Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Colorado - If federal authorities in the future prosecute Colorado's medical cannibis growers and wholesalers, the state could pay to defend them in court under a provision unveiled Sunday by state Sen. Chris Romer at a Denver medical-marijuana health fair.
Romer, a Denver Democrat who is proposing legislation to regulate the budding industry, wants to use a database to track growers and their plants for health safety and law-enforcement purposes.
But growers have operated for decades under the radar and need assurances before divulging identifying information that could later be used against them, Romer said.
"If they come in as licensed growers according to our rules, absolutely we should defend them," Romer said to a crowd of dozens gathered to pose questions about his legislation. "They did what we told them to do, and we should defend our citizens from the federal government."
The planned addition to his legislation raises the spectre of costly legal bills for the state.
To be effective, the law would have to provide full indemnity, said Bud Hughes, a grower who also runs one of Colorado's larger marijuana testing labs.
"They'd have to cover us for any amount," Hughes said.
Romer said putting the guaranteed state defense into law would likely prevent frivolous federal cases.
The legislation met with skepticism from many at the fair for everything from its limitations on medical-marijuana seekers younger than 21 years old to its proposed 4,500 limit on the number of clients one business owner can serve over a maximum of three locations.
Mark Rose, a grower and caretaker in Nederland, said he worries most about the regulations that would drive up costs for patients, as he thinks participating in Romer's database tracking would.
Rose said he is not worried about federal prosecution himself but acknowledged Romer's vow would put some at ease.
"It will help build trust," he said. "The state should back the people following the rules. A lot of people fear that kind of stuff."
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: denverpost.com
Author: Jessica Fender
Copyright: 2009 The Denver Post
Contact: Contact Us - The Denver Post
Website: Romer proposes state support medical marijuana industry in federal cases - The Denver Post
Romer, a Denver Democrat who is proposing legislation to regulate the budding industry, wants to use a database to track growers and their plants for health safety and law-enforcement purposes.
But growers have operated for decades under the radar and need assurances before divulging identifying information that could later be used against them, Romer said.
"If they come in as licensed growers according to our rules, absolutely we should defend them," Romer said to a crowd of dozens gathered to pose questions about his legislation. "They did what we told them to do, and we should defend our citizens from the federal government."
The planned addition to his legislation raises the spectre of costly legal bills for the state.
To be effective, the law would have to provide full indemnity, said Bud Hughes, a grower who also runs one of Colorado's larger marijuana testing labs.
"They'd have to cover us for any amount," Hughes said.
Romer said putting the guaranteed state defense into law would likely prevent frivolous federal cases.
The legislation met with skepticism from many at the fair for everything from its limitations on medical-marijuana seekers younger than 21 years old to its proposed 4,500 limit on the number of clients one business owner can serve over a maximum of three locations.
Mark Rose, a grower and caretaker in Nederland, said he worries most about the regulations that would drive up costs for patients, as he thinks participating in Romer's database tracking would.
Rose said he is not worried about federal prosecution himself but acknowledged Romer's vow would put some at ease.
"It will help build trust," he said. "The state should back the people following the rules. A lot of people fear that kind of stuff."
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: denverpost.com
Author: Jessica Fender
Copyright: 2009 The Denver Post
Contact: Contact Us - The Denver Post
Website: Romer proposes state support medical marijuana industry in federal cases - The Denver Post
