'THE END OF CAREGIVERS?'

Because We Care

In an e-mail titled "The End of Caregivers?" advocacy organization
Sensible Colorado warned of an upcoming meeting by the Colorado Board
of Health wherein "sweeping rules" regarding the relationship between
a caregiver and their patient could be passed.

So, what's the deal?

"What's new about these rules, is [there are] more of the details,"
says outreach director Josh Kappel, adding that the organization's
main worry is a broad requirement that caregivers have "significant
responsibility" over their patients.

"They're proposing that caregivers have to regularly assist with daily
life activities of their patients, of all five, regardless of whether
the patient wants it or not. It just says 'regularly'; that's the only
clarity that these caregivers are gonna get," Kappel says. "The risk
is that all this is gonna be figured out in the criminal context."

If interested in attending the meeting, visit the Sabin-Cleere
Conference Room in the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver,
sensiblecolorado.org) at 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 15.

Speakin' out

It can't be easy facing a room of people whose lives you're
potentially making harder, but Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division
director Dan Hartman did just that last week at a meeting called by
the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council at the Warehouse
Restaurant & Gallery.

His big news was that the division's Colorado Springs office is set
to open some time in July at 1030 S. Academy Blvd. But Hartman also
spent time explaining portions of the rules set to take effect July
1; giving background on the beginning of the rulemaking process; and
addressing a common question, asked by NaturaLeaf general manager
Mark Slaugh: "How safe are we?"

"The reality of that, of that question is, that, if you ask the
federal governor whether marijuana is illegal, they will tell you,
'Yes.' [But] we don't poke the bear," Hartman said to laughter,
adding: "They have a limited amount of resources - I'm hoping they're
not gonna use it to arrest me."

Keef crumbs

* Don't miss the Best Meds Contest at the Green Leaf Expo this
Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12, at the Event Center at Rustic
Hills (3960 Palmer Park Blvd., greenleaf420.com). Tickets are $15 per
day.

* Westword reports that Denver attorney Rob Corry plans to file suit
against the state prior to July 1, citing a passage of Amendment 20
that requires the state Legislature "to pass any regulations related
to medical marijuana by April of 2001."