Colorado Governor Signs New Pot Laws
Colorado's medical marijuana industry will now have to follow new statewide regulations. Gov. Bill Ritter today signed two bills passed by state lawmakers this session to rein in the growing number of marijuana dispensaries and growers. Both laws take effect immediately.
One of the new laws requires that only doctors in good standing be able to provide a medical recommendation for medical marijuana. The other law sets up a uniform set of rules for marijuana dispensaries and growers statewide.
Under the new law, cities and counties are able to ban dispensaries within their borders. In places where the dispensaries are allowed, owners will have to undergo criminal background checks. And dispensaries must grow 70 percent of their marijuana, a provision aimed at keeping tabs on where the drug is being grown.