SENATE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

DENVER - The Senate is set to vote on a bill to prevent recreational
pot smokers from getting permission to become legal users of the drug.

Debate on the measure is scheduled for Friday afternoon. The bill
would require doctors to give medical marijuana patients a full exam
and provide follow-up care. It would also bar doctors from working in
medical marijuana dispensaries.

People who are convicted of drug crimes could also lose their medical
marijuana cards.

Sen. Chris Romer believes that as many as a third of the current
users would be unable to get their cards renewed under the proposed new rules.

At least 17,000 people have medical marijuana cards. Another 20,000
or so have applied and are still waiting for approval.