The current version of the bill meant to clean up some of the issues in HB 1284 now requires a moratorium for a further year. HB 1043 was amended in the House Judiciary Committee to require an additional one-year moratorium. This will further chill the development of the MMJ business in Colorado. For those of you in Colorado, I would strongly suggest calling your state reps and senators and urging them to get this provision taken out.
With respect to the balance of the bill, there are some good things for businesspersons. The bill would limit the two-year residency requirement to owners and managers, meaning that mere employees will no longer have to be two-year residents of Colorado. The bill also provides greater security for patient records, although it does nothing to change the draconian surveillance regulations being based by the MMED. On the other hand, it also caps the number of plants that can be grown by a MIPS in its grow to 500, although it is not clear to me that this restriction would apply to deals between MMC’s and MIPS.
The bill is now pending before the Appropriations Committee of the House. A hearing is scheduled for March 4th at 7:30 a.m.
Another bill making its way through the General Assembly is HB 1250, would eliminate the edibles industry in Colorado. My sources at the General Assembly tell me that there is not enough political support for this bill, which is a good thing, as I think it is a violation of the no ex post facto law restrictions in the Colorado and U.S. Constitutions.
The bill is now pending before the House Judiciary Committee. A hearing is scheduled for March 1st after adjournment of the House (approximately 1:30 p.m.).
