In case anyone doesn't know, and I'm sure someone on here doesn't....last week they passed HB 1043. This effectively KILLS private caregiving in Colorado. For the guy questioning the move to Colorado...DON'T DO IT. For the guy that moved from Colorado to persue MMJ profits elsewhere....good call bro! And for peaceloveandpaws: yes in Denver they passed an ordinace stating that you cannot grow more than 12 plants, period. Even if your a caregiver for 5 people, you'd need to move out of Denver to grow for all of them.
Essentially every city is passing their own ordinances for where MMJ centers and private caregivers can grow and operate. Many towns have their own ordinances so it's very important if you want to stay compliant that you check out that information. Laws change quickly too, so unless your retaining an attorney to stay up on changes, you have to stay up on the changes. Like someone said You don't want to end up another Barkowitz.
So HB1043...what does it mean? It means that anyone who is a private caregiver for even 1 patient must register with a local zoning authority, get a permit from the DOR for an (unspecified amount), and must be subject to inspection at any time. So you effectively have given up all privacy, and could be home searched at any time. In addition the DOR is violating federal laws with this law, and the government has threatened the state not to enact the law. If they do, it's likely the feds would seize that list from the DOR and then use it to go around busting growers.
I was a private caregiver for the last few years, and I'm actually dumping my patients and telling them I'm out of business with this change. I could move to a properly zoned city, area, and new house, and get a few more patients, and give up my privacy, and pay a huge unspecified fee to the DOR, and take a big risk with my privacy going forward, but I'm not willing to do that.
So anyone still sticking with the game: Good luck, stay up on law changes, and stay compliant, or you'll get Barkowitzed. HB1043 still has to be signed by the governor, but it's otherwise been passed into law.