A few dozen people gathered Saturday in Civic Center park to protest recent legislation aimed at curtailing Colorado's growing medical-marijuana industry.
With signs calling for a veto of House Bill 1284 and Senate Bill 109, three dozen marchers tramped across town to the governor's home.
"My kid would be dead without medical marijuana," said Victoria Blum through a bullhorn in front of the Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. The legislation creates tighter regulations and licensing requirements for the industry.
Suffering from a variety of neurological disorders, Blum's 16-year-old son began taking medical marijuana a little over a year ago, she said.
"It has been no less than a miracle," Blum said, with the drug easing her son's pain and allowing him to better function. The new marijuana regulations would hinder her ability to get her son's medication, she said.
Finding a doctor to write a prescription for a minor and dealing with her HMO – who called social services on her when she told them her plan – is challenging enough, she said, and she wants no additional roadblocks.
Among the sign-wielding protesters, Jason Lauve voiced his feeling on the new legislation.
"This is going to destroy me as a patient," Lauve said.
He worries the medical-marijuana prices will increase and dispensaries will be run out of town, he said.
A ski slope collision in 2004 left Lauve with a broken back, he said, and he relies on medical marijuana to keep functioning. In August 2009 a Boulder jury acquitted Lauve of charges he kept too much medical marijuana in his home, he said. He had 34 ounces of the green stuff when police raided his house, he said.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Denver Post
Author: Heather McWilliams
Contact: The Denver Post
Copyright: 2010 The Denver Post
Website: March to Governor's Residence protests bills on medical marijuana
With signs calling for a veto of House Bill 1284 and Senate Bill 109, three dozen marchers tramped across town to the governor's home.
"My kid would be dead without medical marijuana," said Victoria Blum through a bullhorn in front of the Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. The legislation creates tighter regulations and licensing requirements for the industry.
Suffering from a variety of neurological disorders, Blum's 16-year-old son began taking medical marijuana a little over a year ago, she said.
"It has been no less than a miracle," Blum said, with the drug easing her son's pain and allowing him to better function. The new marijuana regulations would hinder her ability to get her son's medication, she said.
Finding a doctor to write a prescription for a minor and dealing with her HMO – who called social services on her when she told them her plan – is challenging enough, she said, and she wants no additional roadblocks.
Among the sign-wielding protesters, Jason Lauve voiced his feeling on the new legislation.
"This is going to destroy me as a patient," Lauve said.
He worries the medical-marijuana prices will increase and dispensaries will be run out of town, he said.
A ski slope collision in 2004 left Lauve with a broken back, he said, and he relies on medical marijuana to keep functioning. In August 2009 a Boulder jury acquitted Lauve of charges he kept too much medical marijuana in his home, he said. He had 34 ounces of the green stuff when police raided his house, he said.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Denver Post
Author: Heather McWilliams
Contact: The Denver Post
Copyright: 2010 The Denver Post
Website: March to Governor's Residence protests bills on medical marijuana
