MMBA meeting tonight with Senator Romer--SB 1284

The Medical Marijuana Business Alliance meeting had Senator Romer and Rob Corry speak tonight. The key point from Senator Romer was requiring dispensaries and growers to have complete "vertical integration." This means dispensaries growing 70% of their medicine while allowing 30% being exchange for other strains that cannot be self produced. What does this mean for growers? It is my understanding that growers will need to align themselves with dispensaries by forming common legal entities of ownership, thus vertically integrating.

Another key point that Senator Romer mentioned is the Colorado Department of Revenue will be hiring officers that will visit dispensaries every week to verify that the medicine dispensed equals the revenue reported. In addition, a camera will record every transaction within that dispensary. Senator Romer emphasized that these officers will be armed with weapons.
Senator Romer stated that the medical marijuana industry needs to start regulating itself by creating an association that includes a code of ethics. He cited examples of dispensaries handing out flyers to a young child or being located in close proximity to a school. These examples could force the people of Colorado to vote the legitimacy of the entire medical marijuana industry.
Please come to the next meeting of the MMBA. Rob Corry will be speaking at that meeting.
Courtesy of JB Woods
Greenpoint Insurance

So they're planning on requiring that a camera record all transactions within a dispensary?

What kind of detail would need to be shown on camera, who does the footage go to, how long would places be required to retain that data?

That's...a creepy requirement without knowing the details :/

Chris's plans will do nothing but scatter the business and keep the underground alive. GO CHRIS!

I don't know if the camera only feeds into the dispensary or does it go to the Department of Revenue or both? We're conducting research on this matter and will let you know.

Romer also mentioned that dispensary owners will need to from Colorado as residents for a minimum of 2 years before they can own a dispensary.

it's like he's just making this up as he goes?!

What is in the 1284 now?

The Major Effects of HB 1284 on the Industry (as it currently stands)

Effects on the Patients

Patients will choose whether to go to a dispensary, a primary caregiver or grow their own plants.

Patients who choose to grow their own will also be able to choose one center to purchase medication from in between harvests.

Patients who choose a primary caregiver will only be able to purchase from their caregiver. (potentially ONE center as well)

Municipalities will have the ability to ban dispensaries.

All transactions must be made on site of the retail location.

The patient registry will also be set up as a database to track every single transaction of every single patient, including amount spent and items purchased.

Each dispensary will be required to have a camera installed to record every transaction with a live feed accessible 24/7 by state authorities.

If a doctor loses their right to recommend medical marijuana, every patient that is active on the registry for whom the doctor recommended medical marijuana, will have to obtain a recommendation from a different doctor to remain valid.
(There are currently fees appropriated from SB-109 so that if/when it passes the Department of Health will open investigation on 5 particular doctors so right away many innocent patients could be rendered "illegal" until they get another recommendation)

Effects on the Primary Caregivers
Limits the number of patients a primary caregiver can serve to 5.

In municipalities that have banned dispensaries, the local authority can permit primary caregivers to serve up to 16.


Caregivers will be allowed to be compensated for the cultivation of medical marijuana but money and/or marijuana may only be exchanged between a primary caregiver and one of their patients.

Prohibits two caregivers from joining together for the purpose of cultivating.


Effects on the Dispensaries

Dispensaries will be allowed to cultivate 6 plants and have 2 oz of a usable form of marijuana for every member.

70% of all medication a dispensary is allowed must be grown by that dispensary, the other 30% can only be obtained from another dispensary.

All medication will have to be cultivated in a location licensed for that purpose and a licensed dispensary is the only entity allowed to obtain a cultivation license.

700 total grow licenses will be issued for the state for off-site cultivation.

One-time application fees, to become a licensed dispensary, high enough to potentially prohibit everyone except for those with serious money.

These fees will be adjusted on a sliding scale based on how many members that dispensary would like to be able to have.

In order to become a licensed retail location, a public hearing will be held for anyone with issues, concerns or positive testimony.

1100 total dispensary licenses will be issued for the state.

A dispensary may not be located within 1000 ft. of a pre-school, elementary, middle or high school.

During the public hearing, officials from a school within that distance may show up and voice their concern.

A dispensary may not be located within 1000 ft. of any location for which a dispensary application has been denied, for whatever reason, in the last 2 years.

Weekly visits from officers to verify that product sold and revenue reported line up.

Effects on Edible Manufacturers
Marijuana-infused products can only be made on a location licensed for that purpose.

In order to obtain that license, the location must be a commercial kitchen that is used for no other purpose but infusing products with marijuana.

Edibles may not be unsealed or consumed on a premised licensed for the production of edibles.

Edible vendors will be required to contract with specific dispensaries for the plant matter to infuse products with.

Each batch will have to be made for a specific dispensary containing only the plant matter provided by that dispensary.