Colorado House Bill 1284

[warrenedson]

DC2Bar,
This would not effect you much. You would need to have your name on their card. You could also legally grow as much as their Dr. recommended as long as you checked with their Dr. The extra plant recommendation is formally codified.

 

[MrDank]

From what I have learned, most dispensary owners aren't growers. They are businessmen. To say that dispensary owners have to grow 70% of the product, and that they can grow SO MUCH that they can WHOLESALE to other DISPENSARY OWNERS creates a warehouse monopoly for the dispensary owners. I would vomit all over the state of CO if I knew that it were dispensary owners who were responsible for 70% of what's on the shelves of dispensaries.

Would a doctor write me a recommendation for chronic nausea if this happens?

I was sent a pm here and told that a certain dispensary owner has been donating $ to Brown's campaign....and that it's Brown who is pushing for a lot of these new rules and regulations. hmmm.....so fucking dispensary owners are becoming lobbyists now days to create a monopoly for themselves? Fuck that...fuck them...fuck anybody who supports them

 

[Frankie Pebbles]

 

[cobcoop]

From what I have learned, most dispensary owners aren't growers. They are businessmen. To say that dispensary owners have to grow 70% of the product, and that they can grow SO MUCH that they can WHOLESALE to other DISPENSARY OWNERS creates a warehouse monopoly for the dispensary owners. I would vomit all over the state of CO if I knew that it were dispensary owners who were responsible for 70% of what's on the shelves of dispensaries.

Would a doctor write me a recommendation for chronic nausea if this happens?

I was sent a pm here and told that a certain dispensary owner has been donating $ to Brown's campaign....and that it's Brown who is pushing for a lot of these new rules and regulations. hmmm.....so fucking dispensary owners are becoming lobbyists now days to create a monopoly for themselves? Fuck that...fuck them...fuck anybody who supports them

Welcome to America I guess, even we "outlaws" are not immune to
corporate corruption. Brown, Norml, Richard Lee, Phillip Morris and the like will ca$h in big time, money talks and patients walk. That being said, I still am optimistic that "boutique caregivers" will retain a legitimate and fair share of the market once the dust settles. So I say let them have their warehouse's and garbage bags full of big bud, it only makes those of us interested in quality more appealing.

 

[DaGreenMachine]

I would vomit all over the state of CO if I knew that it were dispensary owners who were responsible for 70% of what's on the shelves of dispensaries.

It won't be 70%, it will be 100%. They have to buy the other 30% from, you guessed it, other dispensaries!

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

From what I have learned, most dispensary owners aren't growers. They are businessmen. To say that dispensary owners have to grow 70% of the product, and that they can grow SO MUCH that they can WHOLESALE to other DISPENSARY OWNERS creates a warehouse monopoly for the dispensary owners. I would vomit all over the state of CO if I knew that it were dispensary owners who were responsible for 70% of what's on the shelves of dispensaries.

Would a doctor write me a recommendation for chronic nausea if this happens?

I was sent a pm here and told that a certain dispensary owner has been donating $ to Brown's campaign....and that it's Brown who is pushing for a lot of these new rules and regulations. hmmm.....so fucking dispensary owners are becoming lobbyists now days to create a monopoly for themselves? Fuck that...fuck them...fuck anybody who supports them

You hit the nail on the head MrDank!!!

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

Welcome to America I guess, even we "outlaws" are not immune to
corporate corruption. Brown, Norml, Richard Lee, Phillip Morris and the like will ca$h in big time, money talks and patients walk. That being said, I still am optimistic that "boutique caregivers" will retain a legitimate and fair share of the market once the dust settles. So I say let them have their warehouse's and garbage bags full of big bud, it only makes those of us interested in quality more appealing.

Cobcoop...HB1284 even goes as far as banning coops outright. Even worse, alot of the little Mom & Pops operations will be pushed outta business unless they find a grower they can "partner" up with. As written, most dispensarys will be forced to close their doors. This "vertical integration" thing is messed up.

Imagine the gov't telling budweiser it would have to partner up with all of the bars/restaraunts/liquour stores that sell it's product! Name one other business that this happens in!!!

Of course, having the carpetbagging lobbyist, the "Cali immigrant" dispensary owners are getting it their way...they wanna open mega-stores and squeeze the lil guy out...and all the lil dispensary owners that rely on "vendors" are being blinded, cause all they hear is that "dispensaries are legal", they are not considering they will have to grow their own....or buy from the "Cali immigrants". The "vertical integration" model is only good for a "select" few!!!

 

[DaGreenMachine]

New word - Verticali integration

 

[cobcoop]

Dave, I understand the forces at play, and perhaps you could label me as a naive optimist, but this bill is far from being complete. While I get just as dismayed at big money interests fucking the rest of us over I do sincerely believe that we (independent growers/caregivers) will retain a competitive advantage in the market, due to our focus on quality.

I think if we take an objective look at what the politicians are saying (and what they're not saying), the independent caregiver model will survive.

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

Dave, I understand the forces at play, and perhaps you could label me as a naive optimist, but this bill is far from being complete. While I get just as dismayed at big money interests fucking the rest of us over I do sincerely believe that we (independent growers/caregivers) will retain a competitive advantage in the market, due to our focus on quality.

I think if we take an objective look at what the politicians are saying (and what they're not saying), the independent caregiver model will survive.

With 6 or 7 more committees to go thru I, too, am hoping we will not get screwed...but we, as growers, have NO representation, except ourselves...and there are not alot of growers willing to testify before the Senate, as I have.

As I told them, this model is unsustainable as it will fforce bad product on the market from inexperienced growers. The medicine will be of lesser quality.

I truly hope that some of the smaller shops wake up and realize they are for a bill that will put most of them out of business. It's funny how alot of them are marching "lock-step" with the same people that are going to put them outta business. There are a few hat realize this...I know one that grows and still has to buy 75% of his product from vendors and he realizes that if it passes, he will be buying from the "Cali-immigrants" to keep his doors open...and he hates the bill!

Oh well, best just be ready to help as many as possible before 7/1/2011

 

[cobcoop]

I don't think the growers should be the focus, but the patients, and what is best for their needs. Reasonably I think they (myself included) need both dispensaries, and quality caregiver services.

Props for taking a stand, I'm right there with ya.

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

Well, right now the focus is on dispensaries...not patients. Can you imagine the garbage that will be sold in dispensaries if this passes as written? A bunch of noob grower/dispensary owners trying to provide for their patients...

 

[DaGreenMachine]

cobcoop - you are absolutely correct, this is more about patients than growers. In order to service the patients, however, let's look at what is important to them, in relative order of priority (imho):

1) Low pricing
2) Quality medicine
3) Access to medicine

Prices will go up, quality will go down, and access to medicine will go down, guaranteed, if the bill passes as it stands. One year for "dispensaries to get grows put together" isn't going to change anything.

Growing good medicine under 10 lights in a basement takes a bit of experience and skill. Growing good medicine in a 2,000sf+ industrial zoned warehouse in Colorado takes exceptional experience and skill. And that's really what the average dispensary needs to supply itself. No way do 100K+ patients (and growing) get enough medicine from dispensaries and 5 patient caregivers.

Most dispensaries are being supplied right now from basement/small <100 plant grows, by independent vendors. 7-1-11, those all become no longer in a gray area of the law, they are ILLEGAL.

I've been thinking and thinking about this problem. I think as growers we need to do the following:
1) Organize.
2) Associate much more closely with patient advocacy groups, and distance ourselves from dispensaries.
3) Bring a unified front to our legislators, and discuss this as a PATIENT issue, not a growers issue.

I don't know how the hell we get this done, I'm open to ideas. I'm afraid we may be too little, too late, and patients are going to learn this the hard way.

 

[cobcoop]

Well, right now the focus is on dispensaries...not patients. Can you imagine the garbage that will be sold in dispensaries if this passes as written? A bunch of noob grower/dispensary owners trying to provide for their patients...

Exactly.

cobcoop - you are absolutely correct, this is more about patients than growers. In order to service the patients, however, let's look at what is important to them, in relative order of priority (imho):

1) Low pricing
2) Quality medicine
3) Access to medicine

Prices will go up, quality will go down, and access to medicine will go down, guaranteed, if the bill passes as it stands. One year for "dispensaries to get grows put together" isn't going to change anything.

Growing good medicine under 10 lights in a basement takes a bit of experience and skill. Growing good medicine in a 2,000sf+ industrial zoned warehouse in Colorado takes exceptional experience and skill. And that's really what the average dispensary needs to supply itself. No way do 100K+ patients (and growing) get enough medicine from dispensaries and 5 patient caregivers.

Most dispensaries are being supplied right now from basement/small <100 plant grows, by independent vendors. 7-1-11, those all become no longer in a gray area of the law, they are ILLEGAL.

I've been thinking and thinking about this problem. I think as growers we need to do the following:
1) Organize.
2) Associate much more closely with patient advocacy groups, and distance ourselves from dispensaries.
3) Bring a unified front to our legislators, and discuss this as a PATIENT issue, not a growers issue.

I don't know how the hell we get this done, I'm open to ideas. I'm afraid we may be too little, too late, and patients are going to learn this the hard way.

Absolutely agree. I think sensible colorado and Brian Vicente would be a good place to start, as they are quite vocal on this issue, and appear to be fairly good patient advocates.

Pragmatically there is nothing we can to stop cali outdoor et al from flooding the market, but the irony here is that dispensaries which focus on quantity and gimmicks will put themselves out of business.

I really do feel that the patient limits on caregivers will be dropped (or at least made more reasonable) as I am quite sure it would be deemed unconstitutional. The irony here is that dispensaries which focus on quantity and gimmicks will put themselves out of business.

As individuals we need to educate folks on these issues, and just keep trying to produce and disseminate the quality that Co has been known for for years.

 

[DaGreenMachine]

I tried to reach Brian Vicente through sensible Colorado, never got a response - they probably get flooded with email. Anyone have his personal email/phone number? Don't post it here...

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

I tried to reach Brian Vicente through sensible Colorado, never got a response - they probably get flooded with email. Anyone have his personal email/phone number? Don't post it here...

I might be able to get it...I have a friend I am seeing later this PM that probably has it...I'll email it to ya, if I get it...

 

[GreenintheThumb]

So is this thing actually going to pass? What are the chances that the limit to 5 patients for caregivers will be considered unconstitutional or thrown out?

 

[cobcoop]

So is this thing actually going to pass?

Not in it's current form IMO, even the guys who wrote/co-sponsored the bill aren't happy with it.

What are the chances that the limit to 5 patients for caregivers will be considered unconstitutional or thrown out?

I'm thinking the limit would be ruled unconstitutional.

 

[GreenintheThumb]

Thanks for your input. I've been considering a move out the CO for a while now and it just so happens that this stuff has to go down when I'm trying to make my decision. Pretty heavy stuff that could really sway a man in one direction or the other.

I'm taking a trip out to see the scene and figure a place to live. Currently I was recommended the services of Jeff Gard when it comes to legal issues. Does anyone have anything bad to say about him or is there other competent lawyers I should be aware of. Thanks.

 

[warrenedson]

This is going to pass in a form very similar to what we see now. The old adage that if neither side likes what you wrote, it is probably correct. If you guys don't know, Sensible Colorado has a lobbiest who has worked with Matt Brown and CMMR through out this process. This is Vicente's bill as much as it is Matt Brown's.

The question will be, does the Governor sign it?