Podcast:Available at WeedWatch.com (Duration: 2:19:29 — 59.3MB)
We talk with Matt Brown, Executive Director of Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation about his organization and to address some concerns with the Statewide legislation that is being debated in Colorado. Matt also explains his background and why he started what he is doing.
We talk with him for an hour and would love to hear your feedback on the conversation. Contact us. JohnDoe@JohnDoeRadio.com
‘Possibly armed with a Q-tip sheathed-sword.’ JDR v7s10 pt2 www.JohnDoeRadio.com
Podcast Available at WeedWatch.com (Duration: 2:15:35 — 127.7MB)
We talk with High Times Cultivation Editor Danny Danko about his start at High Times Mag and also got some grow tips from him for the start of the outdoor season. Great conversation and we hope to have Danny on a lot more in the future. We also talked with Native’s Choice of Colorado Dispensary in studio about their great shop and what it offers. We also chat with them about what it was like to have to go through new regulations that went into effect in Denver for dispensaries.
Matt Brown, Executive Director of Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation came on to talk with us about his organization and to address some concerns with the Statewide legislation that is being debated in Colorado. (YOU WILL FIND THAT INTERVIEW IN A SEPARATE DOWNLOAD. In order to bring you the full hour we separated the interview with Matt Brown into and individual broadcast.)
In JDR News and Legislative News we talk about a letter Colorado representatives sent to the DEA telling them to give space to medical marijuana patients and the regulation process. We also discuss HB 1284, which had a looong Judiciary Committee and public input session last week Derek and I attended. We also update you on all that and on Alabama and Rhode Island’s attempts to reform.
Big thanks to Marc Emery for reaching out to us for an update and posting it on Cannabis Culture
By Tim Martin, Cannabis Culture – Friday, March 5 2010
CANNABIS CULTURE – The debate over a Senate bill to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado stretched on for hours, and concluded with plans for a rewrite of the bill.
Forgive me as I try to recall over 10 hours of testimony on Colorado Senate Bill 1284 given to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill would regulate medical marijuana in Colorado, and specifically addresses dispensaries, which are not actually mentioned in our Constitutional Amendment 20, but are being considered under the explosion of industry here in Colorado and other states.
The City of Denver has already implemented regulations on dispensaries and in doing so has generated more than $1 million dollars in licensing fees alone in just over a month.
To say the least, the repercussions are huge and far-reaching for SB 1284. The Bill would create a licensing system for dispensaries, and growers – but, it contains many things that medical marijuana proponents feel are unfair and far-reaching.
Rob Corry, who many of you know as a leading and local flame-throwing attorney who, it could be argued, is solely responsible for saving Colorado medical marijuana on numerous occasions, and for burning and burying the last attempt to regulate the system here in Colorado by Senator Chris Romer.
Corry has said SB 1284 is purely unconstitutional. For instance he says a provision in the bill that would allow local municipalities to ban dispensaries outright is a violation of patient’s constitutional rights. (Colorado is the only medical marijuana state with the law built into the State Constitution.)
I have sat with Rob Corry many times and gone over the multiple regulations and bills that have popped up in Colorado over the past year, and in each one Corry will go line by line doing a great job ripping apart every provision as being a violation in some way of the Constitutional amendment. He says to expect many lawsuits if the bill does make it through. Another provision that would have made dispensaries in Colorado non-profit was removed just before testimony started. Many politicians didn’t think it was a great idea to refuse millions of dollars in tax revenue because non-profits can’t be taxed like full retail operations.
It was a very important and groundbreaking event, and testimony started with some of the most powerful words spoken by both medical marijuana patients, and law enforcement.
Kevin Grimsinger – an Iraq war veteran who during Operation Enduring Freedom triggered a land mine and is now lucky to be alive, but a paraplegic with a severe brain injury – gave very emotional testimony to start. He asked the board why, if he has fought in some of the most dangerous places on earth for our country and freedom, can’t he have a place to safely use his medicine here at home.
“These centers provide a safe haven to not only purchase medical cannabis, but also to protect persons who might be going through similar life circumstances,” Grimsinger said. Not a caregiver near me had a dry eye during his words. A provision in the bill would ban on-site consumption of marijuana, and that creates a problem for veterans in government housing, because they are not allowed to use marijuana at their home. It seemed the committee was also impacted by the many veterans and disabled patients who approached the podium for their allotted three minutes. Many asked to make sure the most important part of medical marijuana in Colorado is not forgotten, asking that patient’s rights and safe access to be kept intact.
Once the law enforcement and prohibitionists started to be called up, it seemed never ending. Hours upon hours of testimony with reefer madness, and talk of dispensaries creating mass crime seemed never ending and like a plan to out-wait some of the patients and pro-med marijuana people, who were patiently waiting for their time to speak. It seemed to work as by the end of testimony many on our side had gone home because the war of attrition had won out because their disability just wouldn’t allow them to sit for the 10 hours plus needed to finish testimony from everyone.
One of the most harped-on elements of the night from law enforcement was what I mentioned above, that dispensaries cause crime. One after another, Police Chief and officer approached the committee to tell of increased crime rates, and how the streets will be filled with children smoking marijuana.
One officer even said, “…drug money is the new milk money…”. The committee responded very well to these claims and brought up comments by the Los Angeles Police Chief who stated dispensaries are not any more of a crime spot than banks or liquor stores. In fact it was read into record in Colorado liquor stores and banks are targets of crime almost twice as much as dispensaries are, and the stats are backed up by other cites with dispensaries like Los Angeles as well.
I personally signed up to testify and spoke for the many marijuana offenders out their in Colorado, as I am a marijuana felon myself. I plead guilty to possession of eight ounces or more of marijuana in 2007, and under the current bill I, and any other felon or drug related misdemeanor “criminal” would not be allowed to open or operate a dispensary. I told the crowd that we are a country of second chances and if we can meet the politicians and law enforcement in the middle on many of these regulations, they should meet some of us in the middle and create a provision to allow those in my shoes to make amends and be allowed to participate in this pioneering industry.
People like me are punished over and over for their so called “mistake” of being involved with marijuana, even though many of us have paid our fair share and then some for the so called “crime”. It is my life’s passion to grow marijuana and I would be no prouder than to say I am a regulated farmer and provider of this great medicine, I told them. I hope they listened to all of us who spoke.
Ultimately, I was very proud of the House Judiciary Committee and their knowledge of medical marijuana and the flow of the supply chain. It was obvious many of them had spoken to their constituents, and they had no issue with challenging anyone on any reefer madness that was brought up.
Amendments to SB 1284 were not made last night, but there will be changes, the Committee concluded. So, let’s hope the changes are positive and Colorado can stand tall as being one of the first States to fully accept a system of regulation.
To add to it all, the bill states Colorado officials must petition the government to reschedule marijuana to a Schedule II drug.
The pressure continues. Won’t you join us?
Tim Martin, also known as John Doe, is the lead host and show producer of John Doe Radio.
We bring you an awesome update from the CHAMPS Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada with Steve from Primal Glass Werks. He fills us in on his brand new company and what CHAMPS is all about. Make sure you check out the pieces from the Primal Glass Werks brand new website. Some awesome work, and JDR is the proud owner of a Mellow Monkey.
We give away another Silver Surfer Vaporizeron the show. Make sure you keep listening to find out how you can win one of the many awesome products we are giving away on the show every month, and you could be the bi-monthly JDR SSV Give-Away Winner!
InThe Strain Review this week we bring you DJ Short’s Flo. An amazing strain that has an odor unlike any other. We also drop you JDR and Legislative News highlighting the crazy reefer madness that still bleeds strong. Stony comedy from our buds over at The Stone Zone Show is included also.
Featuring Music From: OPM – Shoot ‘Em Up (feat. Sen Dog & Big) F.I.R.E. – Smoke Where You Wanna Smoke Framing Hanley – Built for Sin Emery – Studying Politics
Lemon Skunk is a smooth, very tasty, connoisseur strain. Both Green House Seeds and DNA Genetics have versions of this strain. Franco from Green House Seeds says the DNA Genetics version is more available and assumes we might be reviewing that version. After careful examination and testing it seems he was probably correct. The subtle differences in versions seem decently clear when tested. DNA Genetics Lemon Skunk hails from Las Vegas, with the father of the two Lemon crosses being from Holland. When we toked on this strain it didn’t have a particularly potent lemon smell or taste to it. That’s not to say it wasn’t one of the smoothest and tastiest strains you can find. I’m sure the Green House Seeds version probably reminds you more of a lemon than the DNA. Also, their is a third version of Lemon Skunk traveling through Europe. Some might know it as Citral from the Citral Valley. It has a very lemony flavor Franco says. If you get the chance to grab either the DNA Genetics or Green House versions I would not pass it up. One of the best Sativa like strains anywhere. The high was very clear with it settling in the head, neck, and chest area. It has a very citrus smell and taste with a very light and cool flavor on exhale. The taste also stays with you and gets better in the seconds leading out of your exhale. Not many strains give a better taste after inhalation than this one. When examining buds I look at not only the trichomes, but also the calyxes and structure of the entire specimen. I think you can tell top quality strains by how symmetrical and uniform the bud and plant grows, and from that how much potential it holds.
When growing out this plant it likes the chance to stretch. The node spacing can be farther apart than some other strains and this plant really does well with high ceilings and large pots to allow the roots to spread as much as they like. Branching is also spectacular in this strain Franco says. Unlike the Sour D, the Lemon Skunk shouldn’t be too hard to control smell. Reports online have said it is not a highly smelly plant when growing. But, every situation is different and make sure you are mindful of your surroundings and who can tell what is where. The plant takes 8-9 weeks to finish out says the DNA Genetics profile, but I’m sure it could go out 10-11 weeks easily.
DNA Genetics has feminized Lemon Skunk available, and won 1st Place in 2007 with the Outdoor High Life Cup. Give it a chance. And, if you do get the chance to grab the Green House Seeds version get that one too. Of course that one is great also, its a Cannabis Cup Award Winner. One of those connoisseur strains everyone around you will be proud to say they medicated with.
We talk with Matt Brown, Executive Director of Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation about his organization and to address some concerns with the Statewide legislation that is being debated in Colorado. Matt also explains his background and why he started what he is doing.
Subscribe to the 