Colorado GOV420 investigated by CBSnew4 undercover

POLL: Poll: Do you think Ken Gorman is taking advantage of Colorado's medical marijuana law?

Some Coloradans Test Limits Of Medical Pot Law
cbs4denver.com - Some Coloradans Test Limits Of Medical Pot Law

February 11, 2007
(CBS4) DENVER Colorado is one of 10 states that has legalized the use of marijuana for medical reasons. Many users say the drug helps ease their pain tremendously, but others may be trying to take advantage of the law.

CBS4 started looking into the story after hearing about a man giving marijuana seminars on how to "get legal," as he called it. He once ran for the state's highest office, so people call him "The Governor". His name is Ken Gorman and he said he has dedicated his life to marijuana.

Each year Gorman hosts a smoke-out on the Capitol steps, and Web surfers can often find him on a marijuana enthusiast Web site. One person wrote to the site that he was out of pot and wanted to find some "street hook-ups." Gorman replied, "Wouldn't you rather become legal and get it from me?"

To find out what Gorman meant, a CBS4 employee carrying a hidden camera arranged to meet with him.

The CBS4 employee asked Gorman how many people he taught how to use Colorado's medical marijuana law, even if they are not sick. Gorman responded, "Hundreds."

"When we passed the law we passed a great, great law," Gorman said to the CBS4 employee. "There are so many holes in it that for us, the patient, police can't do anything."

The CBS4 employee told Gorman that he didn't have any kind of condition and just wanted to get high. Gorman explained he is registered with the state as a medical marijuana user and the young man meeting with him could become one of his "caregivers."

Gorman told the CBS4 employee that if he was ever stopped by police and had two ounces on him, he could pull out credentials and say it is for his patient.

Gorman later signed a state health department form and told the CBS4 employee to carry it with him.

When asked if he encourages people to use marijuana for people who don't need it for medicinal purposes, Gorman responded, "No, as a matter of fact I just talked to somebody. I told them what the law was and I said I couldn't help them because they are not a patient."

Gorman acknowledged signing the caregiver form and said he hoped the person would one day be able to provide him with marijuana.

CBS4 showed the form to John Suthers, Colorado's Attorney General, who has been skeptical of the medical marijuana law.

"It was always the feeling of people in law enforcement that it would be used as a front; as an excuse for people in drug distribution among people who really did not need medical marijuana," Suthers said.

Gorman insists his involvement with medical marijuana is well within the law. He invited CBS4 to his growing room and introduced some of the 1,100 people who hold medical marijuana registry cards.

"It helps me with my pain," a card holder said. "I have Parkinson's and lung cancer."

A.J. Anwar said he's in severe pain after a car accident.

"I wouldn't know what life is," Anwar said. "I don't smile, I don't laugh, I'm not happy unless I have marijuana."

To legally use marijuana in Colorado, one must have a qualifying ailment and a doctor's approval. "Caregivers" are only supposed to provide marijuana for medical use.

"What I think is going on here is you have a group of people who have figured out this law -- particularly the caretaker aspects of it," Suthers said.

Colorado Department of Health officials said mere possession of a medical marijuana application form provides no protection to a caregiver. Those who are properly registered are indeed allowed to grow pot for their patients, however.

Police officers can call the state to find out if someone is on the medical marijuana registry. That list is not open to the public.