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• Pot grower argues state versus federal law

  September 22, 2010 9:38 AM

  A suburban Denver pot grower who faces federal drug charges is making his case for why he should be able to use state medical marijuana law in his defense. Prosecutors have asked a federal judge to ban Christopher Bartkowicz from using state marijuana law in his defense. Bartkowicz... more »

• Battle intensifies over Colorado Springs pot shops

  September 16, 2010 4:56 PM

  The Colorado Springs Diocese and Colorado College say they support a zoning proposal to push medical marijuana businesses away from religious buildings and schools. The Colorado Springs planning commission is considering new zoning regulations to govern where medical marijuana businesses can be located. The diocese and the college... more »

• Illegal drug use on rise

  September 16, 2010 8:53 AM

  Illegal drug use is at the highest level in nearly a decade. The high rate last year was fueled by a sharp increase in marijuana use and a surge in ecstasy and methamphetamine abuse. The government report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found marijuana... more »

• El Paso County medicinal pot ban up to voters

  August 26, 2010 3:01 PM

  El Paso County voters will decide in November whether to allow or ban medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county. Commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday to put the issue on the ballot. The county has held a series of meetings inviting public input. They could have made the... more »

• El Paso County resumes debate over medical marijuana

  August 26, 2010 9:44 AM

  The El Paso County commissioners are once again debating whether medical marijuana operations should be allowed in unincorporated parts of the county. The commissioners are expected to consider Thursday whether to ask voters to weigh in or decide the issue themselves. They postponed a decision after a daylong hearing... more »

• Colorado Springs: medical marijuana won't be on ballot

  August 24, 2010 8:15 AM

  The Colorado Springs City Council has decided against asking voters in November to weigh in on what to do about the 176 medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. Councilman Darryl Glenn suggested Monday that voters should be asked whether to ban the centers, but his proposal didn't get enough... more »

• Federal court in Colorado bars marijuana defense

  August 19, 2010 10:41 AM

  A Colorado pot grower facing federal drug charges after he bragged about his marijuana business to a TV station won't be allowed to use the state's medical marijuana law in his defense. U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer has sided with federal prosecutors in their case against Chris Bartkowicz. ... more »

• El Paso County delays decision on medical pot ban

  August 13, 2010 8:17 AM

  The El Paso County commissioners have postponed a decision on whether voters should have an option to ban medical marijuana centers in unincorporated parts of the county. The commissioners heard testimony most of Thursday from law enforcement and residents worried about the proliferation of the centers and from medical... more »

• More than 2,000 want Colo. marijuana licenses

  August 3, 2010 11:12 AM

  More than 2,000 Colorado businesses, from growers to dispensaries, have applied for new state medical marijuana licenses. The applications were due Sunday and provide the first good sense of the size of Colorado's medical marijuana industry. The figure could still rise because applications postmarked by the due date will... more »

• Most Colorado pot center owners have arrest records

  July 29, 2010 9:15 AM

  The Drug Enforcement Administration says that more than half of the owners of Colorado's medical marijuana dispensaries have criminal records. The DEA says the crimes the dispensary owners were arrested for include sexual assault, weapons violations, and burglary. Four of the owners were previously arrested and investigated on charges... more »

• Boulder to start processing medical pot licenses

  July 29, 2010 9:10 AM

  Boulder will start processing licenses for medical marijuana businesses Monday. A license will cost $5,000. City officials say new businesses will need a license before they can open. Existing businesses have until Aug. 31 to apply for a license or until Oct. 31 if they're in compliance with city... more »

• Broomfield bans marijuana dispensaries

  July 28, 2010 9:41 AM

  Broomfield has become the latest Colorado city to ban medical marijuana dispensaries. The City Council Tuesday voted 8-2 on an ordinance prohibiting businesses that sell or grow medical marijuana as well as ones that make tinctures, baked goods or other "marijuana-infused products." Superior and Vail last month were... more »

• Aurora will vote on pot dispensary ban

  July 27, 2010 12:10 PM

  The Aurora City Council wants its residents to decide whether they want to prevent medical marijuana dispensaries from ever coming to the city. The Council approved a proposal Monday to put the question of marijuana dispensaries on the November ballot. Aurora does not yet have any dispensaries. The... more »

• Pot dispensary owner says CSPD seized profits

  July 22, 2010 1:03 PM

  The owner of a medical marijuana dispensary plans to sue Colorado Springs police, alleging they seized $13,000 in profits from his car. Doctor's Orders co-owner Robert Pooler has filed a notice of his intent to sue. He plans to seek $120,000 in damages. Pooler says police searched his car... more »

• Western Colorado communities OK ballot spot on pot

  July 20, 2010 8:07 AM

  Officials in Mesa County and Grand Junction, the county seat, have voted to reserve spots on the November ballot for medical marijuana issues in case proposals come in. County commissioners on Monday approved setting aside a spot on the ballot for a possible question asking voters whether to ban... more »

• Gov. Ritter signs medical marijuana regulations

  June 7, 2010 1:58 PM

  Colorado's medical marijuana industry will now have to follow new statewide regulations. Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday signed two bills passed by state lawmakers this session to rein in the growing number of marijuana dispensaries and growers. Both laws take effect immediately. One requires that only doctors in... more »

• Vail approves ban on medical pot dispensaries

  June 3, 2010 8:29 AM

  Government officials in Vail have voted to ban medical marijuana dispensaries from ever operating within the popular skiing destination. Vail Council members who voted for the ban Tuesday say marijuana dispensaries would contradict with the image they've tried to set for the town. One of the seven council members... more »

• Aurora will put marijuana question to voters

  May 24, 2010 8:10 AM

  In Aurora, the question of whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries is going to voters. Aurora City Council members agreed Saturday to place marijuana on November ballots. Voters will decide whether the city should allow dispensaries. Aurora now has a moratorium on pot shops, but it's going to... more »

• Senate gives initial OK to pot dispensary rules

  May 6, 2010 8:14 AM

  The Colorado Senate has given initial approval to proposed regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries. Senators endorsed the legislation on Wednesday after making one significant change. The health department will have to come up with rules allowing doctors to waive sales tax on medical marijuana for ill patients. While most... more »

• Medical pot user unable to use while on probation

  April 21, 2010 1:59 PM

  An Aspen judge says he might reconsider allowing a medical marijuana user to take the drug while on probation if a doctor can prove the man needs it. District Judge James Boyd Monday sentenced Keith Timothy Pfeiffer to two years probation on a felony charge of attempted distribution of... more »

• Senate passes medical marijuana bill

  February 1, 2010 2:36 PM

  The Senate has passed a bill preventing recreational pot users from skirting the law to obtain medical marijuana is headed. The Senate voted 34-1 on Monday to back the measure, Senate Bill 109, and send it to the House. It would bar doctors from writing recommendations inside dispensaries... more »

• Senate expected to vote on medical marijuana bill

  January 29, 2010 4:19 PM

  The Senate is set to vote on a bill to prevent recreational pot smokers from getting permission to become legal users of the drug. Debate on the measure was underway Friday afternoon. The bill would require doctors to give medical marijuana patients a full exam and provide follow-up care.... more »