Update Monday, 8 p.m.
DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers have rejected a proposal to ask voters to ban medical marijuana dispensaries.
The Senate Judiciary Committee killed the proposal from Republican Sen. Scott Renfroe of Greeley on Monday.
His referendum sought to only allow actual individuals — not shops — to provide medical marijuana to patients.
Prosecutors and Attorney General John Suthers backed the proposal. They've been urging lawmakers not to regulate dispensaries, arguing that will legitimize an industry they say wasn't sanctioned under the medical marijuana law passed by voters in 2000.
The law does reference dispensing of the drug and backers say dispensaries help patients get the strains of marijuana they need.
(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Original story
DENVER (AP) — As Colorado lawmakers try to figure how to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, others are pushing to ban them.
A referendum proposed by some Republican lawmakers would require that only actual people — not shops — be able to provide medical marijuana to patients. Those caregivers would also have to help patients with the daily necessities of life.
The proposal is up for its first hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday.
Prosecutors and Attorney General John Suthers have been urging lawmakers not to regulate dispensaries, arguing it will legitimize an industry that they say wasn't sanctioned under the medical marijuana law passed by voters in 2000. Backers of Amendment 20 say the law does reference dispensing of the drug.
(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)