Rocky Mountain High

I’ve always liked Alma, Colo.

My BMW riding friends Tim and Linda moved there a few years ago and I enjoy their hospitality as often as possible because I love hanging out with them and riding the Rocky Mountains.

Alma is south of Breckenridge, over Hoosier Pass, on Colo. 9. It used to be considered on the “wrong” side of the pass, since all of the trendy upscale real estate was in and around Breckenridge. That’s been changing over the past decade as savvy homebuyers and investors discovered the relatively cheap real estate in Alma, Fairplay and the wide open spaces of Park County.

Alma had an official population of 179 at the time of the 2000 Census. It will be interesting to see the 2010 number. My guess is that the population has grown by a factor of 9 or 10.

Alma now has two bars, a liquor store, no churches and – in keeping with its claim of being the highest (10,361 feet) town in the United States – three medical marijuana dispensaries.

Here’s all the pertinent info from the Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry:

Medical Marijuana Registry Program Update

(as of October 31, 2009)

In the November 2000 general election, Coloradoans passed Amendment 20, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) was tasked with implementing and administering the Medical Marijuana Registry program. In March of 2001, the State of Colorado Board of Health approved the Rules and Regulations pertaining to the administration of the program, and on June 1st, 2001, the Registry began accepting and processing applications for Registry Identification cards.

Statistics of the registry include:

• 24,176 new patient applications have been received to date since the registry began operating in June 2001. Twenty-seven (27) applications have been denied, 24 cards have been revoked, 253 patients have died, and 2,247 cards have expired, bringing the total number of patients who currently possess valid Registry ID cards to 21,625.
• Seventy-four percent of approved applicants are male.
• The average age of all patients is 40. Currently twelve patients are minors (under the age of 18).
• Fifty-seven percent of patients reside in the Denver-metro and area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas & Jefferson counties), with the remainder of patients found in counties throughout Colorado.
• Patients on the Registry represent all the debilitating conditions covered under Amendment 20. Severe pain is a reported condition for 91% of all registrants; muscle spasms are the second-most reported condition at 31%.
• Sixty-seven percent of patients have designated a primary care-giver (someone who has significant responsibility for managing the patient’s care).
• Over 800 different physicians have signed for patients in Colorado.

As of June 14, 2004 care-givers are no longer issued cards.

As of January 25, 2008 only a portion of the patient’s social security number appears on their registration card.

As of October 27, 2008 all applications, renewal and changes to the Registry must be submitted via mail and include a legible photo copy of the patient’s Colorado Identification. Faxes and emails will no longer be accepted.

As of December 1, 2008 all changes to the Registry must be signed by the patient making the change in blue ink.

In addition to administering the Registry, CDPHE has been charged with accepting and reviewing petitions to add conditions to the current list of debilitating medical conditions/symptoms. To date, four petitions have been received, one for Parkinson’s disease, one for Asthma, one for Anxiety and another for Bi-Polar Disorder. All petitions were subsequently denied due to lack of scientific evidence that treatment with marijuana might have a beneficial effect.

There have been three marijuana-related convictions of patients on the Registry, and no physicians have experienced federal reprisals. However, reluctance to participate due to the inconsistencies between state and federal marijuana laws has been expressed by doctors and patients alike.

No general funds have been designated for this program, and the Amendment allows CDPHE to collect fees to cover the administrative costs of administering the program. Currently the fee is $90, and is evaluated annually by CDPHE. The fee was lowered from $110 on June 1, 2007.

Numerous questions have arisen regarding interpretation of statutory language. The law does not clearly state where marijuana plants may be grown or if two or more patients and/or care-givers may share one growing space. Statutory language also places certain burdens upon local and state law enforcement officers, such as the requirement of keeping alive plants that are confiscated until a resolution is reached (i.e. a decision not to prosecute, the dismissal of charges, an acquittal, etc.).