s_agr_2017a_2017-04-26t11:37:15z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/26/2017

Location: SCR 357

11:42 AM -- SB 17-275



Senator Baumgardner and Senator Jahn, co-prime sponsors, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-275 concerning marijuana pesticides test medical effectiveness and distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and Amendment L.004 (Attachment B). The bill allows Marijuana Tax Cash Fund (MTCF) moneys to be used for research into the health effects of marijuana and addresses issues related to the use of pesticides in the cultivation of medical and retail marijuana. The bill expands the types of pesticides that may be used in the cultivation and production of medical and retail marijuana under certain conditions. The pesticide must either be on the Department of Agriculture's approved list of pesticides or otherwise meet one of the following conditions: be exempt from registration under federal law; be allowed for use on the Environmental Protection Agency Crop Group 19 for herbs and spices, hops, or unspecified crops or plants; or be listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute or a successor organization. For all pesticides, the label must show that the pesticide can be used at the intended site of application on crops and plants intended for human consumption.



170426 AttachA.pdf170426 AttachB.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



11:50 AM -- Angela Medberry, Sierra Club, spoke in opposition to the bill and proposed amendments to the bill. She also distributed the July/August 1988 edition of the Pesticide Network News (Attachment C).



170426 AttachC.pdf



11:52 AM -- Richard Andrews, representing himself, spoke in opposition to certain provisions of the bill and in support of other provisions related to research on pesticides. He also distributed a copy of his testimony (Attachment D).



170426 AttachD.pdf



11:56 AM -- Kara Miller, Marijuana Industry Group, spoke in support of the bill and amendments L.001 and L.004.



12:00 PM -- Michael Drozd, Eurofins, explained his company operates laboratories and spoke in support of the bill.



12:01 PM -- Jessica LaRoux, representing herself, commented on the bill and expressed concern about its effect on the caregiver community.



12:06 PM -- Karin McGowin, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, spoke in opposition to the bill and proposed that a working group be formed to develop legislative recommendations to address the sponsor's objectives. She also responded to questions from the committee about the department's effort to work with the marijuana industry to develop the bill and the department's role in regulating the marijuana industry.



12:09 PM -- Heather Krug, Laboratory Service Division in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, discussed the department's laboratory certification program.



12:11 PM -- Mitch Yergert, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in opposition to the bill as introduced and spoke in support of Amendments L.001 and L.004. He also responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill's potential impacts to the Colorado Department of Agriculture.



12:13 PM -- Jim Burack, Director, Marijuana Enforcement Division, Colorado Department of Revenue, spoke in opposition to the introduced bill and proposed that a working group be formed to develop legislative recommendation to address the sponsor's objectives. He also responded to questions from the committee regarding the department's concerns with the bill.



12:30 PM -- Saskia Young, LiveWell, spoke in support of Amendments L.001 and L.004.



12:34 PM



Senator Baumgardner proposed a conceptual amendment to amend Amendment L.001 to address concerns identified during public testimony.



12:39 PM



Ms. McGowin returned to respond to questions from the committee about the department's regulatory authority and concerns the department had with the bill.



12:35 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Jahn and Senator Baumgardner closed their remarks on the bill and the proposed amendments.

12:45 PM



Tom Morris, Office of Legislative Legal Services, identified changes to the conceptual amendment to Amendment L.001 to reconcile these changes with Amendment L.004. Senator Baumgardner modified his motion to include these changes.