Tag Archives: colorado

Will November be a Huge Month for MMJ?

October 01, 2012   Patrick

MMJBusinessDaily.com


The election will have a major impact on the national medical cannabis movement. Residents of three states have the chance to legalize the general use of marijuana – which could have serious implications for existing MMJ businesses.

With less than six weeks to go until Nov. 6, a clearer picture of how voters feel about these measures is emerging. Here’s how several key initiatives are faring in the most recent polls:

Medical marijuana legalization in…

Arkansas – A medical marijuana legalization measure will definitely appear on the Arkansas ballot after the state Supreme Court shot down an attempt to sink the initiative. The latest poll on the issue was taken way back in July. But it still gives a good indication of where locals stand. The poll found:

  • 47% of likely voters surveyed support MMJ legalization compared with 46% who oppose it.
  • The remaining 7% are undecided. That’s a razor-thin margin, and it could easily go either way at this point.
  • All in all the poll numbers are a very positive sign.

Massachusetts – Some MMJ advocates are already chalking up Massachusetts as a win for the medical marijuana movement. The latest poll found:

  • 59% of likely voters support the legalization of medical marijuana in the state, while just 35% are opposed. It would be a major surprise – and huge disappointment – if the measure fails.
  • Assuming the polls are accurate, Massachusetts is set to become the 18th state to legalize the use of medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana restrictions in…

Montana – A new poll found that:

  • 44% of registered voters in the state back a ballot measure that would keep in place strict new medical marijuana regulations that have decimated Montana’s MMJ industry.
  • Just 31% oppose the initiative and want the state to revert to its original, more lenient law passed in 2004. That’s a wide gap, and it will be tough for the MMJ crowd to defeat the measure.
  • 25% of voters are still making up their minds. If medical cannabis advocates can sway the vast majority of these voters, they could sink the bill.

Marijuana legalization in…

Colorado – Voters seem poised to legalize cannabis for adult use in Colorado. A poll conducted earlier this month found support for the legalization measure (called Amendment 64) at about 51%. Roughly 40% of likely voters oppose it, while 8% said they are unsure. That’s a very encouraging sign for marijuana supporters who back legalization. But it’s still unclear how the measure would affect the medical marijuana industry. Some experts say it would create a much bigger market for existing businesses, while others believe it would simply give the federal government an excuse to come in and shut all marijuana-related businesses down.

Washington – The situation in Washington State mirrors the one in Colorado. In fact, support for legalization is even stronger in Washington. The state’s marijuana legalization measure – called Initiative 502 – has the support of 57% of voters, according to the latest poll released on Sept. 11. Just 34% of likely voters said they oppose marijuana legalization, and 9% are not sure yet. The measure should pass easily barring any unforeseen swings in voters sentiment. The odds are that both Colorado and Washington will become the first states in the nation to legalize the general use of marijuana for adults.

Oregon – Things are a lot tighter in Oregon, where the most recent poll shows that:

  • 37% of likely voters support a marijuana legalization initiative (Measure 80)
  • 41% who oppose it.
  • 22% of voters still undecided, the outcome will depend on which side of the debate is more active and pumps more resources into their respective campaigns in the weeks to come.

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Image credit: libertycrier.com

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Only 8 Applications Submitted for New Colorado MMJ Business Licenses Since End of Moratorium

August 27, 2012   Patrick

MMJ Business Daily:

The state has received eight new applications for medical marijuana business licenses since lifting a two-year moratorium on new dispensaries and grow operations in early July, officials with the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division (MMED) said last night during a panel discussion in Denver.

Lewis Koski, MMED agent in charge, said two of the applications are for new dispensaries, while the remaining six are for marijuana cultivation sites (two of which are tied to the new MMJ centers).

The relatively low level of interest shows just how much the medical marijuana industry in Colorado and nationally has changed over the years. The state initially received 1,100 applications for dispensaries and marijuana-infused product manufacturers and 1,200 for grow operations before enacting enacting a moratorium on new MMJ operations in July 2010. Colorado lifted the moratorium this summer, and many existing dispensaries assumed there would be a rush of new players attempting to enter the market.

That’s not happening so far. Chalk up it up to the federal crackdown on MMJ – which has spooked entrepreneurs thinking about starting medical cannabis businesses – and new industry regulations in Colorado that make it much harder to open and operate a dispensary or grow operation. Additionally, the market in many areas of Colorado is already saturated, and a fair share of dispensaries are still struggling to turn a profit. At the same time, the MMED has a huge backlog of applications from existing dispensaries that it is still processing, so there’s really no rush by new businesses given that they might have to wait a long time for the agency to play catch-up.

The trickle of new applications is good news for existing MMJ businesses, as it eases their concerns about an influx of new competition. But it also signals that the industry isn’t as lucrative as it once was (or was thought to be) and could indicate that the market has plateaued.

During last weeks panel, officials with the MMED – the main agency charged with overseeing Colorado’s medical marijuana industry – also addressed the organization’s well-publicized financial struggles and provided an update on the licensing process.

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Medical Marijuana News Around the US

May 16, 2012   Patrick

Recently, the President tried to defend the recent crackdown on the medical marijuana industry, including raids of legitimate businesses without explanation. While medical marijuana-sympathetic voters generally choose a democratic candidate, voters are now conflicted over who to vote for. Romney has strongly opposed legalization, and the only candidate who supports legalization is Ron Paul, who is trailing Romney badly in the polls. Meanwhile, state governments are dealing with their own legislation debates:

Colorado Asks Obama to Protect Jobs

Last week, President Obama visited the University of Colorado to reach out to younger voters, and cannabis activists took the opportunity to speak out against the recent government intervention in the MMJ industry.  In a press release, it was stated that the U.S. Attorney’s plan to target nearly 200 medical marijuana businesses would result in over 1,000 jobs being lost in the wake of a recession. Meanwhile, three Boulder dispensaries are shutting down this week after the government gave them an ultimatum of moving locations by May 7 or closing.

Hawaii Sees a Spike in MMJ Patients

Since last summer, the number of Hawaii residents with medical marijuana cards has grown by about 7,600 patients – 27% lift in nine months. Hawaiians with MMJ cards are allowed to use, possess, and grow limited amounts of cannabis, but dispensaries are not allowed to operate. This boost in numbers could help pass legislation allowing dispensary operation and in the meantime it will help the businesses of doctors, lawyers, and those who sell cultivation equipment.

New Hampshire and Connecticut Pass MMJ Legislation

The New England states still face opposition to the bills. New Hampshire’s governor stated that he would veto the bill, but there’s still hope for it yet – only 3 of the 11 Senators opposed the bill, and it is rumored that at least two would change their votes, effectively overriding the veto.  In Connecticut, however, the bill is moving to the Senate and their governor has already stated that he supports MMJ and is more likely to not veto the bill.

Connecticut Passes MMJ Bill

A Connecticut bill allowing medical marijuana use has been passed by Congress and is in the hands of state Governor Malloy, who says he plans to pass the bill. The bill contains some of the country’s strictest regulations for the cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana to try to bypass some of the problems the other 16 states face in legalization. A registry of patients will be established as well as a list of diseases approved to use the drug.

Be sure to find out what the status of legalization is in your state as well as which candidates support medical marijuana use and dispensaries.

 

 

 

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Marijuana Reclassification Request

January 04, 2012   Patrick

CNN.com:

Medical marijuana advocates are hoping state governments can succeed where their efforts have failed by asking federal authorities to reclassify pot as a drug with medical use.

Shortly before Christmas, Colorado became the fourth state to ask the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic in the same league as heavyweight painkillers including oxycodone. The governors of Washington and Rhode Island filed a formal petition with the agency in November, and Vermont signed onto that request shortly afterward.

All four are among the sixteen states and the District of Columbia that have laws on the books that allow the medical use of marijuana, even though the drug remains illegal under federal law. Meanwhile, federal authorities have asserted their power by raiding dispensaries in states including California and Washington.

Supporters say the public is on their side, and the state requests show the feds are increasingly isolated on the issue. But they acknowledge it’s still an uphill battle.

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