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• Court says pot smokers can be fired even in Colo.

  April 25, 2013 4:26 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Medical and recreational marijuana may be legal in Colorado, but employers in the state can lawfully fire workers who test positive for the drug, even if it was used off duty, according to a court ruling Thursday. The Colorado Court of Appeals decision found there is no... more »

• Edible pot treats pose problem for kids Play Video

  April 1, 2013 7:43 PM

  April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month, and some doctors are pointing to Colorado's lax marijuana laws as potential risks for children. Doctors at Children's Hospital in Denver are reporting a significant increase in hospital visits due to kids getting their hands on marijuana treats like brownies. Between 2005 and... 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 »

• Dems introduce bill to tax Wash. medical pot sales

  February 7, 2013 9:18 PM

  SEATTLE (AP) - With Washington working on plans to tax recreational marijuana sales, some Democrats in Olympia say it's time for the state to take a similar cut of sales at medical dispensaries. Reps. Ross Hunter of Medina and Reuven Carlyle of Seattle introduced a bill Thursday that would hit... more »

• Openings of Oakland pot dispensaries delayed

  January 6, 2013 11:50 AM

  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - A hard-line stance by the federal government on medical marijuana dispensaries and the reluctance of landlords to rent out their space is being blamed for a delay in the opening of new dispensaries after Oakland officials permitted the establishment of four new medical marijuana facilities. Nearly... more »

• Marijuana ad campaigns to begin soon

  May 11, 2012 6:13 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Marijuana legalization supporters are courting mothers in their first television campaign ad of the year. An ad airing Friday in Denver features a young woman e-mailing her mother to talk about marijuana. The young woman argues that pot is safer than alcohol, the central tenet of the... more »

• Vehicle runs into MMJ shop

  May 8, 2012 7:15 AM

  A vehicle crashed into the front of a medical marijuana dispensary early Tuesday morning. It happened on the 3600 block of Galley Road in Colorado Springs. That is the Happy Buddha Wellness Center. Investigators say the vehicle was unoccupied and still running when they found it. They... more »

• CU attempts to put a stop to 4-20 pot rally

  April 20, 2012 6:34 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado's flagship university is restricting visitors for a day in a bid to stop an annual marijuana protest that last year attracted more than 10,000 people. Every year, many marijuana activists across the nation hold pot-smoking protests on April 20 to demand legalization. The gathering at the... more »

• Marijuana activists from Colorado to protest Obama

  February 16, 2012 7:24 AM

  LAKEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Marijuana activists are headed to an Obama campaign office to protest what they consider "hostile actions" from the administration. Pot activists say that President Barack Obama's administration is making "attacks" on medical marijuana patients. Several activists were headed to a campaign office in Lakewood Thursday to... more »

• Teen pot use grew with medical marijuana boom

  February 6, 2012 4:50 PM

  At 18, Abby Ferguson has had her medical marijuana card since June but says she's used pot for years. "It was a big part of the culture where I grew up, Manitou, it's pretty common down here," Abby said. She isn't alone; recent state and national surveys show... 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 »

• Marijuana limit legalization

  July 6, 2011 6:35 AM

  A state title board is deciding to put another question about marijuana on the ballot this Wednesday. They will make a decision about making marijuana comparable to alcohol for the 2012 ballots. A marijuana activist challenging proposed language for the ballot measure says it's a flawed description because there's... 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 »

• 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 »

• 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 »

• Pitkin County Changes Pot Policies

  June 9, 2011 1:17 PM

  ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - Pitkin County commissioners are backing off rules regulating the local growth and sale of medical marijuana because of threats from the federal government to take action against officials administering state-sanctioned medical marijuana programs. Commissioners on Wednesday were considering an ordinance that would have added specifications for... more »

• Morgan County bans marijuana dispensaries

  June 2, 2011 12:24 PM

  FORT MORGAN, Colo. (AP) - Rural Morgan County in northeast Colorado is the latest to make a marijuana dispensary ban permanent. The Fort Morgan Times reports that county commissioners voted unanimously this week to ban pot shops and commercial growing operations. The county had been under a moratorium, but... 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 »

• Colorado gets marijuana warning from federal government

  April 27, 2011 3:26 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado is the latest state to receive marijuana warnings from the federal government as state lawmakers mull regulating the drug. The top federal prosecutor in Colorado sent a letter Tuesday to Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and some lawmakers. The letter says that states shouldn't pass bills... more »

• CU considers ending marijuana celebration to save $50,000

  April 25, 2011 12:04 PM

  BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - University of Colorado officials are discussing the possibility of shutting down an annual marijuana celebration event that costs the school tens of thousands of dollars to manage. Vice Chancellor for Administration Frank Bruno says CU pays about $50,000 annually to hire personnel from the sheriff... more »

• CU pays 50K for annual pot celebration

  April 24, 2011 1:52 PM

  BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - University of Colorado officials are discussing the possibility of shutting down an annual marijuana celebration event that costs the school tens of thousands of dollars to manage. Vice Chancellor for Administration Frank Bruno says CU pays about $50,000 annually to hire personnel from the sheriff... more »

• State House considers edible marijuana

  April 19, 2011 2:56 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Mandatory labels on edible marijuana in Colorado have won preliminary approval in the state House. The bill requires "edibles" such as pot brownies or cannabis-infused lollipops to be packaged in childproof packages and carry labels warning that the products are not for children. The bill is... more »

• House okays driving while impaired by marijuana standard

  March 23, 2011 1:45 PM

  DENVER (AP) - An impairment standard for drivers using medical marijuana has won final approval in the Colorado House The House backed the bill on Wednesday, sending it on to the Senate. The bill sets a blood-content threshold to charge marijuana users with driving under the influence. The bill... 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 »

• Marijuana patients challenge new regulations

  January 6, 2011 11:13 AM

  Some medical marijuana patients filed a petition yesterday to stop Colorado's looming regulations for how pot is sold. The group of marijuana patients have asked the state's Supreme Court to overturn large parts of two Colorado laws passed last year that will regulate the medical marijuana industry. The patients'... more »

• Nevada's Wild West spirit snubs legal marijuana

  December 30, 2010 12:07 PM

  LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada is known for letting just about anything slide, whether it's booze, bets or brothels. But even here there are limits. It has been OK to smoke pot to treat illness for ten years. But don't think about selling it, even to patients. Lately, federal... more »

• Schools, government crack down on fake pot

  November 29, 2010 5:48 PM

  The Drug Enforcement Administration and local schools are cracking down on fake pot products such as "K2", "Mr. Smiley", "Spice" and "Chronic". They're made from synthetic marijuana and are marketed as incense. However, the DEA has temporarily banned these products, which means they can't be sold in stores and you... 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 »

• 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 »

• Colorado waives pot fees for the poor

  October 21, 2010 11:19 AM

  Poor medical marijuana patients in Colorado won't have pay state marijuana registration fees or sales tax on the pot they buy. The Colorado Board of Health approved a plan Wednesday to waive the $90 registration fee for indigent medical marijuana patients. Patients who want their fees waived will have... more »

• Judge rules Colorado pot laws don't protect from federal prosection

  September 22, 2010 7:46 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A pot grower won't be allowed to use Colorado's medical marijuana law to fend off federal drug charges. Wednesday's decision by U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer means that Christopher Bartkowicz faces a possible life sentence on federal marijuana cultivation charges. Brimmer said that suggestions by... more »

• 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 »

• Woman indicted for giving toddler marijuana

  September 15, 2010 7:39 PM

  CINCINNATI (AP) - A grand jury has indicted an Ohio woman accused of providing marijuana to her 2-year-old daughter and using her cell phone to record the child smoking the drug. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters said Wednesday that 21-year-old Jessica Gamble of Springfield Township in suburban Cincinnati was... more »

• Pot plants found in forest near Deckers

  September 10, 2010 8:42 AM

  Authorities have destroyed about 4,400 marijuana plants growing on the Pike National forest in central Colorado. The U.S. Forest Service and Douglas County sheriff's office removed the plants near Deckers Wednesday. Authorities say four men were seen fleeing the area as officers arrived. Officers didn't find the men. ... more »

• Marijuana found growing in Colorado forest

  August 30, 2010 3:59 PM

  Authorities are investigating a suspected illegal marijuana growing operation in the mountains north of Boulder. The Boulder County sheriff's office said a man fled the area when investigators arrived to do surveillance on Monday. Three SWAT teams and the U.S. Forest Service have been called in to help in... 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 »

• Marijuana growing operation shut down

  August 19, 2010 1:09 PM

  Pueblo County Sheriff's Deputies seized more than 100 marijuana plants from the basement of a home in Pueblo County. After a search warrant was issued last Friday, deputies seized about 120 marijuana plants from a home in the 1700 block of Cougar Drive in Pueblo West. The investigation started... more »

• BC police: Bears surrounded pot fields

  August 19, 2010 8:42 AM

  Police who uncovered two marijuana fields near the U.S.-Canada border had to tread carefully: 13 black bears were wandering around the crops. The fields of about 2,300 plants were found near Christina Lake, just a few miles from the border. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says... more »

• Pot plot hidden in farmer's corn field

  August 10, 2010 2:13 PM

  Authorities say a southern Idaho farmer unknowingly watered and fertilized more than 300 marijuana plants while tending to his corn fields. The Jerome County sheriff's office says the farmer found the plot of pot growing between his tall, green stalks of unripened corn early Monday and called authorities. ... more »

• Pueblo sets tough restrictions on marijuana centers

  July 28, 2010 5:24 PM

  It's official. Medical marijuana centers are now allowed in Pueblo. However, tough new zoning restrictions prohibit them from setting up shop throughout most of the city. A map of Pueblo displays areas shaded in orange, where medical marijuana centers can be located. The available sites are few and far between.... 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 »

• Elderly woman gets surprise in the mail

  July 21, 2010 9:52 AM

  Bills, catalogs, junk mail - marijuana? Indeed, police say a surprise 2-pound package of marijuana arrived in the mail last week at one elderly woman's home in southern Michigan's Blackman Township, which is about 75 miles west of Detroit. The woman called police. Detectives don't know who sent... 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 »

• Pueblo council may vote on marijuana ballot questions

  July 12, 2010 3:05 PM

  The Pueblo city council should decide tonight--July 12, on whether to put two questions on the November ballot regarding medical marijuana centers. Right now there is a moratorium in place, which means medical marijuana dispensaries are not allowed to operate within city limits. The first ballot question would ask voters... more »

• Pot debate in the City of Pueblo

  July 2, 2010 8:26 PM

  17 dispensaries filed paperwork with Pueblo County Thursday, the deadline set by the state, for dispensaires to get approval from local governments to operate legally. It's a growing business in the county, but dispensaries still aren't allowed in city limits. Earlier this week the only openly operating medical marijuana... more »

• Church claims marijuana as part of religion

  June 28, 2010 3:13 PM

  Charged with marijuana possession, Jason Wimler says it's part of his religion. Wimler was driving on I-25 last December when a windshield wiper broke. A State Trooper stopped to give aid and noticed the smell of marijuana. A search of the car came up with less than an ounce... more »

• Colorado town bans medical marijuana shops

  June 15, 2010 1:30 PM

  The Boulder County town of Superior is the first in Colorado to ban medical marijuana shops after a state law last week allowed such actions. Superior town council members voted 6-0 Monday to ban dispensaries. Other towns, including Vail, are moving quickly toward banning marijuana dispensaries. Gov. Bill... more »

• Hundreds of marijuana outlets in Los Angeles told to close in California

  June 7, 2010 2:26 PM

  Authorities say they won't take any action against medical marijuana collectives in Los Angeles until they tally how many of the shops have defied a new ordinance requiring hundreds to close. Monday is the deadline set by the city attorney's office for more than 430 pot collectives to close... 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 »

• Springs police conduct marijuana searches

  May 19, 2010 7:47 PM

  Governor Ritter was in Colorado Springs on Wednesday to sign legislation into law, However, he has not yet signed a controversial measure that would put new regulations on the medical marijuana industry in Colorado. The measure (HB 1284) allows cities and counties to ban dispensaries but also allows individual... more »

• AG objects to keeping locations of medical marijuana grows secret

  May 9, 2010 8:46 AM

  Colorado's attorney general is objecting to plans to keep the locations of medical marijuana grows secret. The state Senate this week voted to keep that information off-limits to protect grow operations from being burglarized. Attorney General John Suthers says people have a right to know if their neighborhood has a... more »