Dept. of Revenue Meeting Monday Dec. 5 to Discuss Patient Tracking System

[Jim Finnel]

For immediate release, Dec. 5, 2010

Department of Revenue Meeting Monday to Discuss Patient Tracking System

{Denver} -- The Colorado Department of Revenue is in the final stages of writing hundreds of pages of new regulations that will control medical marijuana. A draft version of the rules was released on Dec. 2, 2010. You can read them here: Cannabis Therapy Institute: Colorado Dept. of Revenue Reveals Draft Rules for Medical Marijuana Industry

There will be a public hearing of the Department of Revenue Rulemaking Advisory Committee to discuss these rules on Monday at the Department of Revenue. The public is invited to attend, but not to speak.

Mon., Dec. 6, 2010 Department of Revenue Rulemaking Advisory Board Meeting Location: Department of Revenue, Gaming Conference Room
1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO Time: 9:00 am to at least noon, maybe later

Once the final rules have been published, the public will have 30 days to submit written comments and then a public hearing will be held, probably in January. In the meantime, please send your comments to info@cannabistherapyinstitute.com to help us compile a comprehensive response.

The Colorado legislature last year gave the Department of Revenue great authority to control medical marijuana, pushing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to a minor role in the medical marijuana program.

The DoR collected $10 million in application fees from former caregivers and created an entire new branch of law enforcement dedicated to policing medical marijuana, the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division. The cornerstone of the MMED's enforcement practices will be the Colorado Medical Marijuana Patient and Medicine Tracking Database and Surveillance System, an unprecedented assault on patient rights to privacy. This new system will track every patient purchase from "seed to sale." A database of patient purchases and medicine inventory will be shared by at least 5 different government agencies and open to local, state, and federal law enforcement on demand. The system will also include video surveillance systems of every place medical marijuana is cultivated or sold, which will be accessible to law enforcement agents 24/7 through the Internet.

The DoR's draft rules don't describe the database in detail, but they do contain the following provision.

Draft Rulemaking Document (2010-12-10) Page 45: II. SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM STANDARDS (E) (3) "A single fixed camera shall be placed above at each Point of Sale location allowing for the clear and certain identification of the transacting individual and related identification. A single fixed camera shall be placed at above each Point of Sale location allowing for the recording and recognition of any transacting individuals identification and medical marijuana removed from the premises. This will be accomplished by temporarily placing the authorized identification, and registry card in a
12" x 12" area on the counter top, where they will be captured from the above mounted camera."

This new system will require patients to be photographed with their Registry ID card, their Drivers License, and the amount of medicine that they purchase for each transaction. This will create a record of each patient's picture with the medicine that they purchase and their name, also open to law enforcement on demand.

According to an AP article in September, "Officials are also considering fingerprinting marijuana patients and keeping tabs on pot with radio-frequency (RFID) devices." 404 Not Found | 9news.com storyid=155618

These invasions of patient privacy are a clear violation of the Colorado's Medical Marijuana Amendment, which requires that the CDPHE maintain a confidential registry of patients that can be accessed only for the purpose of determining whether a person who has been detained by law enforcement is a member of the Registry.

Medical marijuana patients have always faced serious discrimination in employment, health insurance, custody cases, veteran benefits and many other areas. Therefore, confidentiality was written into the Colorado Constitution as the backbone of the right to safe access to cannabis medicine.

If you are concerned about medical privacy issues, please attend the Department of Revenue meeting on Dec. 6 or get on the Cannabis Therapy Institute's mailing list to be informed of other upcoming actions. Cannabis Therapy Institutue - - Medical Cannabis (Marijuana) Research, Education and Advocacy in Colorado

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Provided as a Public Service by the: Cannabis Therapy Institute P. O. Box 19084 Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: 877-420-4205
Web: https:Cannabis Therapy Institutue - - Medical Cannabis (Marijuana) Research, Education and Advocacy in Colorado
Email: info@cannabistherapyinstitute.com

 

[SSNUGS]

I find it rather hilarious that these rules are being made. It all stems from greed and the dispensaries brought this on themselves and ruined what this MMJ constitutional right was about. I see they want to make it so the Feds have to step in and shut this down. The will do it by the video and and personal tracking. The Feds have stated if they don't see violations they wont get involved. What part of video and tracking that is accessible by all law enforcement is going to stop them from acting now. I will never set foot in a MMJ center again and will recommend all red card holder to not go either. If you want your privacy protected you will have to learn how to grow your own. If you grow your own you wont have the microscope so far up your ass you can see the reflection of the lens in your mouth.

 

[SSNUGS]

I also find it appalling that all of the dispensaries are only concerned about how they will comply with the new rules and not the fact that patients rights and privacy have kicked to the curb. That show me one thing they want your money and not to really help you with what you signed up for as a medical card holder. If you want your right protected under this constitutional amendment you will need to grow your own and stay away from personal caregivers and dispensaries all together. The law will be able to see what each patient purchases the minute they purchase and law can sit in front of a dispensary and watch. They will then wait to see you leave and then when you get home they will come in and see how much meds you have on hand and if you are over the limit they will arrest you and charge you with possession probably with intent if it is stored in separate containers. The Dispensaries don't care about the patients rights just the almighty dollar. Good luck to all the patients that get caught up in this mess I feel for ya and that's why I will no longer purchase my meds from a dispensary. In the constitution it doesn't state where you get your meds that means you can go back to your underground source and you will probably get a better price and quality. Once the meds are in your hand they are legal and there is nothing they can do about it as long as your not over your limit.