DENVER - A bill that would completely change the medical marijuana industry and likely result in many dispensaries going out of business is set to be introduced at the Capitol Wednesday afternoon.
Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, is sponsoring a bill, that would force dispensaries to reorganize as licensed, non-profit "health centers." It would allow them 18 month to do so and establish a moratorium during that period on any new commercial dispensaries. Those businesses that choose not to reorganize would be limited, by the bill, to providing medical marijuana for only five patients per caregiver.
"That will put us out of business and send everyone underground," said Pierre Werner, the owner and sole caregiver at Dr. Reefer in Boulder, which caters to around 500 medical marijuana patients. "This is ridiculous. I'm a legit business. I pay my taxes. I moved here from Las Vegas to open the Bellagio of dispensaries. If they pass that bill, I'm moving to Amsterdam."
Massey's bill would also mandate that most of the medical marijuana sold at these centers be grown on site.
"One of the big concerns had been preserving access," Massey said. "We know we're allowing enough access for the true medical marijuana patient."
The 45-page bill also says that medical marijuana cannot be consumed on site.
Many dispensaries already ban on-site consumption. But they worry that reorganization may erode so much of their profit margin that they'll be unable to stay open to provide for their current patients.
"The impact would be huge on our business, which would be ruined, and thousands of patients would be really upset," said Alexandra Bigelow, an office supervisor at Herbal Remedies in Westminster, which has provided medical marijuana to around 3,000 licensed patients.
"This would mean dispensaries wouldn't survive and there would be more crime on the streets," Bigelow said. "We'd all be out of work. These sick patients wouldn't have access to what they're legally entitled to. And, because we'd all file a million injunctions against this if it passes, they'd be wasting taxpayer money fighting in court in the middle of a recession."
Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, is a co-sponsor on the bill. He admits, hindering the "retail model" is the point of this legislation.
"Many people can still make a very good living working through a Colorado non-profit corporation," Romer said. "No they will not be able to raise equity, no they will not be able to turn into publicly held companies. Yes, they will be able to reinvest their money back into the patients to make sure medical marijuana remains as affordable as possible."
Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, is sponsoring a bill, that would force dispensaries to reorganize as licensed, non-profit "health centers." It would allow them 18 month to do so and establish a moratorium during that period on any new commercial dispensaries. Those businesses that choose not to reorganize would be limited, by the bill, to providing medical marijuana for only five patients per caregiver.
"That will put us out of business and send everyone underground," said Pierre Werner, the owner and sole caregiver at Dr. Reefer in Boulder, which caters to around 500 medical marijuana patients. "This is ridiculous. I'm a legit business. I pay my taxes. I moved here from Las Vegas to open the Bellagio of dispensaries. If they pass that bill, I'm moving to Amsterdam."
Massey's bill would also mandate that most of the medical marijuana sold at these centers be grown on site.
"One of the big concerns had been preserving access," Massey said. "We know we're allowing enough access for the true medical marijuana patient."
The 45-page bill also says that medical marijuana cannot be consumed on site.
Many dispensaries already ban on-site consumption. But they worry that reorganization may erode so much of their profit margin that they'll be unable to stay open to provide for their current patients.
"The impact would be huge on our business, which would be ruined, and thousands of patients would be really upset," said Alexandra Bigelow, an office supervisor at Herbal Remedies in Westminster, which has provided medical marijuana to around 3,000 licensed patients.
"This would mean dispensaries wouldn't survive and there would be more crime on the streets," Bigelow said. "We'd all be out of work. These sick patients wouldn't have access to what they're legally entitled to. And, because we'd all file a million injunctions against this if it passes, they'd be wasting taxpayer money fighting in court in the middle of a recession."
Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, is a co-sponsor on the bill. He admits, hindering the "retail model" is the point of this legislation.
"Many people can still make a very good living working through a Colorado non-profit corporation," Romer said. "No they will not be able to raise equity, no they will not be able to turn into publicly held companies. Yes, they will be able to reinvest their money back into the patients to make sure medical marijuana remains as affordable as possible."
