One Brown Mouse

[copobo]

Medical marijuana dispensary owner won't sign license application, calls it "downright evil" - Denver News - The Latest Word (http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2010/07/medical_marijuana_dispensary_owner_wont_sign_licen se_application_calls_it_downright_evil.php)

​Earlier today, we shared the thoughts of attorney Danyel Joffe about the medical marijuana business license application. Joffe has problems with the application, which must be filed by Sunday -- but dispensary owner Kathleen Chippi goes much further. She's refusing to file the form, which she regards as "un-American, unconstitutional and downright evil."

Chippi made news in May, when an audio clip of her claiming that 11,000 children go missing in Colorado each year was repeatedly misidentified as Senator Joyce Foster by KHOW's Peter Boyles. The statistic may seem absurdly high, but a 2008 press release from Governor Bill Ritter's office that's included in the post linked above actually claims that nearly 14,000 Colorado children are reported missing per annum.

However, Chippi is best known in the MMJ community as the owner of One Brown Mouse/Cannabis Healing Arts, a Nederland dispensary opened in mid-2009 that earned a rave review from Westword medical marijuana critic The Wildflower Seed this past February.

Because she won't file the license application, Chippi will not be able to operate the dispensary as its owner beyond Sunday. "I can't stay open," she says, "or they're going to come and arrest me. That's the promise. They've been sending out e-mails with big red type saying, 'If you're open on August 2, you're facing criminal prosecution.'"

But that fact isn't enough to make her sign the form -- and it's not because she's been convicted of felonies that would disqualify her from licensure under the new regulatory measures.

"I have a completely clean record," she says. "I'm 42, and I don't even have a speeding ticket."

Among her biggest issues with the application are passages that grant power of attorney to the state, and which allow the state to widely disseminate data about applicants.

"It says they have the right to provide your private information to any state, the U.S. federal government and any foreign country," Chippi says -- and she's right.

At a recent Department of Revenue meeting staged to help businesspersons complete the application, Chippi notes that "they assured everyone the language was in there just to scare away the people who shouldn't be involved -- that they weren't going to implement it. But if they don't intend on implementing it, that language shouldn't be in there."

For Chippi, the danger in signing the form lies in the conflict between the law in Colorado, where an amendment to legalize medical marijuana has been in the state constitution since 2001, and the federal government, which continues to treat all cannabis as an illegal substance with no authorized medical use. She fears the Drug Enforcement Administration might decide to come down on her and other entrepreneurs despite a 2009 Justice Department memo telling agents not to use their resources pursuing individuals who are operating legally in their particular state.

If DEA agents decided to go rogue, she'd be in enormous jeopardy.

"The way I've operated is by purchasing overflow cannabis from patients and caregivers they had and redispensed it to other patients," she explains. "But now, the law says you have to grow 70 percent of the stock for your dispensary." Since her customer base stands at 2,200 patients, "that clearly takes me over 12,000 plants. And that would get me twenty years to life from the federal government."

In her view, "no American has been asked what we're being asked in this application. Let's remember, this isn't a license. It's just the application. And it still asks you to give up all your state and federal rights to privacy, to give up your rights under the Fourth and Fifth amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and to sign over your power of attorney to the Department of Revenue."

If all that's true, why are other people signing the application? "They're in a catch-22," Chippi says. "They've invested their entire lives into this business. They can't afford not to sign."

As for Chippi, she declines to comment about what will happen with One Brown Mouse/Cannabis Healing Arts. But she plans to continue working in the medical marijuana industry -- just not as a dispensary owner.

"I'd rather lose my business," she says, "than lose both my business and my freedom."

(see the link for the rest of the article)

[cologrower420]

Good for her to stand up for her beliefs and shut down. Bad for her patients who depended on her medicine.

Good for other MMC's who paid the fees and are operating to get medicine to patients and appear to be able to do so moving forward. Bad for now illegal large scale grows.

The average person won't care in the least, which is unfortunate for people who would like to see the 5 patient max lifted.

[SprngsCaregiver]

Good for her to stand up for her beliefs and shut down. Bad for her patients who depended on her medicine.

Good for other MMC's who paid the fees and are operating to get medicine to patients and appear to be able to do so moving forward. Bad for now illegal large scale grows.

The average person won't care in the least, which is unfortunate for people who would like to see the 5 patient max lifted.
I blame all those misplaced patients on the state.

How would the average person have any say on this anyways? It's past that point. Our politicians have decided that they make better decisions by themselves.

[edit] What will matter is the patients voices when this rediculous rule goes to court.

[HighPopalorum]

Although I disagree with Kathleen on all issues, the pot is excellent. Everyone in the area should check them out.

[copobo]

no shit! (well, I agree with her on much)

they have (had?) some fantastic house strains, but she - like other dispensaries in the hills, knows the value of the community grower. they grow the shit in ned.

go support the nederland shops. they are the small growers, and Nederland, the town, also deserves our support.

I lived there once long ago, and will again.

[HighPopalorum]

Yeah.. I used to live in the canyon a few miles from Boulder. Even before the "medical era," Ned and Raymond and Ward were growing the best MJ around.

[cologrower420]

no shit! (well, I agree with her on much)

they have (had?) some fantastic house strains, but she - like other dispensaries in the hills, knows the value of the community grower. they grow the shit in ned.

go support the nederland shops. they are the small growers, and Nederland, the town, also deserves our support.

I lived there once long ago, and will again.

I live in Parker, and I'm not about to drive to boulder to get my meds unless it's something substantially better than what I've seen elsewhere.

There are very few MMC's that have what I consider top 1% meds, are you claiming that kathleen's stuff is better than anything I can find in and around denver?

I'm not doubting you, I am just trying to find the best medicine.

[ottistoys]

Yes most of the time !!!! Most of the best meds that I have found are up in Ned.

[copobo]

go to ned. they have the fire.

[HighPopalorum]

Go to Ned. Hike around Eldora. Smoke and have dinner at Kathmandu.

Just another ho-hum day in paradise...

[copobo]

yes. eat at Kathmandu! They have a lunch buffet on the weekends that is SO worth it. it may be weekdays too, I just never have lunch up there 'cept on the weekend...

another cool place to hike/explore is 4th of july road (4WD required, drive in a short distance and get off at a trailhead)

[milehighkt]

you guys should look at her (one brown mouses) facebook, she recently posted a status about this article and said how she is not closing her business. she just won't be the owner anymore. the own brown mouse will stay open under new ownership, and so that's good for her patients, and anyone else who goes. Living in Boulder this past year I've been up to her shop a TON. and let me tell you...they have the SUPER FIRE. more than anywhere else i've been to. I've been to a bunch of dispensaries. not many in denver, but pretty much all of them in boulder and NOTHING comes close to their meds. she ALWAYS would hook me up with the most fire i could find. one of the best, if not the best of shops in the industry. AHH my mouth waters just thinking of her meds...too bad i don't burn it anymore, she literally became my only dispensary, i would just pickup more from her and never go to another shop. soo many A+++++ strains. and it's beautiful up there. :rasta:

[cologrower420]

you guys should look at her (one brown mouses) facebook, she recently posted a status about this article and said how she is not closing her business. she just won't be the owner anymore. the own brown mouse will stay open under new ownership, and so that's good for her patients, and anyone else who goes. Living in Boulder this past year I've been up to her shop a TON. and let me tell you...they have the SUPER FIRE. more than anywhere else i've been to. I've been to a bunch of dispensaries. not many in denver, but pretty much all of them in boulder and NOTHING comes close to their meds. she ALWAYS would hook me up with the most fire i could find. one of the best, if not the best of shops in the industry. AHH my mouth waters just thinking of her meds...too bad i don't burn it anymore, she literally became my only dispensary, i would just pickup more from her and never go to another shop. soo many A+++++ strains. and it's beautiful up there. :rasta:

Transferring ownership to remain compliant? So basically she's setting someone else up to take responsibility should the shit hit the fan? So she's still collecting profits and just holding a consultant role or something?

[ottistoys]

Katmandu !!!! try ordering off of their reg menu to which you can do anytime huge plates off food. primo

the only bummer their restrooms SUCK

[milehighkt]

Transferring ownership to remain compliant? So basically she's setting someone else up to take responsibility should the shit hit the fan? So she's still collecting profits and just holding a consultant role or something?

I dunno man, go read what she herself wrote on her facebook.. interpreting any further than what she said would just be an assumption..

[onebrownmouse]

Transferring ownership to remain compliant? So basically she's setting someone else up to take responsibility should the shit hit the fan? So she's still collecting profits and just holding a consultant role or something?

First I read people posting I suck for abandoning my patients because I refuse to sign my power of attorney over to the CO Dept of Rev, sign away all my state and federal rights to privacy or sign a federal confession by 'applying' to be an (unprotected by the Colorado Constitution), mmc.

Now I suck because I was forced to sell in order to continue to help service patients instead of adding to their/our hurt in the passage and implementation of 1284 and 109. There is no sense in much of what gets said here. Talk and complain to hear yourselves if thats what works for you.

I asked NO ONE to take responsibility. Instead I tell people exactly what I think--NOT ONE AMERICAN should sign those forms. If you do you are signing your life away. A number of people who are not involved in cannabis like I am, offered to step up and sign for me--I REFUSED them all.

I also held off on everything about a sale because the ''pro cannabis' attorneys that had retainers from me had promised me and ALL patients/residents they would be filing lawsuits. They even announced it in press releases. Yet NOTHING got filed, as it seems they have gotten drunk on the money they got to 'help' people fill out the forms that they themselves would not sign "over their dead bodies".

People who had other dispensaries ( and consciences) approached me and told me they could NOT let such an institution (my dispensary) close. They were filing the paperwork WITH OR WITHOUT ME, for their other ventures. I told them exactly how I felt about those unconstitutional forms, because thats who I am. But I also had gotten plenty of feedback about how many patients would be negatively affected.

So, I sold at the last possible minute, to people who were signing those forms for their other dispensaries, so my patients/community don't suffer any more than WE ALL have, do to the unconstitutionality of 1284 and 109.

As far as profits. I didn't spend any of my 20 years fighting the war on cannabis for profits. I have never made profits. I didn't open for profits. I fight for EVERYONE'S RIGHTS based on FREEDOM we are supposed to have in America. I am fortunate enough to have a man who pays for my living expenses. I live more modestly than most Americans. I drove my 23 yr old toyota until it died in the dispensary parking lot with 385,000 + miles on it and replaced it with an 11 year old subaru. I'm not about having 'things' and believe money is the root of all evil. I prefer a fair trade. I am guilty of loving FREEDOM. FREEDOM of 'stuff' is included in that. Oh, I guess I am guilty having more dogs than most. Strike me down. Guilty.

I was able to re invest anything that came into the dispensary back into my community. I know what growers deserve and I paid them accordingly. My mark ups were less than 1/2 of what I hear other dispensaries are. I helped many by giving away product for FREE, when I was NOT on their license as caregiver. From what I hear from patients, I was probably the ONLY dispensary who NEVER asked people to sign me as their caregiver (as it is not required by the constitution) from day one, even when people asked if they could put me as caregiver. I would say no and just give away meds. I never paid myself. I didn't even pay myself for most of my own bud I grew. I gave it to the dispensary.

I was also able buy anything locally made,--- glass, clothing, art, jewelry, anything. I'm the ONLY storefront in Ned that welcomes and encourages ANY ma and pa vendor to come in. And I loaned allot to people in the community, just because they were in need. Simple as that. As the money went into the cash register, I spent it right back out day after day. I always said if law enforcement ever came in they would get the meds but their would be no money as it would be in the hands of the community, the vendors, the waitresses etc. The way I ran things did help jump start the TRUE GREEN ECONOMY. This plant can help EVERYONE, directly and indirectly.

Since many of you feel such a need to continuously bash people, how about bashing those who deserve it. The list is massive. You can start with Sen Chris Romer, Matt Cook, Josh Stanley (who illegally sells rejected Cali bud and helped Romer write this unconstitutional language) at Peace and Medicine (now Budding Health), Matt Brown (CMMR, another paid helper who contributed language to 1284), Wanda James, Brian Vicente (Sensible Colorado), who also helped write 1284 and on record supported 1284), ALL SENATORS who voted to pass this unconstitutional language, the CO Dept of Health, Gov Bill Ritter and EVERY so called pro pot attorney who sold us ALL out with no lawsuits and even helped people sign away their lives on unconstitutional applications they themselves would NEVER sign, while taking money for it.

To High P since you disagree with me on ALL issues, (but still admit to the quality of the meds---ha on you and good for you. Since I am always CLEAR with what I stand for and you are against.....well, I don't have to spell it out for anyone, now do I? Fight your fight. Your impact on society leaves no mark. PS-- I am on team FREEDOM--now we all know how you feel about that too.

THC II (One Brown Mouse/Cannabis Healing Arts) will remain open. I welcome all new and old patients to come in for honesty, some of the best meds in the state, and to talk about actions that need to happen to right the recent wrongs that have been done to us ALL. Looking forward to seeing you! ;)

[copobo]

word

[HighPopalorum]

Well, even if you sold your place, I hope you'll stick around here to rant. I'm sorry you and the state could not agree.

[Zedleppelin]

Right on Kathleen, if more people did what you're doing maybe something would change. Good job with Matts Facebook page. :D

[denverbear]

Thank you Kathlen for all you have done in the past and what you will most likely accomplish in the future....I have never been in you store but usually go to GM but will at some point stop in to meet you...

[cologrower420]

Well, even if you sold your place, I hope you'll stick around here to rant. I'm sorry you and the state could not agree.

this

[denverbear]

yes. eat at Kathmandu! They have a lunch buffet on the weekends that is SO worth it. it may be weekdays too, I just never have lunch up there 'cept on the weekend...

another cool place to hike/explore is 4th of july road (4WD required, drive in a short distance and get off at a trailhead)
lol......I saw your post and today my wife myself and another couple decieded to go there. we went inside and went to sit down and noticed it was thi/nepalize food and could'nt get out the door fast enough....I am and old died in the wool old man that grew up on good old meat and potatoes and still have't been able to learn how to enjoy other ethnic foods but hey since I've been in Colo I have been loving mexican type food so I have come forward a little the last 30 years I have been here. ( LOL )....we did go to a great lttle place on up the road called I believe Sundance... they had a great little menu and we sat on the outside deck with a nice breeze and just enjoyed the great scenery with a cool one..

but to answer another question about kathmandu they do have the buffet according to thier sign during the week also..

[denverbear]

Hey Kathleen, great to finally meet you today.....by the way...what was that little sample you gave me..........omg........I think I want to drive all the way back there next week to get some of that if it is available......within 2 minutes I was'nt feeling the darn pain in my shoulder.....omg...

[FarmerSteve]

Kathleen,

I wish you could hear me applauding your words. I've never been up, and I'd like to meet you. When's the best time?

Thanks for starting my day off SO Right. And I hope you have not lost faith. The war isn't over yet, is it? :thumbsup:

[onebrownmouse]

Hey Kathleen, great to finally meet you today.....by the way...what was that little sample you gave me..........omg........I think I want to drive all the way back there next week to get some of that if it is available......within 2 minutes I was'nt feeling the darn pain in my shoulder.....omg...

Great to meet you too! We do carry some of the best meds out there. Glad you felt better!

[onebrownmouse]

Kathleen,

I wish you could hear me applauding your words. I've never been up, and I'd like to meet you. When's the best time?

Thanks for starting my day off SO Right. And I hope you have not lost faith. The war isn't over yet, is it? :thumbsup:

The war is not over as we have hundreds of thousands sitting in jail for non violent cannabis charges. I believe we are in some of the final battles of this 73 year old war on us.

Wens-Sun are usually for sure good for me. We are open 11-6 mon-sat and 12-5 sun.