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I_COCommMarijuana_2016A 08/17/2016 11:31:41 AM Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IN COLORADO

Date: 08/17/2016
ATTENDANCE
Time: 11:31 AM to 06:59 PM
Aguilar
X
Holbert
X
Place: LSB B
Singer
X
Willett
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Baumgardner
X
Representative Pabon
Pabon
X
This Report was prepared by
Luisa Altmann
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Opening remarks

Marijuana overview

Data collection

Marijuana market

Youth impact

Employer impact

Local government impact

Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts

Public comment
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Committee Voting on Proposed Bill Drafting Ideas

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only





11:33 AM -- Opening remarks



Representative Pabon made opening remarks related to the day's meeting.



11:34 AM -- Marijuana overview



11:34 AM --
Andrew Freedman, Director of Marijuana Coordination for the Governor's Office of Marijuana Coordination, introduced himself to the committee. Mr. Freedman explained his role and responded to questions that were brought up during the committee's previous meeting.



Mr. Freedman reviewed a presentation related to the marijuana grey market (Attachment A).



Attachment A.pdfAttachment A.pdf



Mr. Freedman responded to questions from committee members related to the seed-to-sale tracking system, caregiver grows, reimbursing local governments for law enforcement costs, other states' approaches, law enforcement efforts, notices to marijuana prescribing physicians, the benefits of marijuana, and the data gaps that exist.





12:07 PM --
Ron Kammerzell, Senior Director of Enforcement for the Colorado Department of Revenue, introduced himself to the committee and discussed the regulated marijuana industry.



Mr. Kammerzell provided a handout to the committee (Attachment B).



Attachment B.pdfAttachment B.pdf



Mr. Kammerzell responded to questions from committee members related to the rule making process, product testing and destruction related to pesticides, and testing of marijuana grown by cooperatives.



12:31 PM -- Data collection



12:32 PM --
Jack Reed, Statistical Analyst with the Colorado Department of Public Safety, reviewed a presentation related to Senate Bill 13-183 with the committee (Attachment C).



Attachment C.pdfAttachment C.pdf



Mr. Reed responded to questions from the committee related to cost savings associated with the decrease in court filings, how law enforcement identifies impaired drivers, details available within the larger report, and breakdown of data by geography.



01:11 PM --
Karin McGowan, Deputy Executive Director with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), reviewed a presentation that responded to questions brought up during the committee's previous meeting (Attachment D).



Attachment D.pdfAttachment D.pdf



Mike Van Dyke, CDPHE, joined Ms. McGowan at the table to respond to questions from the committee related to studies examined and the healthy kids survey, and continue with the presentation.



Heather Krug, CDPHE, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee related to potency testing.



01:48 PM --
Art Way, Drug Policy Alliance, discussed criminal justice data, allocation of marijuana tax cash revenue, medicinal benefits, impact of marijuana on alcohol and opioid use, school discipline data by race and ethnicity, and recommendations.



Mr. Way provided a handout to the committee (Attachment E). Mr. Way responded to questions from the committee.



Attachment E.pdfAttachment E.pdf











02:09 PM -- Marijuana market



02:10 PM --
Stacey Linn, Executive Director of the CannAbility Foundation, reviewed a presentation related to medical marijuana (Attachment F). Ms. Linn responded to questions from the committee.



Attachment F.pdfAttachment F.pdf



02:35 PM --
Christopher Meredith and James Baumgartner, Strategic Pharma, Inc., reviewed a presentation related to medical marijuana (Attachment G). Mr. Meredith and Mr. Baumgartner responded to questions from the committee.



Attachment G.pdfAttachment G.pdf



02:50 PM --
Tyler Henson, Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and Kristi Kelly, Marijuana Industry Group, reviewed a presentation related to the economic impact of marijuana (Attachment H) and also provided a packet of handouts (Attachment I). Mr. Henson and Ms. Kelly responded to questions from the committee.



Attachment H.pdfAttachment H.pdf Attachment I.pdfAttachment I.pdf



03:07 PM -- Youth impact



03:08 PM --
Ge'Swan Swanson, Caleb Smith, Jamar Holmes, Elena Varney, Jordan Apple, and Daniel Gonzalez-Beltran, representing themselves and the Colorado Student Leaders Institute, provided testimony to the committee related to youth marijuana use.



03:21 PM --
Matt Montgomery, Colorado Association of School Resource Officers, provided testimony to the committee related to the impact of youth marijuana use.



03:25 PM --
Tiffany Rucker, representing herself, provided testimony to the committee related to youth marijuana use and education needs from a parent's perspective.



03:27 PM --
Henny Lasley, Smart Colorado, provided testimony to the committee related to marijuana data and legislative recommendations.





03:34 PM



The youth impact panel members responded to questions from the committee.



03:52 PM -- Employer impact



03:53 PM --
Keith Swerdfeger, K.R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc., reviewed a presentation related to the impact of marijuana on employers (Attachment J).



Attachment J.pdfAttachment J.pdf



04:10 PM --
Mike Feeley, representing Glenn McClelland, provided a letter to the committee (Attachment K).



Attachment K.pdfAttachment K.pdf



04:13 PM -- Local government impact



04:15 PM --
Eric Bergman, Colorado Counties, Inc., reviewed a presentation related to the impact of marijuana on Colorado counties (Attachment L).



Attachment L.pdfAttachment L.pdf



04:19 PM --
Chief Steven Johnson, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, provided testimony related to his office's activities concerning marijuana and provided a handout (Attachment M).



Attachment M.pdfAttachment M.pdf



04:24 PM --
Chief Marc Vasquez, Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, provided testimony related to law enforcement activities related to marijuana.



04:30 PM --
Kelly Dunnaway, Deputy County Attorney for Douglas County, provided testimony related to the marijuana grey market and county-level activities.



04:36 PM



Mr. Bergman made concluding remarks related to legislative actions.



04:38 PM



The panel responded to questions from the committee. Douglas County Commissioner David Weaver also responded to questions from the committee.









04:48 PM --
Ed Wood, DUID Victim Voices, reviewed a presentation with the committee (Attachment N) and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment O).



Attachment N.pdfAttachment N.pdf Attachment O.pdfAttachment O.pdf



04:59 PM -- Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts



05:00 PM --
Michael Dohr, Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided information regarding bill draft requests.



05:01 PM



The committee continued with a discussion of bill drafting ideas.



Senator Aguilar presented the following ideas:



1. Modify definition of "assist" to limit home grows to a qualifying individual's primary residence (based on the suggestions from the Governor's Office).

2. Find a way to address illegal online sales of marijuana.

3. Add PTSD as a qualifying medical diagnoses for a medical marijuana "red" card.

4. Create the ability for local governments to create marijuana consumption facilities as a safe place for individuals to consume marijuana.



Senator Holbert presented the following ideas:



5. Empower local jurisdictions to adopt building codes for smaller grows (37-99 plants), including registering and inspecting these grows, requiring permits for building modifications, and allowing the confiscation of plants in excess of 36 from unregistered grows.

Senator Holbert also agreed with Senator Aguilar's proposed idea to address illegal online sales.



Representative Singer:



Representative Singer also agreed with Senator Aguilar's proposed idea to allow local jurisdictions to create places for responsible social consumption of marijuana.

6. Reevaluate the driving under the influence (DUI) statutes.



Representative Willet:



7. Create a standing marijuana interim committee (that would act similar to the health exchange committee).



Representative Singer:



Resolution regarding federal/state conflicts related to marijuana. This suggestion was withdrawn from the bill drafting suggestions.



Representative Pabon:



8. Have applications for receiving BEST funding take into account the local area's contributions to the BEST fund.



Senator Holbert:





9. Allocate marijuana tax money to providing marijuana-related education in schools and/or helping to develop a curriculum that schools could use related to marijuana.



Representative Willet:



10. Create a fund from marijuana tax revenue to assist local law enforcement with training related to the marijuana grey market.

BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:25:41 PM
MOVED: Aguilar
MOTION: Draft a bill to modify the definition of "assist" to limit home grows to a qualifying individual's primary residence. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Pabon
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:26:33 PM
MOVED: Aguilar
MOTION: Draft a bill to address illegal online marijuana sales. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Willett
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:27:04 PM
MOVED: Aguilar
MOTION: Draft a bill to add PTSD as a qualifying medical condition for the purposes of obtaining a medical marijuana "Red" card. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Singer
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:27:32 PM
MOVED: Aguilar
MOTION: Draft a bill to give local jurisdictions the ability to allow marijuana consumption facilities. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Singer
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:29:50 PM
MOVED: Holbert
MOTION: Draft a bill that gives local jurisdictions the ability to create a system to register and inspect residential marijuana grows over 36 plants, including the ability to confiscate plants over that limit from unregistered grows. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Singer
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:33:00 PM
MOVED: Singer
MOTION: Draft a bill to modify the DUI statutes and allow for better data collection related to substances involved in DUI cases. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Holbert
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:34:02 PM
MOVED: Willett
MOTION: Draft a bill to create a standing Cost-Benefit Analysis of Legalized Marijuana in Colorado interim committee under the same current guidelines with the ability to meet during session if determined necessary, and a three-year sunset provision. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Singer
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:37:30 PM
MOVED: Pabon
MOTION: Draft a bill to add contributions by the jurisdiction to the BEST fund as a factor for receiving BEST program funding. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Holbert
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:39:32 PM
MOVED: Holbert
MOTION: Draft a bill to provide funding from the marijuana tax cash fund to help develop age-appropriate curriculum that would be available to school districts to use for marijuana awareness and prevention. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Singer
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: Discussion of and requests for interim bill drafts
TIME: 05:41:37 PM
MOVED: Willett
MOTION: Draft a bill to provide funding from the marijuana tax cash fund to help local law enforcement with training related to the marijuana grey market, with a priority on areas that have fewer resources. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Pabon
VOTE
Aguilar
Holbert
Singer
Willett
Baumgardner
Excused
Pabon
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



05:45 PM -- Public comment



05:45 PM --
Kelly Kirwan read prepared testimony from Jo McGuire, 5 Minutes of Courage.



05:50 PM --
Patricia Ross, representing herself, provided testimony to the committee.



05:54 PM --
Sue Anderson, representing herself, provided testimony to the committee.



06:03 PM --
Matthew Kall, Veterans for Natural Rights, provided testimony to the committee. Mr. Kall responded to questions from the committee.



06:12 PM --
Robert Chase, Colorado Coalition for Patients and Caregivers, provided testimony to the committee.



06:18 PM --
Jessica LaRue, citizens of Park County, provided testimony to the committee.



06:26 PM --
Deb Roberts, Alternatives for Youth and iThrive, provided testimony to the committee. Ms. Roberts provided a handout to the committee (Attachment P) and responded to questions from the committee.



Attachment P.pdfAttachment P.pdf



06:38 PM --
Dr. Alexis Saccoman, iThrive, provided testimony to the committee.



06:51 PM --
Colt Smith, iThrive, provided testimony to the committee. Mr. Smith responded to questions from the committee.





06:59 PM



The committee adjourned.


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