MEDICAL MARIJUANA BACKERS PREPARE TO GO TO BALLOT

DENVER - Medical marijuana advocates are prepared to go to the ballot if
they think lawmakers go too far in limiting access to the drug.

On Thursday activists plan to file a ballot initiative that would bar
lawmakers from limiting the number of dispensaries. It would also stop
cities and counties from passing an outright ban on dispensaries,
something which could be allowed under a new dispensary regulation bill.

Sensible Colorado, a medical marijuana patients' group, is organizing the
effort.

Executive director Brian Vicente said he'll keep trying to work with
lawmakers to amend the new bill while he prepares to start collecting
signatures for the ballot measure.

The measure is a constitutional amendment which would trump any law passed
this year.