Colorado growers, our days could be numbered
- Thread starter FlyLikeAnEagle
- Start date
Dan Kone
Well-Known Member
With the mentality that we should be ashamed of cannabis we will never make headway.
We need to make society more comfortable with the idea of cannabis dispensaries. People should see them so they can understand that dispensaries are no threat to the community. They may not like it at first, but in the long run I think it's a good thing.
I seem to recall viagra commercials every 10 minutes on TV. Same thing.
Ever see a liquor store without beer signs in the window?
EdGreyfox
Well-Known Member
Fly, I do get where your coming from too, and there is a part of me that doesn't want to compromise for the same reasons you stated. I just feel that by being proactive about the situation and showing that we are open to negotiation and reasonable regulations that we can take the moral high ground away from Romer and his cronies. It's a lot easier to keep public support if you can paint the other guy as a mean spirited asshole, after all.
MacGuyver4.2.0
Well-Known Member
'rant mode ON
And in WAR you pull out all the stops. I have a few friends in California who are gathering information on the major grow ops there to make the link to Romer and the other politicos here. As soon as we get to the news channels, THEY ARE DONE! I for one am sick to death of crooked politicians that push THEIR own agendas.
You can run, you can try to hide it, but WE WILL FIND IT. Kinda like that asshat John Edwards who had the nerve to lie about fathering a child out of wedlock and couldn't own up to his mistake. ALL politicians SUCK and they're ALL guilty. With todays internet and communications capabilities it's only a matter of time before they are ALL brought down and held accountable.
'rant mode off
EdGreyfox
Well-Known Member
Mac,
I'll be glad to see it if the folks in CA are able to find proof that Romer and his cronies are involved with the growing and supply end of the business and are using the laws to advance their own interests. I haven't seen it yet though, and I still think the best way to win the fight in the court of public opinion is to be so reasonable that all the politicians trying to toss heavy regulations on the industry come off looking like uncaring jerks. Unless we want to take to the streets with torches and have a real revolution our only choice is to beat them at the ballot box and in the court of public opinion, and that will be easier to do if we can convince the public that we're all honest law abiding folk that are just being harrassed by a bunch of overzealous politicians and cops. Right now a lot of people feel that way, but there are still enough that think we are all just a bunch of old hippies, college punks, and drug dealers that we can't afford too much more bad press.
I know some people don't get quite where I'm coming from, but that's because most of you aren't used to playing the governments game like I am. It really is a game, an it's all about using every legal loophole they leave you to get around the rules you don't like while never quite crossing over the line into anything that is definately illegal. I learned that lesson back when i was in the military, and my time in corporate management and as an accountant has just reinforced the fact that it's the easiest way to do what you want without getting hassled. The trick is to never push them hard enough that they decide they have to close the loopholes, and to ensure that you have enough public support to keep them from pushing anything truly restrictive through in the first place.
I'll be glad to see it if the folks in CA are able to find proof that Romer and his cronies are involved with the growing and supply end of the business and are using the laws to advance their own interests. I haven't seen it yet though, and I still think the best way to win the fight in the court of public opinion is to be so reasonable that all the politicians trying to toss heavy regulations on the industry come off looking like uncaring jerks. Unless we want to take to the streets with torches and have a real revolution our only choice is to beat them at the ballot box and in the court of public opinion, and that will be easier to do if we can convince the public that we're all honest law abiding folk that are just being harrassed by a bunch of overzealous politicians and cops. Right now a lot of people feel that way, but there are still enough that think we are all just a bunch of old hippies, college punks, and drug dealers that we can't afford too much more bad press.
I know some people don't get quite where I'm coming from, but that's because most of you aren't used to playing the governments game like I am. It really is a game, an it's all about using every legal loophole they leave you to get around the rules you don't like while never quite crossing over the line into anything that is definately illegal. I learned that lesson back when i was in the military, and my time in corporate management and as an accountant has just reinforced the fact that it's the easiest way to do what you want without getting hassled. The trick is to never push them hard enough that they decide they have to close the loopholes, and to ensure that you have enough public support to keep them from pushing anything truly restrictive through in the first place.
Let's think about this in another light. Lets focus more on Romer himself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Romer
Just read about him in the link I posted. I'll copy and paste some of it for those of you that don't want to read it.
Romer graduated from Denver's East High School[3] and then attended Stanford University, earning a bachelor's degree in economics.
Mr Romer is currently a financial consultant working on biomass energy plants and transit develop. He was also a founder and president of Great Education Colorado;[4] in 2006, the group proposed an increase in severance taxes provide funding for public schools, but the measure was never place on the statewide ballot.
In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Romer served on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and was vice-chairman of the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
During the 2007 legislative session, Romer introduced a proposal to sell operations of the Colorado Lottery to a private firm in order to raise funds for public schools.[15] The proposal would have been referred to Colorado voters in a statewide ballot measure, and would have used the proceeds from the sale to endow a trust fund to support college scholarships, public schools, state parks, and veteran's services.[16] After facing criticism on legal grounds, and from Governor Bill Ritter, who had offered a competing proposal for school funding, Romer pulled the measure from consideration.
Although Romer made a number of proposals to amend the state budget, only one a requirement that private prison operators provide information on cost breakdowns.
In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Romer serves on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and is vice-chair of both the Senate Finance Committee.
During the 2008 session, Romer floated a proposal to charge a toll Interstate 70 users travelling to mountain ski resorts during weekend rush hours as a way of reducing congestion; the proposal garnered a strong negative reaction and competing suggestions from members of the public.
Romer also floated a proposal to alter the inflation formula used to allocate money to education under Colorado's Amendment 23, in order to increase the legislature's flexibility in allocating funds.
This f-n prick is all about making money. He never stops trying to pass new bills to make money. Even after they have been shot down numerous times, he puts the same bills back into play. He has an agenda with MMJ and that is simply to make money. He could care less about the patients and their needs. He could care less about the caregivers. He wants large dispensaries to over run the small. People need to ban together and fight this asshole. I only pulled a few major things from the wiki page but please educate yourself about OUR enemy. The more you know about him, the more you can educate other people in order to fight him. Knowledge and balls is what we need. Don't hide in a hole and hope things end up how you want them. Stand up and vote for the other guy!!
Just read about him in the link I posted. I'll copy and paste some of it for those of you that don't want to read it.
Romer graduated from Denver's East High School[3] and then attended Stanford University, earning a bachelor's degree in economics.
Mr Romer is currently a financial consultant working on biomass energy plants and transit develop. He was also a founder and president of Great Education Colorado;[4] in 2006, the group proposed an increase in severance taxes provide funding for public schools, but the measure was never place on the statewide ballot.
In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Romer served on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and was vice-chairman of the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
During the 2007 legislative session, Romer introduced a proposal to sell operations of the Colorado Lottery to a private firm in order to raise funds for public schools.[15] The proposal would have been referred to Colorado voters in a statewide ballot measure, and would have used the proceeds from the sale to endow a trust fund to support college scholarships, public schools, state parks, and veteran's services.[16] After facing criticism on legal grounds, and from Governor Bill Ritter, who had offered a competing proposal for school funding, Romer pulled the measure from consideration.
Although Romer made a number of proposals to amend the state budget, only one a requirement that private prison operators provide information on cost breakdowns.
In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Romer serves on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and is vice-chair of both the Senate Finance Committee.
During the 2008 session, Romer floated a proposal to charge a toll Interstate 70 users travelling to mountain ski resorts during weekend rush hours as a way of reducing congestion; the proposal garnered a strong negative reaction and competing suggestions from members of the public.
Romer also floated a proposal to alter the inflation formula used to allocate money to education under Colorado's Amendment 23, in order to increase the legislature's flexibility in allocating funds.
This f-n prick is all about making money. He never stops trying to pass new bills to make money. Even after they have been shot down numerous times, he puts the same bills back into play. He has an agenda with MMJ and that is simply to make money. He could care less about the patients and their needs. He could care less about the caregivers. He wants large dispensaries to over run the small. People need to ban together and fight this asshole. I only pulled a few major things from the wiki page but please educate yourself about OUR enemy. The more you know about him, the more you can educate other people in order to fight him. Knowledge and balls is what we need. Don't hide in a hole and hope things end up how you want them. Stand up and vote for the other guy!!
EdGreyfox
Well-Known Member
Interesting read Reign. The guy is a typical politician, just like I thought. Nice to see he has a long history of pushing for legislation that doesn't go anywhere though. My biggest worry has been that he'll find a way to get enough of the other state politicians to go along with him to ram something through despite any public opposition, which is the only reason I've been willing to consider some of the compromises I've suggested. I figured it would be easier to buy him off then risk him actually passing something that would screw everyone over. I'm going to do as you suggested and do some research on him, and if it looks to me like he doesn't have the backing from the rest of the legislature to push anything major through then you'll see me start making some very different suggestions.
MacGuyver4.2.0
Well-Known Member
After reading the Wiki profile on Romer, this just proves his motives. And since Romer is involved with Wall street through J.P. Morgan, you can BET that his new Anti-MMJ bills are only there to make more money...for HIS interests.
Romer the financial type isn't totally stupid, just mostly and he has several levels of disconnect so he cannot be easily named directly. But others ARE smart enough to connect the dots and are working diligently to do just that.
MacGuyver4.2.0
Well-Known Member
After reading the Wiki profile on Romer, this just proves his motives. And since Romer is involved with Wall street through J.P. Morgan, you can BET that his new Anti-MMJ bills are only there to make more money...for HIS interests.
Romer the financial type isn't totally stupid, just mostly and he has several levels of disconnect so he cannot be easily named directly. But others ARE smart enough to connect the dots and are working diligently to do just that.
This needs BUMPED!
MacGuyver4.2.0
Well-Known Member
and it turns out grubby crooked politicians are trying to corner the market in Arizona before it even gets off the ground!!!
Sounds alot like the scumbags we are dealing with here in Colorado...
Sounds alot like the scumbags we are dealing with here in Colorado...
+1 for intelligent analysis
And yet 9 out of 10 people here vote "democrat", if they vote at all.
BadDog40
Well-Known Member
Yea no shit. I would much rather have republicans using the DEA to raid growers and dispensaries than having some nobody trying to pass some regulations.
motoracer110
Well-Known Member
e-mail has been sent. thank you for the heads up. The thing that worries me is that if this bill dose not pass then there is going to be another one and so on. Its going to be an ongoing battle. Just be smart about what you are doing and all will be good. hell im pissed that it is taking so long to get my card, ive had the paper license for 4 months now and still no card has been sent to me. same with my caregiver papers sent them in and still nothing. Has anyone received their card in the mail yet?
You know, you should look up the Supreme Court case where they decided that California couldn't have medical marijuana w/o being in violation of federal law.
Look who voted against this decision. Tell me whether they were the liberal side of the court, or the conservative?
EdGreyfox
Well-Known Member
Moto,
Nope, i still haven't gotten mine, but I've only been waiting a couple months. Last time I saw anything in the paper they were saying the backlog was up to 5 months and they were thinking about hiring a couple of temp workers to try to speed the process up (like adding a couple temp workers for a few weeks is going to solve the problem).
Nope, i still haven't gotten mine, but I've only been waiting a couple months. Last time I saw anything in the paper they were saying the backlog was up to 5 months and they were thinking about hiring a couple of temp workers to try to speed the process up (like adding a couple temp workers for a few weeks is going to solve the problem).
BadDog40
Well-Known Member
Is that all you got? That decision only said Federal law trumps state law.
Are you denying Bush authorized Federal raids on medical growers? Are you denying McCain was going to do the same thing?
Maybe YOU should look up how Nixon started this all, Reagan revved it up with mandatory minimums and forfeiture laws, and how much money republicans have spent going after marijuana. Then when you're done with that look up how Carter wanted to legalize it.
While you're at it look up who committed fraud by keeping this off the ballot to begin with (a republican secretary of state) and who is proposing a new law in the senate to put a max of 5 patients per caregiver (another republican). Oh and our previous Governor Owens (a republican) put out this statement after voters passed amendment 20:
"... [W]e remind anyone intending to register for the program -- as well as physicians considering prescribing marijuana to their patients -- that it remains a federal crime to possess, manufacture, distribute or dispense marijuana. To fulfill our duties under federal law, we are today contacting the Colorado Medical Association to remind the physicians of Colorado that doctors who dispense marijuana for any purpose risk federal criminal prosecution. We are also writing the acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado to encourage the criminal prosecution of anyone who attempts to use this state program to circumvent federal anti-drug laws."
Voting republican if you grow weed is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.
I've been trying to do some digging to somehow see if there is any connection with Romer and ANYONE in Cannabusiness or other companies that currently own large dispensaries. IF there is a tie there, then the tides could be turned and used against Romer to prove his true motives and swing votes away from him and his rediculous bills. I'll keep everyone posted with any details I can find.
** haha, I'm not even from nor have I ever been to Colorado. I'm just trying to make sure that when I get there in about a year, that all of this bullshit has gone to the wayside ***
** haha, I'm not even from nor have I ever been to Colorado. I'm just trying to make sure that when I get there in about a year, that all of this bullshit has gone to the wayside ***
BikerDude
Member
I think it's more of a way to regulate the dispensaries...not the patients! The dispensaries ARE ripping off their patients and we all know it! I was under the impression from what I have read that the new bill would regulate "caregivers" to only 5 patients. Personally...all these caregivers can kiss my ass! If you are truly a caregiver then you will be doing what is right for your "patient." I also understand that any caregiver will be required under the new bill to undergo classes so that the meds are safe and the dumbasses who aren't even smart enough to flush plants before harvest will be weeded out...no pun intended! It's actually a great idea to ensure that people aren't growing pesticide {etc} infested weed...There should be some guidelines!
MacGuyver4.2.0
Well-Known Member
Looks like they are trying to ram a number of bassackwards bills down our throats.
Here's the one from tonights legislative meeting:
Colo. pot dispensaries welcome state regulation
Proposal would make it harder for recreational users to get medical pot
The Associated Press
updated 2:12 p.m. MT, Wed., Jan. 27, 2010
DENVER - Colorado lawmakers have an unlikely ally in their first attempt to curb the state's booming medical marijuana industry: owners of the some of the shops that sell pot.
Many dispensary owners say they're on board with regulations if they give them uniform guidelines and avert a more severe crackdown like one approved this week in Los Angeles. Hundreds of Los Angeles pot shops face closure after the City Council voted Tuesday to cap the number of dispensaries in the city at 70.
The Colorado proposal before a legislative committee Wednesday would make it more difficult for recreational pot users to become legal medical marijuana patients. It would bar doctors from working out of dispensaries, make it illegal for them to offer discounts to patients who agree to use a designated dispensary, and require follow-up doctor visits.
Some patients worry it will cost them hundreds of dollars on top of the $90 annual fee they pay to register as a medical marijuana user.
William Chengelis said he can't get his regular Veterans Administration doctors to sign off on medical marijuana and said buying pot illegally and paying the $100 fine would be cheaper than paying a private doctor for follow-up visits.
"I cannot afford this bill," Chengelis told lawmakers.
While some advocates see any regulations as a violation of the medical marijuana law passed by voters in 2000, many dispensaries say they welcome the certainty that more regulation would provide.
"We're saying we really can't operate without any rules," said Matt Brown, a medical marijuana patient and leader of a coalition of about 150 dispensaries and over 1,000 patients.
Erik Santos, who operates a dispensary out of an office building in a trendy part of Denver's downtown section, thinks it makes sense to limit large marijuana growers to industrial areas and keep dispensaries out of residential areas. He wants lawmakers to pass laws now before even more dispensaries open up and prevent those with possible criminal ties from giving the industry a bad name.
Another bill still in the works could set up more regulations on dispensaries and suppliers.
Colorado cities are also looking to lawmakers to pass regulations. Hundreds of dispensaries have popped up across the state in empty storefronts, office buildings and even a historic movie theater.
Some cities have passed moratoriums on pot shops as they figure out how to regulate them and wait for more guidance from the state. The Denver suburb of Centennial voted to ban dispensaries and close a shop that had already opened, but a court blocked that move.
"Everyone is waiting to see what happens this (legislative) session," said Mark Radtke, a lobbyist for the Colorado Municipal League.
Colorado already has some rules in place for medical marijuana dispensaries, including prohibiting dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools, day cares and other dispensaries. Felons convicted within the last five years would be barred from running shops. Dispensary owners would have to be licensed, pass a criminal background check and pay a $2,000 application fee along with $3,000 a year to renew licenses.
The rules are set to take effect March 1, although they could change depending on what state lawmakers to decide to do.
Fear that dispensaries would attract crime has been raised by those concerned about the growth of dispensaries. But police in Denver are discounting that.
Police say medical marijuana dispensaries were robbed or burglarized at a lower rate than liquor stores or even banks last year. A memo reported by The Denver Post on Wednesday says they were hit at about the same rate as pharmacies.
Here's the one from tonights legislative meeting:
Colo. pot dispensaries welcome state regulation
Proposal would make it harder for recreational users to get medical pot
The Associated Press
updated 2:12 p.m. MT, Wed., Jan. 27, 2010
DENVER - Colorado lawmakers have an unlikely ally in their first attempt to curb the state's booming medical marijuana industry: owners of the some of the shops that sell pot.
Many dispensary owners say they're on board with regulations if they give them uniform guidelines and avert a more severe crackdown like one approved this week in Los Angeles. Hundreds of Los Angeles pot shops face closure after the City Council voted Tuesday to cap the number of dispensaries in the city at 70.
The Colorado proposal before a legislative committee Wednesday would make it more difficult for recreational pot users to become legal medical marijuana patients. It would bar doctors from working out of dispensaries, make it illegal for them to offer discounts to patients who agree to use a designated dispensary, and require follow-up doctor visits.
Some patients worry it will cost them hundreds of dollars on top of the $90 annual fee they pay to register as a medical marijuana user.
William Chengelis said he can't get his regular Veterans Administration doctors to sign off on medical marijuana and said buying pot illegally and paying the $100 fine would be cheaper than paying a private doctor for follow-up visits.
"I cannot afford this bill," Chengelis told lawmakers.
While some advocates see any regulations as a violation of the medical marijuana law passed by voters in 2000, many dispensaries say they welcome the certainty that more regulation would provide.
"We're saying we really can't operate without any rules," said Matt Brown, a medical marijuana patient and leader of a coalition of about 150 dispensaries and over 1,000 patients.
Erik Santos, who operates a dispensary out of an office building in a trendy part of Denver's downtown section, thinks it makes sense to limit large marijuana growers to industrial areas and keep dispensaries out of residential areas. He wants lawmakers to pass laws now before even more dispensaries open up and prevent those with possible criminal ties from giving the industry a bad name.
Another bill still in the works could set up more regulations on dispensaries and suppliers.
Colorado cities are also looking to lawmakers to pass regulations. Hundreds of dispensaries have popped up across the state in empty storefronts, office buildings and even a historic movie theater.
Some cities have passed moratoriums on pot shops as they figure out how to regulate them and wait for more guidance from the state. The Denver suburb of Centennial voted to ban dispensaries and close a shop that had already opened, but a court blocked that move.
"Everyone is waiting to see what happens this (legislative) session," said Mark Radtke, a lobbyist for the Colorado Municipal League.
Colorado already has some rules in place for medical marijuana dispensaries, including prohibiting dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools, day cares and other dispensaries. Felons convicted within the last five years would be barred from running shops. Dispensary owners would have to be licensed, pass a criminal background check and pay a $2,000 application fee along with $3,000 a year to renew licenses.
The rules are set to take effect March 1, although they could change depending on what state lawmakers to decide to do.
Fear that dispensaries would attract crime has been raised by those concerned about the growth of dispensaries. But police in Denver are discounting that.
Police say medical marijuana dispensaries were robbed or burglarized at a lower rate than liquor stores or even banks last year. A memo reported by The Denver Post on Wednesday says they were hit at about the same rate as pharmacies.