STEAMBOAT FORUM EMBLEMATIC OF GROWING MARIJUANA INDUSTRY

1st Public Pot Talk Draws About 2 Dozen

Steamboat Springs - About two dozen Routt County residents gathered
Monday night in the Steamboat Springs Community Center in a scene
that is becoming commonplace across the state: Public forums hosted
by medical marijuana supporters that focus on education, advocacy and
networking.

Last week's meeting, organized by the owners of Rocky Mountain
Remedies medical marijuana center and their attorney Adam Mayo, was
the first of its kind in Steamboat.

The 90-minute gathering focused primarily on new medical marijuana
legislation and legal issues for card-carrying patients.

Mayo, who has participated in similar meetings on the Front Range,
said they're an indication of the growing acceptance of medical marijuana.

"If we had done this lecture a few years ago, I don't think anybody
would have shown up," he said. "A few years ago, not as many people
were willing to sign up for medical marijuana cards for whatever
reason. Now, it seems, the stigma has worn off, and it is becoming
more accepted."

Mayo appears to be seeking to carve out a niche in the medical
marijuana industry. The Cannabis Therapy Institute, a medical
marijuana education and advocacy group, invited him to speak last
month in Boulder about his patient collect model. The model would
allow patients to grow medical marijuana together in spaces that
would function similar to a community garden. He has another
presentation scheduled for Wednesday in Denver.

On Monday, however, much of the focus was on existing laws and
misinformation, said Kevin Fisher, co-owner of Steamboat's Rocky
Mountain Remedies.

"It's what we've always tried to do at RMR - educate and help out the
community," he said.

Mayo used the forum to discuss medical marijuana patient rights. He
advised attendees to not allow law enforcement officers to enter
their homes unless they have warrants, and to not reveal during
traffic stops that they are a medical marijuana cardholder unless pot is found.

He also discussed provisions of the state's new medical marijuana
legislation, such as caregivers not being able to grow in a shared
space, and caregivers being restricted to serving five patients.

Several of the people who attended Monday's meeting were pleased that
it was held in Steamboat.

"I wanted to get informational resources to see if anything else was
going on, to see if anything else has changed," said Hayden resident
Charish Adams, a medical marijuana cardholder. "I think (the meeting)
is great. I think they should do it more."

Steamboat resident Ray Thomas, a medical marijuana caregiver, said
he, too, had legal questions.

"Basically, I wanted to see where we stood with the new laws for
caregivers," he said. "It was very informative. (Mayo) was very
upfront with everything. And I was satisfied with what he had to say."

Mayo said he wished more people would have attended the meeting, but
he considered it a success nonetheless. He thinks that as more people
want to learn about Colorado's medical marijuana industry, similar
meetings could become more common in Steamboat.

Kevin Fisher and Ryan Fisher, the Rocky Mountain Remedies co-owners,
said they are considering a private festival-type gathering for
medical marijuana cardholders in which all proceeds would be donated
to a local charity.

Ryan Fisher said they want to get more involved in the community.

"Especially because of what business we're in, to get it out there
that we're normal community members," he said.

According to the most recent estimate by the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment, there are 108,000 registered medical
marijuana patients across the state. There also are 809 marijuana
dispensaries, with Rocky Mountain Remedies being among the largest 5
percent based on number of patients served.