Date: 04/29/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1305

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1305 to the Committee on ApproPASS



06:03 PM -- HB15-1305

Senator Grantham and Senator Johnston, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 15-1305, concerning a prohibition on manufacturing marijuana concentrate in an unregulated environment using an inherently hazardous substance. Senator Grantham explained the bill and his reasons for supporting it.

06:07 PM -- Mr. David Pickett, representing the Wheat Ridge Police Department, the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Pickett provided materials to the committee (Attachment D). Mr. Pickett discussed an explosion that resulted from extraction prohibited by the bill.

15SenateJud0429AttachD.pdf15SenateJud0429AttachD.pdf

06:10 PM -- Mr. Jason Warf, representing the Southern Colorado Cannabis Council (SCCC), testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Warf discussed SCCC's role in developing the bill. He stated that the process prohibited by the bill is protected by Amendment XX to the Colorado Constitution. Mr Warf discussed changes he would like made to the bill, and the enforceability of the bill. In response to the committee, Mr. Warf explained the extraction process prohibited by the bill. Senator Johnston stated that such manufacture can legally be done with a license. Senator Lundberg, Senator Johnston, and Mr. Warf discussed licensure. Senator Cooke and Mr. Warf discussed exemptions for certain methods of hash oil extraction, explosions that may result from certain extraction methods, and injuries resulting from hash oil extraction.


06:21 PM

Senator Guzman and Mr. Warf discussed the production of hash oil. The committee, sponsors, and Mr. Warf continued to discuss hash oil extraction, including safety concerns, and analogous laws and prohibition. They also discussed constitutional provisions regarding marijuana.

06:27 PM -- Ms. Mary Patrick, representing the Drug Policy Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Patrick stated that she supported the licensure requirement in the bill, but opposed classification of unlicensed manufacture as a felony.

06:31 PM -- Mr. Tyler Henson, representing the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Henson stated that there are risks associated with butane extraction. He said that HB 15-1305 was a good public safety bill, and that people who perform hash oil extractions should be licensed. In response to Senator Merrifield, Mr. Henson discussed the availability of hash oil.


06:34 PM

Senator Johnston discussed sentencing for violations under the bill.

06:35 PM -- Ms. Belita Nelson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Nelson discussed her experience with medical marijuana and manufacturing hash oil. Ms. Nelson read testimony from Mr. John Locker.


06:39 PM

Senator Johnston discussed sentencing for drug felonies and felonies.

06:40 PM -- Mr. Jim Burack, representing the Colorado Department of Revenue, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Burack discussed licensing procedures and enforcement. He also discussed regulations related to marijuana.

06:43 PM -- Ms. Peg Ackerman, in place of Sheriff Justin Smith and representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She stated support for the bill.

06:43 PM -- Captain Siegfried Klein, representing the Aurora Fire Department and the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill. Capt. Klein provided the committee with information regarding extraction incidents. Capt. Klein discussed extraction using butane.

06:47 PM -- Mr. Ronn Nixon, representing iComply, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Nixon discussed the health effects of certain extracts, and how the bill lessens the availability of certain extracts. He discussed the rise of a black market for such products. He also explained changes he would like made to the bill.


06:52 PM

Senator Johnston and provided closing remarks on the bill and Senator Grantham asked for the committee's support. Committee members discussed their positions on the bill. Senator Grantham responded.
BILL:HB15-1305
TIME: 06:59:53 PM
MOVED:Cooke
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1305 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Guzman
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS