043 extends the moratorium on new businesses for another year, until July 1, 2012. The ban took effect July 1, 2010, in order for the state's Department of Revenue to create rules based on legislation that was passed last year and get a handle on what had become an explosion of businesses entering the market. [continues 563 words]
As the Colorado Department of Revenue prepares to enact a slew of new rules for medical marijuana businesses on July 1, ongoing industry policing is weeding out those not meeting current regulations. Top Shelf Alternative of Colorado Springs has closed as a result of non-compliance with the mandate that centers must grow 70 percent of all medical marijuana they sell, according to the state's Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division. The division in December notified 91 centers out of 818 statewide that they were in violation of laws and in danger of being shut down, said Julie Postlethwait, division spokeswoman. [continues 359 words]
El Paso County's temporary land use regulations for medical marijuana businesses will remain in place until March 1, when a new licensing policy and modified zoning regulations will take effect, assistant county attorney Lori Seago said Wednesday. County commissioners in June extended the temporary regulations for "at least six months," which would be this month, or until the board approves "a local regulatory and/or licensing program, which may include associated land development code amendments," according to the resolution approving the extension. [continues 525 words]
Booze or pot? For a group of about 50 students at Tuesday's "healthy choices fair" at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the choice is clear: Pot is the lesser of two evils. The UCCS chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy protested the annual fair because members claimed school officials refused to make available their information about "the relative harm" of marijuana versus alcohol and instead promoted "responsible alcohol use" at the event. "I've seen how college students like to have fun, and every study proves cannabis is far better for you than alcohol. We'd like to educate students on this safer way of partying," said senior Stephanie Morphet, president of the student group, which formed this semester. [continues 491 words]
IS IT wrong, religiously speaking, to plunk down a few bucks for lottery tickets? To take a road trip to play some slot machines? To spend a few hours at a bingo game? The answers, religiously speaking, are as varied as the world's many faiths. Some religions staunchly oppose gambling in any form. Some have no problem with it -- and even engage in some forms of gaming. But one common thread seems to run among most faiths: Though the Bible doesn't specifically mention gambling as a sin, gambling has the potential to be a moral, and therefore, spiritual, wrong. [continues 711 words]
