MEDICINAL CANNABIS SUMMIT AFFECTS COLORADO

California officials will soon gather for a Medical Marijuana Summit to
determine how best to implement the Compassionate Use Act. Since California
will be the model upon which medicinal cannabis reforms nationwide will be
based, we in Colorado are very interested in the outcome of the summit.

The Compassionate Use Act was well-intentioned, but was short on
requirements for implementation and enforcement. We have submitted a
proposal to Senator Vasconcellos and others for an amendment to the
Compassionate Use Act, which is modeled after legislation being considered
in Colorado. The proposal includes the creation of an independent
commission to license therapeutic marijuana dispensaries. The proposal also
includes language that better defines the duties and responsibilities of the
governor, attorney general, state legislature, law enforcement, and other
government agencies in relation to the Compassionate Use Act.

The independent commission would be composed of seven members, appointed by
the governor, to aid in the implementation of the Compassionate Use Act. The
members would include representatives of the health community, law
enforcement, and other experienced professionals. The primary duty of the
commission would be to enact licensing requirements for therapeutic
marijuana dispensaries to ensure a safe supply of medicine to patients who
cannot cultivate their own. The commission would also make recommendations
to the governor and state legislature necessary to implement and enforce the
Compassionate Use Act.

There are many benefits to using an independent commission to implement the
Compassionate Use Act. First and foremost, the commission would be
independent of existing state government agencies, thus avoiding the
political pressures within and between these agencies. An independent
commission, composed of both community members and state government
representatives, would ensure that the citizens of California have a voice
in medical marijuana policy-making. The commission would also avoid the
appearance of impropriety that might arise if any single state agency
appeared to have too much control over the regulation of therapeutic
marijuana or if citizens felt shut out of policy decisions.

An independent commission will allow uniform statewide standards to regulate
therapeutic marijuana dispensaries, relieving the burden from local law
enforcement and government agencies. In addition, empowering the commission
to promulgate rules will lessen the burden on state legislators and reduce
the political infighting associated with implementing any law. A commission
could intervene between the legislature and the people, making regulations
when possible and proposing statutory changes when necessary.

The commission model allows both citizens and state government to determine
medical marijuana policy, and allows those decisions to be implemented
quickly and efficiently. We believe it is the best model to implement and
enforce any complex law, while still factoring in the concerns of citizens
about those laws.

We are encouraging California residents to contact their government
officials to lobby for the formation of an independent California
Therapeutic Marijuana Commission to ensure uniform standards and allow
patients and citizens to influence further medical marijuana policy reform.
For more information, call (303) 938-0195 or on the web,
www.levellers.org/cannabis.html.

(H. D. Hudson of Gunbarrel speaks for Colorado Citizens for Compassionate
Cannabis.)

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett