Tonight the Denver City Council will hear the 2nd reading of Charlie Brown's proposed medical marijuana bill for the city. Public comment is welcomed and there will be no standing room so if you plan on speaking please arrive early.
Denver City and County Building 1437 Bannock St
Room: 450
Time: 5:30pm
Showing posts with label Denver City Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Denver City Council. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Denver Safety committee hears Charlie Brown's latest pot proposal
Denver city councilman is back proposing his new medical marijuana regulation bill picking up where they left off two weeks ago on Dec2.
Since December 1st 194 medical marijuana dispensaries have filed for there city tax license and the city thinks that they need to step up regulate the area thinking themselves as pioneers creating an ordinance that other cities can follow.
First up was on-site consumption which I was personally interested because me and many others enjoy the fact that we can go into a safe and friendly place and medicate but the council members feel a bit differently Charlie Brown was quoted saying "I do not believe we should allow it," Brown says. "I do not believe that's what the voters had in mind in 2000 -- to have cannabis clubs on-site. Let's get ready for a big discussion on this one."
Patients can go to any number of dispensaries purchase there medicine and safely medicate on site out of the public view while they socialize with other patients, something that they may not have been able to do if they were got there medicine on the black market or the "streets" but councilman Brown would like to see this stopped, claiming that it is "dangerous to let them leave the site, while intoxicated, where they are likely to enter a automobile and maybe cause harm to or others and or themselves" That's when Councilman Chris Nevitt stepped up and mentioned that the city allows bars where patrons are able to leave after consuming at times dangerous levels and enter a auto no questions asked. Still the other council members didn't agree. They did agree to ban consumption on-site. Moving forward
Next on the agenda was the Buffer Zone. A date of December 1st was proposed but the date January 1st and 1,000 ft was approved. This means that a dispensary after Jan 1st will not be allowed to operate within 1,000 ft of a day care center, and level public school any libraries or city recreation centers, trying to keep them from eyes of children that use those facilities, even tho there is no restrictions on any Denver ordinances regarding restaurants that serve alcohol near any of these kinds of business. Irregardless the council approved the measure on a 5-4 vote. Moving on...
Up next was the smell. Now i know for a fact that no business in Denver is regulated by way of smell. I work hundred yards from the Purina Dog Food Plant in Commerce City and that is by far the smelliest place in and or around Denver. I can smell that horrible smell at my house downtown on some mornings if the wind is blowing in from the north. And finally the city council agrees with me. They dont regualte any other business regarding odor and they are not re-inventing the wheel here and there not going to start with the medical marijuana industry. "I don't think we do that for anyone else" Chairman Linkhart says and a spokesman from the Department of Environmental Health said "Odor is primarily a nuisance issue," he says. "We don't make a distinction as to the quality of the odor."
Next up was cultivation on site. Now this is where I tend to agree with the council members on this one. I dont like to see any kinds of grows on-site. First off if the Feds do come down on you and close the location they will not also close your grow down and then it also keeps the criminals who prey on marijuana clinics because they think there is a large amount of product or plants inside away from you and your customers but the item is removed from the proposal by Chris Nevitt proposes removing section H in 24-408, which refers to cultivation and Linkhart agreed and it was removed.
With that they concluded for the day and the year. The proposal will go to the Mayor/Council meeting next week, with a first reading at Denver City Council on January 4 and a public hearing January 11.
Since December 1st 194 medical marijuana dispensaries have filed for there city tax license and the city thinks that they need to step up regulate the area thinking themselves as pioneers creating an ordinance that other cities can follow.
First up was on-site consumption which I was personally interested because me and many others enjoy the fact that we can go into a safe and friendly place and medicate but the council members feel a bit differently Charlie Brown was quoted saying "I do not believe we should allow it," Brown says. "I do not believe that's what the voters had in mind in 2000 -- to have cannabis clubs on-site. Let's get ready for a big discussion on this one."
Patients can go to any number of dispensaries purchase there medicine and safely medicate on site out of the public view while they socialize with other patients, something that they may not have been able to do if they were got there medicine on the black market or the "streets" but councilman Brown would like to see this stopped, claiming that it is "dangerous to let them leave the site, while intoxicated, where they are likely to enter a automobile and maybe cause harm to or others and or themselves" That's when Councilman Chris Nevitt stepped up and mentioned that the city allows bars where patrons are able to leave after consuming at times dangerous levels and enter a auto no questions asked. Still the other council members didn't agree. They did agree to ban consumption on-site. Moving forward
Next on the agenda was the Buffer Zone. A date of December 1st was proposed but the date January 1st and 1,000 ft was approved. This means that a dispensary after Jan 1st will not be allowed to operate within 1,000 ft of a day care center, and level public school any libraries or city recreation centers, trying to keep them from eyes of children that use those facilities, even tho there is no restrictions on any Denver ordinances regarding restaurants that serve alcohol near any of these kinds of business. Irregardless the council approved the measure on a 5-4 vote. Moving on...
Up next was the smell. Now i know for a fact that no business in Denver is regulated by way of smell. I work hundred yards from the Purina Dog Food Plant in Commerce City and that is by far the smelliest place in and or around Denver. I can smell that horrible smell at my house downtown on some mornings if the wind is blowing in from the north. And finally the city council agrees with me. They dont regualte any other business regarding odor and they are not re-inventing the wheel here and there not going to start with the medical marijuana industry. "I don't think we do that for anyone else" Chairman Linkhart says and a spokesman from the Department of Environmental Health said "Odor is primarily a nuisance issue," he says. "We don't make a distinction as to the quality of the odor."
Next up was cultivation on site. Now this is where I tend to agree with the council members on this one. I dont like to see any kinds of grows on-site. First off if the Feds do come down on you and close the location they will not also close your grow down and then it also keeps the criminals who prey on marijuana clinics because they think there is a large amount of product or plants inside away from you and your customers but the item is removed from the proposal by Chris Nevitt proposes removing section H in 24-408, which refers to cultivation and Linkhart agreed and it was removed.
With that they concluded for the day and the year. The proposal will go to the Mayor/Council meeting next week, with a first reading at Denver City Council on January 4 and a public hearing January 11.
"In the meantime, members of the public are welcome to contact us," Linkhart concludes.
Please take the time out of your day and contact Councilman Brown and let him know what you think Charlie Brown Councilman 303-871-0601
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Denver Councilman Charlie Brown presents his 'pot' proposal
Early today on a cold snowy morning, The Denver City Council Safety Committee meet today to discuss the blooming industry of Medical Marijuana and how to regulate them within the Denver city limits... Councilman Charlie Brown, not the famous Peanuts character has drafted a ordinance in which HE THINKS will help the city regulate the industry.
There are several things wrong with the councilman's proposal. I have highlighted some of the items that we here at Mile High NORML are most concerned with...
1) The council will not try to define the term caregiver. They will leave that up to the Colroado Dept of Health, they plan to define the defination there next meeting, Time TBA
2) In Sec. 24-403 section (a) On and after [March, 1, 2010] it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise distribute any marijuana for medical use without obtaining a license to operate as a medical marijuana dispensary pursuant to the requirements of this article. This licensing requirement shall apply regardless of whether or not a medical marijuana dispensary has commenced operation prior to said date...
The only problem I for see in this is the price of obtaining the license itself 1. Application fee is $2,000 2. Criminal background check fee, per person checked 3. License fee, per year is $3,000
3) In Sec. 24-405 - Application (a) Application for a medical marijuana dispensary license shall be made to the director upon forms provided by the director for that purpose. In addition to the information required by Chapter 32 of this Code, the application shall include the following information: #'s 1 though 4 are basic standard application stuff all but number (4) Name and address of any manager or managers of the medical marijuana dispensary, if the manager is proposed to be someone other than the owner. The application shall also contain 24-hour contact information for the manager or managers of the licensed premises which shall be made available to the general public in order to provide a prompt response to public questions and concerns about the operation of the licensed premises
2) In Sec. 24-403 section (a) On and after [March, 1, 2010] it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise distribute any marijuana for medical use without obtaining a license to operate as a medical marijuana dispensary pursuant to the requirements of this article. This licensing requirement shall apply regardless of whether or not a medical marijuana dispensary has commenced operation prior to said date...
The only problem I for see in this is the price of obtaining the license itself 1. Application fee is $2,000 2. Criminal background check fee, per person checked 3. License fee, per year is $3,000
3) In Sec. 24-405 - Application (a) Application for a medical marijuana dispensary license shall be made to the director upon forms provided by the director for that purpose. In addition to the information required by Chapter 32 of this Code, the application shall include the following information: #'s 1 though 4 are basic standard application stuff all but number (4) Name and address of any manager or managers of the medical marijuana dispensary, if the manager is proposed to be someone other than the owner. The application shall also contain 24-hour contact information for the manager or managers of the licensed premises which shall be made available to the general public in order to provide a prompt response to public questions and concerns about the operation of the licensed premises
We are pleased to announce that this was slashed down after 10 minuets or so of debating. In no other buisness is there a need for the owner to have 24 contact info. If in the middle of the night something happens the police will not have any problems locating the owner/s of the building. Actually the whole Application section is filled with quarky things. They are just trying to make it as hard as they can.
4) In 24-408. Requirements related to licensed premises (a) No marijuana shall be smoked, eaten or otherwise consumed or ingested on the licensed premises....
FUNK THAT. We should be able to use our medicine where ever we fell the need.
in the same section
(g) The licensed premises shall be monitored and secured 24-hours per day including, at a minimum, the following security measures:
Just another cost that will be passed along to the consumer.
***They stopped only after 7 pages of simple debate and agreed to reconvine the meeting and discuss the rest of the proposal, two weeks from now on 12/16/09.
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Denver Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licensing Ordinance
Amend Chapter 24, D.R.M.C. ("Health and Sanitation") by adding a new Article XI, to read as follows:
Article XI. Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Sec. 24-401. Purpose and legislative intent. Although the possession and use of marijuana is and remains unlawful under Federal law, Section 14 of Article XVIII of the Colorado Constitution ("Amendment 20") provides an exception to prosecution under state criminal laws when marijuana is possessed and used for medicinal purposes by a patient who has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and by the patient's primary caregivers. Amendment 20 does not, however, contain any provision for the lawful sale or distribution of marijuana to patients and, to date, the State of Colorado has failed to adopt laws or regulations to clearly explain how and whether marijuana may be lawfully sold or otherwise distributed to patients. As a result of this ambiguity in the State law, unregulated medical marijuana dispensaries have proliferated in Denver and elsewhere in Colorado. The purpose of this Article is to license and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the interest of public health, safety and general welfare. In particular, this Article in intended to regulate the sale and distribution of marijuana in the interest of patients who qualify to obtain, possess and use marijuana for medical purposes under Amendment 20, while promoting compliance with other state laws that prohibit trafficking in marijuana for non-medical purposes. Nothing in this article is intended to promote or condone the sale, distribution, possession or use of marijuana in violation of any applicable law. Compliance with the requirements of this article shall not provide a defense to criminal prosecution under any applicable law. Persons who cultivate, possess, sell, distribute, purchase, or use marijuana, whether for medical or non-medical purposes, do so at their own risk of prosecution under any applicable federal, state or local law.
Original Article Denver WestwordAmend Chapter 24, D.R.M.C. ("Health and Sanitation") by adding a new Article XI, to read as follows:
Article XI. Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Sec. 24-401. Purpose and legislative intent. Although the possession and use of marijuana is and remains unlawful under Federal law, Section 14 of Article XVIII of the Colorado Constitution ("Amendment 20") provides an exception to prosecution under state criminal laws when marijuana is possessed and used for medicinal purposes by a patient who has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and by the patient's primary caregivers. Amendment 20 does not, however, contain any provision for the lawful sale or distribution of marijuana to patients and, to date, the State of Colorado has failed to adopt laws or regulations to clearly explain how and whether marijuana may be lawfully sold or otherwise distributed to patients. As a result of this ambiguity in the State law, unregulated medical marijuana dispensaries have proliferated in Denver and elsewhere in Colorado. The purpose of this Article is to license and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the interest of public health, safety and general welfare. In particular, this Article in intended to regulate the sale and distribution of marijuana in the interest of patients who qualify to obtain, possess and use marijuana for medical purposes under Amendment 20, while promoting compliance with other state laws that prohibit trafficking in marijuana for non-medical purposes. Nothing in this article is intended to promote or condone the sale, distribution, possession or use of marijuana in violation of any applicable law. Compliance with the requirements of this article shall not provide a defense to criminal prosecution under any applicable law. Persons who cultivate, possess, sell, distribute, purchase, or use marijuana, whether for medical or non-medical purposes, do so at their own risk of prosecution under any applicable federal, state or local law.
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