Date: 04/25/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-154

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-154 to the CommitteePass Without Objection


02:17 PM

The committee recessed.


02:25 PM -- Senate Bill 12-154

Representative Duran, prime sponsor presented Senate Bill 12-154, concerning standards for responsible medical marijuana vendors. Representative Duran explained the effect of the bill, and discussed its merits. The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 12-154:

02:27 PM -- Ms. Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ackerman discussed the evolving viewpoint of her organization with respect to marijuana vendor licensing, and the benefits of setting standards for marijuana vendor training. Ms. Ackerman responded to questions regarding her organization's support for vendor training in light of federal preemption on marijuana matters.

02:29 PM -- Mr. Nicholas King, representing Act 4 Colorado, and Ms. Jill Lamoureux, representing the Medical Marijuana Business Alliance, testified in support of the bill. Mr. King explained how the bill will help marijuana vendors and employees to better abide by state medical marijuana laws. Ms. Lamoureuz explained how the bill will help marijuana vendors comply with ever-changing medical marijuana laws. Mr. King and Ms. Lamoureux responded to questions regarding the need for legislation to educate marijuana vendors. Representative Duran discussed the optional nature of the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the length and curriculum of the training program created under the bill.

02:35 PM -- Mr. Shaun Coleman, representing the Cannabis Business Alliance, and Ms. Kristi Kelly, representing Good Meds, the Cannabis Business Alliance, and Act 4 Colorado, testified in support of Senate Bill 12-154. Mr. Coleman discussed the stakeholders that contributed in crafting the legislation. Ms. Coleman lent her support to the bill.

02:37 PM -- Ms. Jaime Lewis, representing Mountain Meds, and Ms. Meg Sanders, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Lewis explained how the responsible vendor designation will notify her customers that her business is in compliance with applicable laws. Ms. Sanders discussed additional benefits of the bill.

02:39 PM -- Mr. Josh Kappel, representing Sensible Colorado, and Ms. Shawn Hauser, representing McAllister, Darnell, and Associates, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hauser discussed the benefits of the bill in terms of legitimacy and transparency for the medical marijuana industry.


02:40 PM
No amendments were offered to the bill. Representative Duran provided closing remarks in support of Senate Bill 12-154. Discussion ensued regarding the number of marijuana vendors in Colorado. Ms. Julie Postlethwait, representing the Department of Revenue, provided input on the number of medical marijuana vendors in the state.
BILL:SB12-154
TIME: 02:44:11 PM
MOVED:Duran
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-154 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion was laid over.
SECONDED:Todd
VOTE
Baumgardner
Casso
Court
Duran
Joshi
Liston
Todd
Coram
Kerr J.
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



Representative Liston provided his position on the bill. The committee recessed.


02:46 PM

The committee returned to order. The bill was laid over.