Dear MPP Supporter:
When campaigning for re-election, Rep. Tom Massey (R-Poncha Springs) cites "responsibly reforming Health Care to provide high quality services, together with access and affordability for all Coloradoans" as part of his platform. This seems not to apply to Colorado’s medical marijuana patients, though, to judge by the bill he’s introduced to regulate the state’s marijuana dispensaries. H.B. 1284 is scheduled to get its first hearing tomorrow in the House Judiciary Committee.
We need you to attend and let committee members know that patients and the medical marijuana community oppose this harmful bill in its current form. Please be sure to dress professionally and always be polite and respectful.
What: House committee hearing on proposed dispensary regulation
Where: Room HCR 0107, 200 East Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80203
When: Thursday, March 4, at 1:30 p.m.
The bill, which was largely authored by law enforcement, has a lot of problematic provisions, and has gone through several versions (not all of which are available on the Colorado Legislature’s web site). Some of the worst portions of the latest version include:
- Allowing cities and towns to ban dispensaries completely, potentially forcing patients to return to the underground illegal market to get their medicine
- Prohibiting patients and caregivers from living within 1,000 feet of a school — the bill would make it illegal for patients and caregivers to possess medical marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.
- Banning people with past misdemeanor drug convictions from being associated with dispensaries – even when the conviction was medical marijuana-related, something that’s legal under the Colorado Constitution.
While Colorado’s dispensaries need reasonable regulations to give them secure status under state law, this bill would leave patients out in the cold. If you can attend the hearing, please dress professionally and respectfully ask senators to "amend it or kill it."
Whether you plan on attending or not, please
