MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES CROPPING UP ON WESTERN SLOPE

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado -- Medical marijuana seems to be growing
on the Western Slope.

A Grand Junction man plans to set up a storefront for a medical
marijuana dispensary soon, and the THC Foundation of Denver has said
it sees enough demand on the Western Slope that it wants to
establish a permanent facility in Glenwood Springs or
somewhere nearby in the future to help people obtain
medical marijuana permits.

Gregg Davis, of Grand Junction, plans to establish a full-service
medical marijuana dispensary in Grand Junction in June. William
Hewitt, of Montrose, also reportedly has plans to open a dispensary
instead of operating out of his home.

"What we're wanting to offer is something so THC patients know they
have a place to come and they're safe," Davis said.

Davis said he's meeting with the city attorney and is still working
on getting a location.

"It might be downtown. It may even be next to the police department," he said.

The dispensary would be called "The Therapuetic Herbal Cure." Davis
is considering having the dispensary offer a variety of services
such as massage. He said many people who have medical marijuana
permits are over 60 and suffer from chronic pain.

"When you talk to some of these people it almost makes you want to
cry," he said.

As of Jan. 31, there were 37 people in Garfield County with medical
marijuana permits, 6 in Pitkin County, and 133 in Mesa County. About
5,051 people have active, valid medical marijuana permits in
Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment. That's about twice what it was a year ago. Davis said
there are 309 patients with permits in Garfield, Mesa, Delta,
Montrose, and Gunnison counties combined.

Davis became interested in medical marijuana and got a permit in
2006 after suffering a head injury. He said he was in a coma for
over 2 months and had to have brackets and plates put in his head.
He said he's been growing medical marijuana for the past two years
and took classes through the Cannabis University of Denver.

The THC Foundation of Denver also sees demand for medical marijuana
on the Western Slope. It held its first clinic in Glenwood Springs
late last year. The foundation, which helps eligible patients obtain
medical marijuana permits, does a remote clinic whenever there's
enough people requesting one.

A spokesman for the foundation said there must be a minimum of
around 35 people attending a clinic to cover the expenses of
bringing a doctor out to a remote location and conducting the
clinic. It costs over $3,000 to take a doctor to a remote clinic and
meet with people.

Patients must forward their medical records to the foundation, pass
an initial screening, then visit with one the doctors and get a
signature on an application for a medical marijuana permit.

The THC Foundation believes there is enough demand to eventually
establish a permanent facility in the area, but that would probably
be a few years down the road.

Colorado's Amendment 20 allows people to receive medical marijuana
cards for certain diseases and chronic pain, but it's still illegal
under federal law. Davis said Colorado is considering limiting the
number of medical marijuana users one caregiver can grow marijuana
for to five, which would make it tough to keep enough marijuana for
patients. He encourages medical marijuana supporters to attend a
rally at noon on March 18 at Denver City Hall to oppose the proposed
limitations.

Contact Davis at 970-623-1669 or gregg_thcwithtlc@yahoo.com, or
contact the THC Foundation at 303-403-9996 for more information.