Date: 04/15/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-260

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion p
Refer Senate Bill 15-260, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



01:38 PM -- SB15-260

Senator Aguilar, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-260 to the committee. This bill authorizes the creation of a medical marijuana testing facility license and requires that medical marijuana and medical marijuana-infused products be tested. Mandatory testing cannot begin until a marijuana laboratory testing reference library is created. Because the reference library is created under House Bill 15-1283, the implementation of this bill is conditioned upon the passage of HB 15-1283. A person with a financial interest in a medical marijuana testing facility license cannot also have a financial interest in any other marijuana license type with the exception of a retail marijuana testing facility license.

Senator Aguilar explained that testing under the bill would not begin until the marijuana testing reference library is established. She added that amendment L.001 (Attachment A) would align the implementation date with the start of required testing for recreational marijuana.

15SenateState0415AttachA.pdf15SenateState0415AttachA.pdf

01:42 PM -- Coltyn Turner, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the importance of testing medical marijuana to make sure that it meets safety standards. He noted the benefits he has seen from medical marijuana.

01:44 PM -- Larisa Bolivar, representing the Cannabis Consumers Coalition, testified in support of the bill. She told a story about the improper use of pesticides in a particular medical marijuana operation. She continued to discuss her concerns with pesticide use. She suggested that the bill be amended to allow individual medical marijuana patients and caregivers to get their products tested, and to publicly announce and fine violators.

01:48 PM -- Tamara Eden, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She described her experience with medical marijuana and her concerns about its safety.

01:51 PM -- Ian Barringer, representing Rm3 Labs, testified in support of the bill. He explained that his laboratory tests marijuana for the state, and he stated that there is sufficient testing capacity in the state to implement the bill. He discussed the importance of product testing.

01:52 PM -- Stacey Linn, and her son, Jack Splitt, representing themselves, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Linn explained that she makes medicines for Mr. Splitt, and that medical marijuana has helped Mr. Splitt significantly. She noted the importance of identifying dangerous materials in medical marijuana.

Senator Sonnenberg and Ms. Linn discussed safety protocols currently available to medical marijuana patients.

01:58 PM -- Teri Robnett, representing the Cannabis Patients Alliance and Colorado NORML, testified in support of the bill. She made suggestions to amend the bill and explained why she felt these changes would improve the bill.

02:02 PM -- Ronn Nixon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He described his experience using medical marijuana as a caregiver and patient.

02:04 PM -- Wendy Turner, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She described her son Coltyn's experience with Crohn's disease and his sensitivity to foods and drugs. She noted that this sensitivity makes product testing very important. Senator Scott clarified with Ms. Turner that her family moved to Colorado for medical marijuana treatment.

02:09 PM -- Frank Conrad, representing Colorado Green Lab, testified in support of the bill. He discussed Denver's recent quarantine of marijuana grown using certain pesticides, and he noted the importance of testing products that are intended for human consumption.

02:11 PM -- Jason Warf, representing the Southern Colorado Cannabis Coalition, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the importance of testing medical marijuana.

02:14 PM -- Kara Miller, representing the Marijuana Industry Group, testified in support of the bill. She explained that many dispensaries already test their products.

02:16 PM -- David Crook, representing CannLabs, testified in support of the bill. He described the work of his testing laboratory, stating that they could begin testing medical marijuana immediately.

02:18 PM -- Andre Sullivan, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He described his experience as a caregiver for his wife, Kate.

02:21 PM -- Kate Sullivan, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She explained that she and her husband moved back to Colorado for access to medical marijuana.

02:22 PM -- Bugi Perrone, representing Gobi Analytical, testified in support of the bill. She described her laboratory's experience testing retail marijuana.

02:25 PM -- Karin McGowan, representing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), testified in support of the bill. She stated that CDPHE already has a regulatory system in place for retail marijuana testing and could easily incorporate medical marijuana.

02:26 PM -- Michael Nicoletti, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), testified in support of the bill. He explained that this bill implements a recommendation from DORA's sunset review of the state's medical marijuana code.

02:27 PM -- Ron Kammerzell and Lewis Koski, representing the Department of Revenue (DOR), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Kammerzell and Mr. Koski responded to questions from Senator Aguilar about DOR's position on potential amendments to the bill.

02:35 PM -- Brent Kaufman, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He stated that marijuana from a dispensary once made him sick, and he discussed the importance of testing medical marijuana. He further discussed proper dosing of medical marijuana.

02:38 PM -- George Allarin, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the benefits he has seen from medical marijuana treatment.

02:40 PM -- Stephanie Hopper, representing the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill. She stated that all marijuana should be tested and safe for consumption. She discussed the timeline proposed under the bill.

02:42 PM -- Robert Lopez, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the importance of testing medical marijuana.

02:45 PM -- Devin Alvarez, representing himself and Agricor Laboratories, testified in support of the bill. He told the committee about his experience with medical marijuana, and he read written testimony from Agricor Laboratories (Attachment B).

15SenateState0415AttachB.pdf15SenateState0415AttachB.pdf

02:47 PM -- Greg Duran, representing Cannabis Patients Alliance, testified in support of the bill. He described objections to testing medical marijuana and responded to these objections.

02:51 PM -- Matthew Kahl, representing Grow 4 Vets, testified in support of the bill. He requested that patients and caregivers also be given access to testing laboratories. He further suggested that testing results should not be kept confidential, and he recommended products be tested for additional substances.

02:54 PM -- Ashley Weber, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She stated that medical marijuana should be tested as well as recreational marijuana, and she requested that caregivers and patients be allowed to test directly.


02:55 PM

Senator Aguilar wrapped up her presentation of the bill. She explained that she drafted the bill to meet DORA's needs, but that she intends to work on patient and caregiver concerns in the future.

Committee members commented on the bill.
BILL:SB15-260
TIME: 02:58:54 PM
MOVED:Ulibarri
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Jones
Ulibarri
Sonnenberg
Scott
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:SB15-260
TIME: 02:59:05 PM
MOVED:Ulibarri
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-260, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Yes
Jones
Yes
Ulibarri
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:00 PM

The committee recessed.