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• House panel OKs bill allowing pot destruction

  March 7, 2013 3:21 PM

  PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona House panel has approved a bill allowing police to destroy medical marijuana seized during a criminal investigation. Thursday's 5-3 House judiciary committee vote came after a former U.S. attorney for Arizona testified against the changes to the voter-approved medical marijuana law. Mel McDonald is also... more »

• Trading for marijuana: Is this legal? Play Video

  February 22, 2013 1:28 AM

  Marijuana users are getting creative when it comes to getting their hands on pot. They're using web sites like Craigslist to trade merchandise for marijuana. Plug in "marijuana" on Craigslist and a laundry list of postings will appear. People are looking to trade anything and everything from cell phones... more »

• MMJ burglaries escalate Play Video

  June 4, 2012 12:45 AM

  With more thieves targeting local medical marijuana shops, criminals are coming up with creative ways to gain accses to these highly secured facilities- sometimes even using vehicles to smash through building walls. Their bold moves are putting shop owners on edge. Intense security systems and heavy safes keep most... more »

• At least 4 MMJ dispensaries targeted for closure in Springs Play Video

  March 28, 2012 8:40 PM

  Medical marijuana is once again under fire from the federal government; just a few weeks ago the U.S. Attorney's Office sent closing orders to 23 dispensaries across the state. Now a new round of leters have been sent, with at lest 4 dispensaries in Colorado Springs targeted for closure because... more »

• MMJ user denied apartment rental Play Video

  March 19, 2012 12:28 AM

  "I have kidney disease, hardening of the arteries, muscular dystrophy," Anthony Martino says, leaning on his cane. All that and epilepsy, a stroke, and a heart condition make him a candidate for medical marijuana. "I'm totally, 100% disabled." But the very thing that his doctors prescribed Martino to keep... more »

• Some medical marijuana businesses told to pack up

  January 17, 2012 12:50 AM

  Late last week around 23 medical marijuana businesses all over the state received a letter from U.S. Attorney John Walsh. In it he says the businesses are located within 1000 feet of a school and have until February 27th to get out. Judith Negley is one of those business... more »

• Medical marijuana industry bringing in sales tax dollars

  January 12, 2012 12:35 AM

  After just less than three years of business in the City of Colorado Springs, the medical marijuana industry says they're doing pretty well. "We're seeing good, steady growth." says shop owner Scott Saunders. He and his partner own two medical marijuana dispensaries in town, including MC Caregivers near Academy and... more »

• Medical marijuana industry growing

  January 11, 2012 10:42 PM

  We're speaking with the city and local Colorado Springs medical marijuana businesses tonight. From 2010 to 2011 the industry posted a growth in sales taxes collected of 45%. We'll have that story tonight on News 5 at 10. more »

• Views differ on medicated driving

  September 28, 2011 6:45 PM

  Medical marijuana supporters in Colorado believe that some patients can safely drive even if they have recently medicated. But state troopers think those supporters may be giving out dangerous advice. The Colorado Department of Transportation rolled out a public service announcement campaign last month warning drivers specifically not to... more »

• Local bank pulls business ties with MMJ shops

  August 24, 2011 11:00 PM

  Medical marijuana shops in Colorado Springs are looking for answers after a local bank canceled business with the industry. The Colorado Springs State Bank was the bank nearly all mmj shops had been doing business with since they all opened. In addition, store owners tell us that the bank... more »

• DUI crackdown focuses on marijuana and prescription drugs

  August 24, 2011 6:52 PM

  As part of the current Heat is On impaired driving campaign, officers in our state are targeting drivers who use medical marijuana and prescription drugs before driving. Posters such as the one pictured are being put up at gas pumps across the state warning drivers not to medicate and... more »

• Marijuana patient charged

  August 3, 2011 8:29 PM

  A Colorado Springs man faces up to 12 years in prison for allegedly having too many pot plants in his house. Court documents say the police never found Bob Crouse's medical marijuana records and they believe he intended to sell the pot. But Crouse says he used the marijuana to... more »

• Council passes 1 of 14 medical marijuana fees

  June 28, 2011 11:32 PM

  After much discussion and even more questions, the Colorado Springs City Council has only decided to move on 1 of the 14 proposed fees for medical marijuana businesses. Councilman Tim Leigh and most everyone else on council tell us the proposed fees seem like they could be too high, as... more »

• Council approves $2,200 mmj application fee

  June 28, 2011 8:18 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council has approved a motion to charge applicants $2,200 for a medical marijuana business application. The fee will include a city background check in addition to the background check already done by the stare. Originally council was expected to vote on a large fee structure... more »

• City Council mulling medical marijuana fees

  June 28, 2011 7:14 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council is currently hearing public comment on proposed fees for medical marijuana shops and their owners. Councilman Tim Leigh has proposed that council only vote to approve an application fee and then sort out the rest on a later date. We'll have a live update tonight... more »

• Springs city council to vote on mmj fees tomorrow

  June 27, 2011 7:11 PM

  As medical marijuana dispensaries get ready for new state regulations to take effect July 1st, shop owners in Colorado Springs are concerned over a newly proposed set of city fees. Reza Hassani runs the American Wellness Center, a medical marijuana shop on the city's west side. He says for a... more »

• List of proposed mmj fees

  June 27, 2011 6:51 PM

  Here's a list of the proposed fees for medical marijuana shops that the Colorado Springs City Council will vote. MMJ shop owners say it's unfair and much higher than any other business. They also point out that the city would require background checks when the state already does them. What... more »

• Springs city council to vote on mmj fees tomorrow

  June 27, 2011 3:02 PM

  Colorado Springs' city council will vote tomorrow on a controversial fee schedule for medical marijuana dispensaries. We're talking with a local shop owner and new council member Angela Dougan to get their thoughts on the proposed fees. more »

• State mmj shops get new regulations this week

  June 26, 2011 7:30 PM

  A landmark week is ahead for the medical marijuana industry in Colorado. On July 1st new state regulations, the toughest in the country, will officially go in to effect. Scott Saunders, who owns Natural Leaf in Colorado Springs, says he welcomes the regulation for legitimacy. "Regulations absolutely will provide legitimacy... more »

• Medical marijuana regulations take effect this week

  June 26, 2011 6:57 PM

  New state regulations involving the medical marijuana industry will take effect his week on July 1st. They range from new security measures all the way to a seed to sales tracking system. We're speaking with a local shop owner about how the regulations have affected his business on News First... more »

• State to be sued over medical pot laws

  May 29, 2011 12:24 AM

  DENVER (AP) - A prominent marijuana attorney in Colorado has given notice he'll be suing over new medical pot regulations, including requirements that dispensaries grow most of the marijuana they sell. Robert Corry of Denver sent a letter to state Attorney General John Suthers Friday say he intends to sue.... more »

• Shots fired into mmj dispensary

  May 1, 2011 12:10 AM

  An early morning call to police has left one Colorado Springs business shot up and asking questions. It all happened at a medical marijuana dispensary on the 1300 block of North Academy around 3 Saturday morning. Police received a call of shots fired in the area. The suspects got away.... more »

• Update: Shots fired at mmj dispensary

  April 30, 2011 9:28 PM

  A News First 5 crew just returned from the scene of Saturday morning's shots fired at a medical marijuana center on North Academy. Tonight at 10 we'll have more with the dispensary's manager. He shows us the large bullet holes left by the shooters and tells us why he's not... more »

• Medical marijuana center burglarized

  March 13, 2011 1:16 AM

  It's a video you have to see to believe. Three men dropping in on a medical marijuana center to burglarize the store early Saturday morning. "We got a call around 5am from our security company." explains Debbie Woodhouse with the Cannabinoids mmj shop near Platte and Circle. It's the... more »

• Tough, new marijuana rules posted in Colorado

  December 16, 2010 7:34 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Marijuana sellers in Colorado are expected to have to wear photo badges, and patients will have new limits on changing their primary dispensaries. The changes are among Colorado's 99-page list of draft rules posted this week by Colorado regulators crafting the nation's most extensive rules for... more »

• Springs council approves MMJ regulations

  December 15, 2010 12:57 AM

  A marathon session for Colorado Springs City Council Tuesday night resulted in a win of sorts for those in the medical marijuana industry. Council voted unanimously to approve zoning requirements surrounding medical marijuana centers. Notably, the new requirements did not include some stricter measures that opponents said would put... more »

• Robbery suspects sought

  December 12, 2010 8:24 AM

  Colorado Springs police are looking for two men who robbed a medical marijuana center Saturday night. The men held the clerk at the SSI Care Center at gunpoint and demanded money and marijuana before leaving through the building's back door. The suspects are described as both being black men,... more »

• New committee formed to insure medical marijuana production safety

  November 26, 2010 3:43 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado has set up a committee under a new state law to come up with regulations for medical marijuana production. Colorado hopes to have in place by early next year some sort of labeling and inspection standard for marijuana sold commercially. Committee members say pot consumers deserve... more »

• Proposed mmj center ban fails in El Paso County

  November 17, 2010 11:04 PM

  The past two weeks have been a rough go for medical marijuana center owner Jeff Sveinsson. "It's been very stressful not knowing." he says. With a proposed mmj shop ban voted down in El Paso County, he's happy to see that his business will be allowed to stay up and... more »

• El Paso Co. election results final; no recounts necessary

  November 17, 2010 8:39 PM

  More than two weeks after the polls closed on November 2, the 2010 midterm General Election in El Paso County is finally official and there will be no recounts of races that were too close to call. According to the El Paso County Elections web site maintained by the... more »

• Burglars get stuck inside medical marijuana shop

  November 14, 2010 11:00 PM

  Three Fort Carson soldiers were arrested early Saturday morning after a failed burglary attempt at a south eastern Colorado Springs medical marijuana facility. "They busted the doorknob off with a hammer and then they jimmied the door open." explains Rocky Road Remedies shop owner Renze Waddington, "But the locking mechanism... more »

• Medical pot brings in money, but how much?

  August 24, 2010 11:02 PM

  The growing medical marijuana business is bringing money into local government. How much is relative. After Governor Bill Ritter announced a plan Monday to use $9 million dollars from the state's Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund (paid by patients to receive a medical marijuana card) to help balance next... more »

• El Paso County hearing on marijuana regulations

  July 12, 2010 10:33 AM

  El Paso County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on medical marijuana regulations Tuesday. The legislature passed a law this year requiring medical marijuana dispensaries to obtain state and local licensing approval and to be in compliance with all local zoning codes. Tuesday's hearing is the first step of... more »

• Public meeting scheduled on medical marijuana

  June 17, 2010 11:48 AM

  Colorado Springs City Councilman Darryl Glenn and County Commissioner Wayne Williams will hold a public meeting Thursday night on medical marijuana dispensaries and the County's purchase of the old Intel building. The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Fire Station 19 at 2490 Research Parkway... more »

• Marijuana advisory committee members sought

  June 11, 2010 1:55 PM

  The Colorado Department of Public Health is accepting applications for members of a Medical Marijuana Registry Advisory Committee. The committee will advise the department's executive director regarding rulemaking required by two medical marijuana bills recently passed by the Colorado General Assembly. It is estimated there are 94,000 people who... more »