Medical Marijuana

Despite the decision by Colorado voters in 2000 to allow marijuana for medical use, marijuana is still an illegal substance and can become addictive for young users.   We continue to urge parents to have open and honest discussions with their kids about all drug use, including marijuana.  We also encourage parents to get all the facts about marijuana before talking to their kids.  Having this conversation can be hard because dispensaries are opening around the state and in our community, yet the drug can be harmful for teens and their development.
 

Marijuana use by teens in our valley continues to be high. In 2009, 47% of Gunnison County high school students reported using marijuana in their lifetime and 27% reported using it in the last 30 days.
 
Here are some resources on marijuana, its effect on teens' development and medical marijuana fact sheets.

• Young Marijuana Users Pay Cognitive Price- New York Times 11/22/10 
  
• Heavy Marijuana Use May Damage Developing Brain in Teens. Digital Journal
• Teen Marijuana Use Might Have Lasting Effects on Mood, Anxiety. U.S. News 12/23/09
  
• Teen Self Medicating for Depression Leads to More Serious Mental Illlness. Science Daily 5/10/08 
• National Institute on Drug Abuse Marijuana Fact Sheet
• Health Effects of Marijuana. Parents. The Anti-Drug
• GCSAPP Medical Marijuana Letter in Gunnison Country Times- January 2010
• OMNI Medical Marijuana Fact Sheet

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Colorado-Updates
 

Across the state there are already about 2,000 medical marijuana dispensaries and there are nearly 100,000 pending medical marijuana applications at the State.  The State of Colorado will have to hire staff to process all of the applications, and if an application isn't approved within 35 days it automatically becomes valid.

 
Locally, Crested Butte has passed an ordinance allowing up to five dispensaries- currently the five who have applied with the town have been approved and two are open for business. Read here a June 23, 2010  article about the opening of dispensaries in the Crested Butte News. The City of Gunnison and has passed a moratorium on dispensaries which expires in October 2010.
 
The Colorado State Assembly passed House Bill 1284 and Senate Bill 109 during the 2010 Legislative Session.  The bills will regulate and license dispensaries, clarify the doctor/patient relationship and allow local governments to ban dispensaries.
 
Denver Post coverage summary