15 COLORADANS ISSUED LICENSES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

DENVER -(AP)- Fifteen Coloradans have been issued licenses from the
state Health Department to use marijuana for medical purposes in a
program launched this month.

The Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry began June 1. Under the program,
people suffering from certain medical conditions can apply for a license
to use marijuana for relief of symptoms, if their physicians approve.

By Wednesday afternoon, 20 applications had been received, said Carol
Garrett, registrar of vital records for the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment. Five of the applications were still being
processed. None had been denied.

Garrett said interest in the program was close to what had been
anticipated.

"We're expecting to have more applications shortly here, and then it
will probably even out. This is a learning year for us," Garret said.

Garret said the about 175 application packets had been sent to
prospective participants. The material is also available on the
department's Web site. About 800 people are expected to sign up for the
program this year.

The registry was created by a law approved by voters in November that
allows license holders to legally grow or possess marijuana.

Gov. Bill Owens and Attorney General Ken Salazar have urged federal
prosecutors to pursue anyone who sells, distributes or grows marijuana,
even if they qualify for the state program.

Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Spriggs responded that Owens and Salazar
shouldn't speculate on what federal prosecutors might do.

State officials said they could not give federal prosecutors the names
of license holders because the law requires confidentiality.