Hello Senator Romer,

Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Pierre Werner, a.k.a. DrReefer.com. I am writing you to address some of your proposed regulation that may or may not be coming up. Whatever happens with the proposed legislation, I am thankful that you at least sought public input. This rarely happens in Nevada.

So please let me explain why I believe its a mistake to introduce legislation next year that would eliminate retail-style dispensaries and place extra scrutiny on patients under 25.

First, retail-style dispensaries are needed for the convenience of the patients. When a physician recommends medical marijuana, the patients medicine should be made available just like any other medication. Retail-style dispensaries serve this purpose.

Second, retail dispensaries are helping Colorado's economy. For example, the corner of Broadway and Ashbury where there are now 3 dispensaries. If it were not for the dispensaries those building would be empty. The Little Brown House Dispensary used to be a haven for homeless and drunks. We have actually cleaned up the area, light up the neighborhood at night. Also, retail dispensaries might survive where other business just fail. So at the end of the day, a retail dispensary is better than an empty building.

Third, you'll force dispensary owners back into the "underground" market. You will be making certain patients criminals instead of regulating and taxing us.

Lastly, I wanted to discuss your plans to place extra scrutiny on patients under 25. This is a mistake of enormous proportions. Canada also tried to limit patients into the medical marijuana program in that country. They required that 2 physicians had to recommend medical marijuana. Well, that got struck down by Canada's Supreme Court. The reasoning was that one physicians opinion is more than fair and requiring a second opinion is redundant for a patient that wants to get into the medical marijuana program.

Another problem, is the age limit, where did you get the age 25? I seems odd that at 18, people are supposed to be full grown adults. Then there's the alcohol mandatory age of 21. I'm not even sure where the government came up with age 21 but according to the government that is the age when adults are responsible enough to buy alcohol.

What scientific evidence do you have that adults aged 25 are more mature than adults who are under 25? I hope you can see how trying to limit patient access to adults would be struck down by the courts as unconstitutional.

It seems as if everyone wants to limit who gets into the Medical Marijuana program. For example. in Nevada, if you are convicted of possession with intent to sell medical marijuana, the patient is barred for life from getting into the Medical Marijuana program. However, in Nevada, if you are a violent felon, convicted of Murder, Rape, Armed Robbery the state of Nevada welcomes you with open arms.

I bring this up, because I sincerely hope that Colorado does not go down the same backward path that Nevada has. Further more in Nevada, the state does not allow sales of medical marijuana. So if you are a quadriplegic, the state of Nevada will give you a Medical Marijuana license and then tell you to grown your own.

Finally, I'd like to address your comment, "Lots of suburban parents are horrified when they drive their fifteen-year-old, who they want to keep focused on high school, down Broadway past Dr. Reefer. And they'll have a say about this as well." I don not believe this to be the case. The parents are more "horrified" with the 14 by 48 foot billboard advertising Bud Light "Huge Flavor".

Just by driving by DrReefer is not going to make people lose focus of anything or go crazy, well maybe some politicians. However, I believe it would be wiser to work with all the dispensary models and let the law of supply and demand work it self out. The cream of the crop will always rise to the top while the others go out of business on their own.

The dispensary owners are just now organizing and we are hiring our own lobbyists. Further more we will be contributing financial contributions to politicians that support our cause and oppose those who oppose dispensaries. We would rather work together than work against each other.

Respectfully,
Pierre Werner
DrReefer.com

Wow! Pierre what a good letter you wrote to the Colorado State Senator Romer.

Most Medical Marijuana States have so many ridicules obstacles for mmj patients that is unbelievable.
like in NV State.

Once you have you card You can posses one once, and where do you get it, if the law says is not allowed to sell!

Oh yeah you can grow your 7 plants, but where can you buy the seeds?

Now, if a patient is disable how could he do this??

I think the best is just to legalized it, and let the patient medicate with this method of medication it is proven that it safe, and it works! for them, so let them do it!, but wait might be the rich pharmaceutics would be at risk of not selling their side effects pills!!

What's wrong with this world!

Happy Holidays and a better year 2010 to all.

Reyna.
12-28-09.