Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE  — Montrose City Councilors will consider a moratorium on reviewing applications for medical marijuana dispensaries in the city until they’ve done further research into the issue.

An ordinance declaring a moratorium — a temporary prohibition of the activity — will be considered during council’s regular meeting tonight.

The moratorium is for a six-month period, or until the council takes further action, so council can study how to handle requests for dispensaries.

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“Possession of marijuana is still a federal crime,” city attorney Russ Duree said. “Dispensaries are not authorized in the Colorado constitutional (medical marijuana) amendment ... regulations are silent on the issues of dispensaries.”

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Comments

Just Sayin wrote on Sep 13, 2009 6:01 PM:

" I don't care if your medication is prescription, otc, legal, illegal, or your drinking alcohol. When you make the bad choice to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, or doing anything else that causes harm to someone else, you need to take responsibility for your actions. I am not against anyone using whatever they need to use to deal with whatever problems they have, just as long as it doesn't affect anyone else. Lack of responsibility is the real problem here. "




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Native wrote on Sep 11, 2009 7:36 AM:

" Brian....that is only if I choose to drive after my 1 glass of wine...which i have never done. Once I have my wine I am in for the night. I firmly believe that 1 drink is 1 too many to be on the road with all of you on it too. It isn't the MJ or alcohol that kills people, it is the people being irresponsible with it, and no law is every going to stop that. "




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Brian wrote on Sep 10, 2009 4:40 PM:

" To Native
Though the medical marijuana users may not be stoned enugh to be a reckless drieer they can still be hazard on the roads. And even your one glass of wine may not give you a buzz you can still be citede for DWAI... "




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bella wrote on Sep 10, 2009 3:26 PM:

" do you think the person that drinks and accidentally kills someone while driving is any different than you, the person who has a glass of wine with dinner????? no, they are not... most of the people who end up driving under the influence are not monsters nor does it mean they are neccessarily alcoholics or potheads. they are regular people who made bad decisions while under the influence of the substance, whatever it may be. "




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Allergic wrote on Sep 10, 2009 11:40 AM:

" Jweee, with your "medical background" it would seem you should know that when you are allergic to something, each exposure to it is worse. My parents smoked pot, and I developed asthma. They stopped because of that. As I got older each time I was around smoke from pot my allergic reaction was worse. Something like someone allergic to bee stings. I had one lung collapse when I was in college. Now I am very careful to avoid the smoke, but yes, 3 days in a coma. "




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Bud wrote on Sep 10, 2009 11:26 AM:

" Bella,

Just because you and your husband couldn't handle some weed and became mentally incapacitated, doesn't mean that others react the same way. I drank a beer one time and got alcohol poisoning, but no one is in a hurry to make it illegal and pull it off the shelves. Thank god you didn't ever puff again or you could have destroyed the entire city!!!! "




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chickenman wrote on Sep 10, 2009 1:49 AM:

" Sounds like reefer madness,A 3 day comma from 2nd hand mj smoke from the neighbors? , anythings possible but that sounds pretty far fetched.Also mmj patients, and thats what were talking about here, according to law must not medicate in public.
Chickenman
. "




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JWeee wrote on Sep 9, 2009 10:17 PM:

" "Juanita" and "Bella" Sorry to hear about your accidents/almost accidents. MJ, if used, should be used like any other mild intoxicant... Alcohol comes to mind. Accidents happen every day to sober, drunk, and stoned people. Some people are going to use intoxicants irresponsibly... does that mean they should all be illegal? I don't think so... probably need to be regulated to some degree though. Just my opinion...
Should sick people be given the access to whatever medication helps them function. Of Course! "




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JWeee wrote on Sep 9, 2009 10:10 PM:

" "Allergic" I know several people who are allergic to peanuts, milk, peaches... should they be illegal too? Ever heard of psychosomatic shock? I, with a medical background, have a very hard time believing that the small amount of pot smoke drifting from a neighbors house to your's... had to be heavily diluted with air... caused a 3 day coma. "




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Native wrote on Sep 9, 2009 10:03 PM:

" Go find me a person using MJ for medical reasons that smokes so much at once that they forget how to check for a fire or drive a vehicle. Sorry, but they are a lot more responsable then "potheads". Tell me, how is this any different then alcohol problems? Are you all saying that my glass of wine with dinner makes me the same as the drunk that kills everyone in his car and the car he hit? you have responsable drinkers and smokers, it's the others that you have to watch for. "




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juanita wrote on Sep 9, 2009 3:55 PM:

" well my cousin carla who was in a horrific car accident, while she was driving stoned, may disagree with you about that. "




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bella wrote on Sep 9, 2009 3:52 PM:

" to never seen it- my point wasn't that i

accidentially turned the stove on with something in it, it was the fact we could not even identify smoke and connect it with danger. we sat there and spaced out on it for probably 20 minutes, while the alarms were going off and couldn't even move our stoned butts off the couch to make sure there wasn't a fire in the house. yeah, we were worthless when we smoked pot, and so were our friends who did it also. [self admittingly so] "




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Allergic wrote on Sep 9, 2009 1:39 PM:

" Never seen it, I am sure you weren't the EMT who picked me up from my home, transported me to the hospital, where I spent 3 days in a coma. The cause, a neighbor smoking pot. Some of us are highly allergic and shouldn't be exposed to any form of pot, including the smoke. So please, I don't think your experience is immense, especially if you have a child at home who still requires care. "




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never seen it wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:29 PM:

" (cont) I personally don't use pot, but I have numerous times, left something in the over and started it forgeting the thing was in there. My hubby smokes more than just causually, he runs his own company, gets up at the crack of dawn, works 14 hours, comes home and takes care of our son. He is far from lazy "




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never seen it wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:27 PM:

" I worked as a medic for MANY years, I worked little towns and big cities, and NEVER picked up anybody who had smoked to much pot, or had cancer from pot. BUT I can't count the number of times I picked up some one who drank to much, some of these even latter died. i have also picked up cancer patients who admit to using pot, and they were ALL so grateful for pot. (cont) "




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chickenman wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:23 PM:

" Legal patients seeking mmj are actually better off avoiding dispensaries. The mjs more expensive than street mj....OK this sounds crazy but why dosent the county to open a dispensary, grow enough medication for patients in montrose county only,hire honest mds to screen throughly, allow only whats needed for each patient, , the county colects revenue, mmj is going wheres ts supposed to.. Keep out the shady side of the mmj distribution...CM "




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Chickenman wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:09 PM:

" The way it works is mmj is not prescribed. A doctor can recommend its use if a person has found pain relief from its use.
The patient is responsible for obtaining medicene or cultivating themselfs. Most patients cannot cultivate so there is a need for medicene.These dispensaries will grow in numbers as the maount of patients grows.Cont "




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patrick wrote on Sep 8, 2009 2:09 PM:

" I just belive that alot of problems will arise with alot of people getting cards from the state saying they want to provide med mj to people who need it. when in all actuallity they just want a legal way to have pot with out getting trouble for it. Its a Huge loophole that people are just trying to get passed and i belive its a horrible idea and as a Med user i really think that you should be apalled that people want to exploit you for that reason. "




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patrick wrote on Sep 8, 2009 2:01 PM:

" Chickenman: I really do commend you and your choice to live as healthy of a lifestyle as possible. You have done what alot of people in America are unable or at least unwilling to do. I do drink soda now and then but i think that soda and fast food has ruined this country. Also like i said i dont have a problem with Medical use for the right reasons. "




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Maegan wrote on Sep 8, 2009 1:19 PM:

" I did a research project in high school on MJ. I couldn't really find the bads things about it, health wise. After I turned in my project, I asked my teacher if I was correct in that dept. He said yes. I asked my doctor about the risks, he told me to stop smoking cigs, said cigs are ten times worse the MJ. Funny thing is, cigs are still legal. "




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Maegan wrote on Sep 8, 2009 1:16 PM:

" People, why don't you try to compare these dispensaries to liquor stores. Liquor stores are dispensaries of well, liquor. The people that own these liquor stores, are they drunks? Does MMJ cause liver disease, Hepitis, etc? No one says your wrong to have a drink after dinner, but to have a joint, that was made by God, is wrong. I would like to hear about the guy who killed everyone in his car and the other car because he was high not drunk, Where are those stories? You people have no clue. Outlaw liquor and cigs not MJ "




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cancer survivor wrote on Sep 8, 2009 8:33 AM:

" I am cancer survivor. I was prescribed marinol and other drugs to attempt to control my vomitting, which didn't help me. I was canidate for a feeding tube which I declined. My doctor "if you can get some pot, smoke it." Insiide the hospital, I did and was then able to eat. I slowly gained weight and am here today to make this post. My sister, died several years ago from cancer and what I believe starvation as she was not able to eat due to her treatments and would not try pot. "




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Chickenman wrote on Sep 8, 2009 7:30 AM:

" Bella, Holly.. your right, mj is not for everybody. Some should not use plain and simple.
However there are millions who have used it for many years and prosper and benifit from its use, not everyone whos uses mj turns out dumb as a rockbag,or burns the house down, for me I function quite well, with no real side effects, except some euphoria that for me is far better than the agony of the pain I suffer from............POCM "




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chickenman wrote on Sep 8, 2009 7:04 AM:

" Remember federal law allows abortion which could be considered murder, does that make it right just because its the law of the land?
Why would the fed govt go against the will of the people in regard to mmj?.
Weve been sold out to whats best for profit for those who get these crimminals elected, if they dont follow what we the people decide on than their criminals, not obeying the laws we want upheld, voted on and approved, weve lost basic freedoms in a so called free country Scary... CM "




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Chickenman wrote on Sep 8, 2009 6:52 AM:

" If our govt is of, by, and for the people, and we the people of Colo. voted to allow mmj for those who qualify, why do you think they still refuse to accept what we in this state voted into law? cont "




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dwrldsmine wrote on Sep 7, 2009 9:21 PM:

" I don't know if it's true that mj helps or not, but I do know that all the people who open or want to open dispensaries are potheads themselves. This is just one way they can get the pot for themselves. Another problem is that the people who buy the pot, share it with others who don't have the license. This is what I'm against. I'm willing to bet the owners of these dispensaries have lots of friends. I still believe in the supreme law of the land. "




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Native wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:09 PM:

" MMJ is normally not smoked, therefore it does not cause cancer. It is vaporized or eaten. At least that is what I have seen. That is why cancer patients can take it with no worry of it causing more cancer. It is not the MJ that is bad for your health...it is the smoke. And there are ways around that. If people use those other options and do it responsably then there will be no problems. Someone who is under the influence of MJ is a lot less likely to do anyone else dammage then someone on pain pills. "




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bella wrote on Sep 7, 2009 2:18 PM:

" continued..... anything could have happened that night to our family because we were so helpless, mentally and physically from the drug.after we sobered up we vowed to never smoke mj again, and we haven't. we would have never forgiven ourselves if we had harmed our precious, innocent little children because of our stupid decision that night. "




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realistic wrote on Sep 7, 2009 2:17 PM:

" Why is everyone overreacting like its legalizing marijuana? It's just approving the drug to be used for its known side effects in order to HELP people who have a prescription. It's a lot safer than alcohol or prescription drugs. I'm actually not a smoker, but really, what's the big deal? "




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for it wrote on Sep 7, 2009 2:13 PM:

" MMJ is only for people who have a prescription, not the people who "just want to get high" or the "potheads". unless you have someone close to you that would benefit from MMJ, keep your opinions to yourself. It's side effects are a lot better than say the narcotics that are being prescribed for the same pain in which people inadvertantly overdose and die from. "




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bella wrote on Sep 7, 2009 2:12 PM:

" many years ago as a young parent my spouse and i would smoke mj occassionally after the kids were asleep. one night after smoking, i preheated the oven to cook something and did not realize there was a plastic serving tray with cookies in the oven. we sat in the living room spacing on tv when we noticed smoke, we could not comprehend in our stoned state that our house was filling with toxic smoke while we sat there wondering what it was -duh...,all the while the smoke alarms going off.. continued... "




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hollymadison wrote on Sep 7, 2009 1:53 PM:

" to say mj is a harmless little herb is a stretch. a friend i had known since elementary started smoking mj in high school. he became a casual smoker -" i'm stressed, i need to relax..'.
i seen him for this first time in 13 years recently. this man who was at one time a bright eyed, intelligent go getter
was now dumb as a box of rocks and lazy as a slug . he had not matured intellectually and i am pretty sure he actually lowered his i.q. from years of 'casual smoking." real harmless... "




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Chickenman wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:15 AM:

" Yes I pratice a much different lifestyle than most.
Havent had a soda in 15 years, dont take any over the counter or prescribed drugs, buy little from grocery store, eat foods produced with love and respect, share and care about my felllow humans.
What i cant understand or frustrate over, turn it over to God and it all works out. MMj for me is a gift from God, why else would he put THC receptors in our body if its so bad? Dont belive all the negitive hype about mj, consider the source. "




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Chickenman wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:02 AM:

" Patrick
Believe what you want, at least you show respect for others ideas, without looking foolish.
So many misstruths about so the called dangers of mj use are spread, for me its not about getting high, it benifits with migrane relief.
My pain is sometimes at level 7 to 8, nowdays smoking mji is a thing of the past, vaporizers eliminate the smoke, and I can reduce my pain, nausea to level 2 and get some sleep. CONT "




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patrick wrote on Sep 6, 2009 7:02 PM:

" And furthermore if you are so addament about a heathy lifestyle as you clearly show in your other posts why is is that you dont know the health risks of MJ? "




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patrick wrote on Sep 6, 2009 6:58 PM:

" Who am i to say someone that is sick cannot use medical MJ but they are not regulating it properly. You chickenman may do as you are supposed to do and abide by all the laws but the fact is others will not and instead of promoting your lifestyle promote your beliefs and do it responsibly. i belive they have along way to go to on this issue. Also i belive the majority of people trying to get this passed are not medical users but just like the idea of legal pot. "




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patrick wrote on Sep 6, 2009 6:36 PM:

" But i do have to admit i am kind of a hipocrit when i comes to those items. Non the less its still wrong. we all know it.I dont neccesarily disagree with medical marijuana i just belive that alot of the people that want this are not medical users at all. Just a bunch of skeevy stoners that live for being high. Im by no means sheltered on any of this and am well aware and have seen it all. The point is the the way they are making marijuana so easily available will only cause problems down the line. "




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patrick wrote on Sep 6, 2009 6:26 PM:

" Chickenman: this story is not about alcohol or cigarettes. Its about Marijuana But if you insist I think you are absolutly right about both of those.I think america should really take a good look at how we use all of these and really find a way to put a stop to it. And americas glorification of alcohol is a terrible thing it is terrible that they allow companies to sell something that kills as many people as alcohol and cigarettes do. All because it makes big money. "




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Allergic to MJ wrote on Sep 6, 2009 6:00 PM:

" Chickenman, as someone who is highly allergic to MJ, I resent the fact that you seem to think there are few negatively affected by others use of MJ. Try a trip by ambulance to the ER, and a few days in a coma, because your neighbors are illegally using MH. What about kids affected when their parents are stoned, and don't care for them? What about those who spend their money on pot, instead of shoes for their kids? Oh, that's right, we the people, taxpayers are expected to provide for these kids! "




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To Chickenman wrote on Sep 6, 2009 5:02 PM:

" Chicken man: What are your sources, where is your info coming from. You sound like a guy who has done one to many joints to me. Marijuana has effected people just like alcohol and tobacco. As a matter of fact one joint contains more tar in it than one cigarette... Now prove to me that it hasn't effected people. "




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Chickenman wrote on Sep 6, 2009 4:59 AM:

" Hipocracy and/or ignorance is not an excuse. either obey the law of dont but dont pic and choose which ones should apply to you. "
Patrick....What about the LEGAL 'hipocracy and ignorance' of a govt. that allows alcohol, tobacco, that kill more people in 1 hour tham mj has ever affected? Cont.
CM "




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Patrick wrote on Sep 5, 2009 6:50 PM:

" citizen: this is absolutly not going to revitalize downtown. that is all i have to say about that because i dont think anyone took your post serious anyway "




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patrick wrote on Sep 5, 2009 6:47 PM:

" chickenman: that is just colorado law we are still to uphold federal law as well. but you would only use that if it benifited you though right. Hipocracy and/or ignorance is not an excuse. either obey the law of dont but dont pic and choose which ones should apply to you. "




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truth wrote on Sep 5, 2009 7:36 AM:

" go to netflix watch the hemp revolution, its our history. we the people is you. This issue is nationwide/ business is business please feel free to talk to Boulder "




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Yeahbuddy wrote on Sep 4, 2009 8:56 PM:

" And as far as this just being an excuse to get stoned? - just ask a chemotherapy patient how well marijuana works to keep them from constantly wretching their guts out and living in constant massive pain due to the effects of the chemotherapy drugs, if it's unnessesary or a sham. Denying one of the few things that provides truely effective relief for these poeple is just plain cruel and un-human. Just so there isnt any "reading stuff that isnt there between the lines", I advocate marijuana for medical purposes ONLY. "




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Yeahbuddy wrote on Sep 4, 2009 8:53 PM:

" Brian - Yes doctors can prescribe a marijuana pill - it's called Marinol however because its absolutely pure & concentrated, its effects are vastly stronger (like comparing near-beer to Everclear) and the dosage cannot be regulated easily since its in pill form - smoking marijuana, a medical marijuana patient can control the dosage and absorb only what is needed to provide relief and stop there. "




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anti pc wrote on Sep 4, 2009 6:08 PM:

" Chickenman.. as far as I know Gonzales VS. Raich still stands. At least I haven't heard any different. "




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chickenman wrote on Sep 4, 2009 2:20 PM:

" Also consider the state tax revenue... $90.00 per year per patient, almost 9,000 patients this year, thats $810,000.00 in taxes and growing. So if the state collects this fee patients rights should be protected according to the state law, which I admit is vauge, but they cant just make up rules to suite what they think is right, and I mean both govt and those dispensing, we need to clarify whats right for the patients and settle the grey areas in the law...CM "




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chickenman wrote on Sep 4, 2009 1:49 PM:

" Just like any other bussinesses taxes should be paid. The dispesaries elsewhere are currently paying taxes and operating as legitimate bussinesses.
For those in the know dispensaries are not the best choice for medicine, expensive and not the best quality. Iam not a big fan of mmj for proit or dispensaries.
My point to the city attorney is the voters approved mmj, and by law you must follow the letter of the law of the state you took an oath to do so regardless of federal law....
CM... "




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To Just Dolt wrote on Sep 4, 2009 11:56 AM:

" Why would you prescribe something to help cure cancer which has been proven to cause cancer itself? Thats sounds a little contradictory to me... "




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Just DoIt wrote on Sep 3, 2009 10:27 PM:

" Moratorium? We don't know what to do so lets wait.

We have a Cancer Center. Marijuana, is legal if perscribed. Cancer is a common illness resulting in such a perscription.

Why not make it available to these patients and anyone with a "license". Then the city, county and state, get the additional tax revenue. Revenue is down from projected and causing budgetary pressure.

Why Not? "




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anti pc wrote on Sep 3, 2009 7:40 PM:

" Therefore it is really a moot point unless you change the Federal law. "




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anti pc wrote on Sep 3, 2009 7:38 PM:

" States cannot overrule laws of the federal government, because the Constitution states in Article VI that the Constitution and the laws of the United States and treaties made under authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land. Thus, state laws that conflict with federal laws are invalid. "




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Concerned Citizen wrote on Sep 3, 2009 6:15 PM:

" Can someone show me in the US Constitution where the power to regulate marijuana is granted to the Federal Government? Any powers not given directly to the Federal Government are left to the individual states.
I've seen first hand the benefits of marijuana in cases of severe nausea. People who can't keep Pharmacological medications down long enough for them to be absorbed into the body have used marijuana to settle their stomachs long enough to benefit from prescription medications.
Besides, God made grass, man made booze. Who do you trust??????? "




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Therapist wrote on Sep 3, 2009 4:15 PM:

" To Chickenman...What revenue? Those dispensing are not reporting earnings, which means no reportable tax. Unless regulated, it is a waste of tax payer money as Mr. Hewitt has been so gracious to prove. Your statement, "We the people" is childish. You should have stated, that "We the Potheads" have voted. Please update yourself on 5 CCR 1006-2. I would love to see those dispensing to others follow the law. To date, in the town of Montrose, they have not. Can you argue that? (Stupid of me to ask...I'm sure you will.) "




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Bud Green wrote on Sep 3, 2009 2:05 PM:

" . Marinaol (the THC pill) vs. smoked marijuana ...."While both medications proved effective at stimulating appetite, reducing the need for other medications to combat gastrointestinal problems, and helping patients sleep, it took eight times the recommended dose of Marinol to roughly equal the efficacy of weak marijuana, with 3.9 percent THC"....according to the the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "




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discusted wrote on Sep 3, 2009 12:36 PM:

" Chickenman you have something to say about everything dont ya "




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Brian wrote on Sep 3, 2009 8:33 AM:

" This is a stupid idea. Why is there a need for medical marijuana? There is no need for for it. A doctor can prescribe THC pills that do the same thing. Medical marijuana is just an excuses for people to get high because a doctors recommendation. "




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citizen wrote on Sep 3, 2009 8:27 AM:

" This may be what is needed to revitalize downtown! "




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Chickenman wrote on Sep 3, 2009 6:29 AM:

" Question for city attorney.....

Did you take an oath to uphold the laws of the state of Colo.? We the people decided to alllow medical use of marijuana in our state. If you wont do what we the people have voted into law you should be jailed for contempt. If there are no laws against dipensaries who are you to make your own law?
Also realize the tax revenue maybe some easy revenue would benifit our county as well.. Wise up!!!! Chickenman "




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