Ritter signs medical marijuana bill

Gov. Bill Ritter signed two controversial bills on Monday to regulate Colorado’s ballooning number of marijuana businesses and the doctors who recommend marijuana to patients.

The measures, hotly debated in the General Assembly, have triggered a surge of activity for local governments and are expected to soon draw lawsuits from organizations backing medical marijuana dispensaries.

One new law, SB 109, requires that only doctors in good standing with the state be allowed to recommend medical marijuana to patients seeking state registry cards.

The other, HB 1284 sets licensing requirements for marijuana dispensaries and growers that are similar to existing liquor laws. The new laws took effect when the governor signed them.

A decade ago, Colorado voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing patients with certain medical conditions to treat themselves with marijuana. The medical marijuana industry in the state, though, remained small until 2009, when federal officials said they wouldn’t enforce U.S. marijuana laws when they conflict with state laws, including the Colorado constitution.

In Colorado Springs, the number of dispensaries selling medical marijuana went from a handful to more than 100 this year.

Dispensaries, and other medical marijuana backers, are likely to challenge the new state regulations in court.

The biggest issues for litigation center on dispensary rules.

“On the one hand, we are pleased it legitimizes this health care industry; however, we are concerned it may be overly strict and could cut off patient access to medication as a result of the dwindling number of dispensaries,” Brian Vicente, executive director of the marijuana advocacy group Sensible Colorado, told The Associated Press.

Under the new state laws, cities and counties can ban dispensaries, which opponents say is unconstitutional. The new rules also require dispensary owners to be Colorado residents, which opponents say violates federal interstate commerce laws.

The laws require dispensaries be no closer than 1,000 feet from schools and churches and mandate criminal background checks for owners and workers. Dispensaries must grow 70 percent of their marijuana, a provision aimed at keeping tabs on where the drug is being sold.

Colorado Springs city leaders on Tuesday are expected to approve an ordinance granting temporary operating permits for medical marijuana businesses, bringing the city into line with the new state rules. There’s also a movement led by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce to let voters here decide whether dispensaries should be banned.

The city rules, which gained preliminary approval from the council last month, require dispensaries to obtain business licenses, pay taxes and follow zoning restrictions.

El Paso County this month is mulling changes to temporary zoning rules established for dispensaries.

While dispensaries oppose some of the new state regulations, the industry has sought state licensing. The licenses give dispensaries a clear legal right to operate, which didn’t exist before the General Assembly acted.

Ritter waited more than three weeks before inking the bills into law without the ceremony that has accompanied his action on other measures. He signed the medical marijuana bills in Denver.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report

RITTER IN FREMONT COUNTY

Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday is scheduled to travel to Fremont County to sign a measure regulating uranium mills and mines.

Pueblo West’s Democratic Rep. Buffie McFadyen said the bill, HB1348, requires cleanup of contamination in Cañon City before the Cotter mill there could expand its operations.

The Cotter operation in Cañon City has been targeted as a federal Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site since 1984 due to groundwater contamination.

Ritter is signing the bill during a 1:30 p.m. ceremony at a Cañon City park.