Cannabis Therapy Institute of Colorado issues report encouraging 'medical cannabusinesses'

October 7, 4:42 PMCannabis Revolution ExaminerDev Meyers

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{Boulder, CO} -- The Cannabis Therapy Institute has released a report titled, "Encouraging the Economic Development of Medical Cannabis Businesses in Colorado."

The report was written for policymakers that are considering regulations regarding medical cannabis businesses in their areas. The report includes a draft ordinance that communities can use as a framework for developing their own regulations and policies. The Institute released its report today to the city councils of Durango, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville and Thornton, who will all be discussing regulating medical cannabis businesses at their city council meetings tonight.

The report was written by the Medical Cannabis Policy Group of the CannabisTherapy Institute with feedback from the medical cannabis community. The goal of the report is to encourage policymakers to adopt regulations that protect patients and to allow the communities to take advantage of the significant economic boom being caused by the medical cannabis industry.

The report contains a draft ordinance that defines three different types of medical cannabis businesses and what activities they are allowed to engage in. Recognizing that there are smaller caregivers that do not need to be subject to additional regulations, it exempts primary caregivers if they only serve the needs of 6 or fewer patients. The draft ordinance gives limited guidelines into zoning and security issues. It also discusses patient rights and the need for proper police training.

"I'm proud of the Cannabis Therapy Institute's efforts to educate and inform our local and state governments about the legal medical cannabis business," says Jeff Gard, a Boulder attorney who advised the group. "I hope that the draft guidelines will help create a safe and welcome
environment for patients and their caregivers."

"Members of our group have been working on medical cannabis in Colorado since 1992. We felt it was important to share our experience to help policymakers clarify the issues surrounding medical cannabis businesses, since this is such a new issue to them," says Laura Kriho, public relations coordinator of the Cannabis Therapy Institute. "We are encouraging local cannabis advocates and businesses to build off these guidelines to form sensible regulations for their communities through city council or the
ballot initiative process."

Dan Rogers, of the High Valley Healing Center in Crestone, is also a member of the Policy Group. "The draft regulations are only guidelines, so they can be changed to suit the needs of the different communities. Ultimately, we would like to see something similar adopted by the state legislature to
bring clarity and consistency to the law statewide," says Rogers.

"Lawmakers are charting in unknown territory and this document will help achieve a consistent understanding of the Constitutional rights of patients in Colorado," says Timothy Tipton, a Policy Group member who works with Rocky Mountain Caregivers' Cooperative, a medical cannabis collective of
patients and caregivers.

The CTI report is a living document, and the Cannabis Therapy Institute is actively pursuing feedback from cannabis businesses about the draft ordinance and the report. Please send all comments and suggestions to: policygroup@cannabistherapyinstitute.com

Photo above: Marijuana plants are shown Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, in Seattle. The marijuana is distributed to members of a cooperative of medical patients who have received doctor's authorization to use the drug to treat their illnesses, such as AIDS and multiple sclerosis. Unlike several other states which permit marijuana sales to patients, Washington requires patients to grow marijuana themselves or designate a caregiver to grow it for them. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)