Breckenridge, CO Medicinal Marijuana Initiative

Breckenridge, Colo Medicinal Marijuana Initiative

Type: Initiative

Status: Passed by 50 votes

Date: April, 1994

Summary: In April 1994, hemp activists in Breckenridge put an initiative on their local ballot that directed the local law enforcement to make it their lowest priority to arrest someone for using marijuana for medicine. The initiative passed by about 50 votes. (The initiative was modeled after San Francisco's Proposition P which passed by over 80% of the votes.) Shortly after the Breckenridge initiative passed, the Frisco city council adopted a similar ordinance encouraging medical marijuana research. So now there are two towns in Summit County that have medical marijuana ordinances. Way to go, Summit County activists!!!

Language: ORDERING THE MAYOR TO DIRECT THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO MAKE THEIR LOWEST PRIORITY THE ARREST OR PROSECUTION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE POSSESSION OR CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA FOR PERSONAL USE FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, AND FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO ALLOW A LETTER FROM A TREATING PHYSICIAN TO BE USED A PRIMA FACIA EVIDENCE THAT MARIJUANA CAN ALLEVIATE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF THAT PATIENT'S MEDICAL CONDITION, AND INSTRUCTING THE TOWN'S REPRESENTATIVE TO LOBBY THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR A STATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL.

WHEREAS, the Colorado State Legislature held hearings and approved the medicinal use of marijuana (HB 1042; Colorado Revised Statute 25-5-901-907); and

WHEREAS, "hemp medical preparations" are defined as all products made from hemp, cannabis, or marijuana that are intended for the treatment of disease, the relief of pain, or for any healing purpose; and

WHEREAS, "medicinal purposes," for the purpose of this ordinance, would include, but not be limited to, the treatment of AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, rheumatism, severe muscle spasm, epilepsy, asthma, as well as other serious illnesses or pain; and

WHEREAS, hemp preparations have been used for thousands of years throughout the world, over 100 years in the United States alone, for medical purposes until prohibition in 1937 by the Federal government for political reasons; and

WHEREAS, Federal agencies have refused to recognize marijuana's important role in medical therapy, continue to maintain a prohibition against marijuana's prescriptine medical use, and recently cancelled the nation's Federal marijuana-as-medicine program; and

WHEREAS, these federal policies unnecessarily expose the people of Summit County, including Breckenridge, to pain and suffering and prevent physicians in Breckenridge from exercising their professional judgment; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the people of Breckenridge order the Mayor to direct the Police Chief and the District Attorney to make their lowest priority the arrest or prosecution of those involved in the possession or cultivation of hemp medical preparation for medicinal purposes; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the people of Breckenridge order the Mayor to direct the District Attorney to allow a letter from a treating physician to be used as prima facia evidence that hemp medical preparations can alleviate the pain and suffering of that patient's medical condition;, and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the representative of the town of Breckenridge lobby the Colorado Legislature for a state medical marijuana bill.