Newsgroups: alt.hemp,alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs From: bhip@Cygnus.COM (Boulder HIP) Subject: Text of the Colorado Hemp Initiative Message-ID:Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 22:41:59 GMT COLORADO HEMP INITIATIVE 1994 (Only 100,000 signatures between Colorado hemp supporters and ballot status in Nov. 1994!!!) ************************************************************************ BALLOT TITLE SHALL THERE BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION TO LEGALIZE THE USE, SALE, AND POSSESSION OF HEMP AND CANNABIS (MARIHUANA) BY ADULTS; TO DEFINE HEMP AS THE PARTS OF THE CANNABIS PLANT WITHOUT DRUG EFFECT; TO PROHIBIT THE USE, SALE, OR POSSESSION OF CANNABIS BY MINORS EXCEPT WHEN PRESCRIBED FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES; TO ALLOW REGULATION AND TAXATION OF CANNABIS BY STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, WITHIN LIMITS; TO ALLOW CITIES AND COUNTIES TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT THE COMMERCIAL SALE OF CANNABIS AND CERTAIN CANNABIS PRODUCTS UPON A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE; TO REQUIRE THAT STATE REGULATION OF CANNABIS AND THE PENALTIES FOR UNLAWLFUL ACTS INVOLVING CANNABIS BE EQUIVALENT TO OR LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN CURRENT STATUTES RELATING TO BEER; AND TO GRANT AMNESTY TO PERSONS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF CANNABIS-RELATED ACTS WHICH ARE NO LONGER UNLAWFUL? *************************************************************** INITIATIVE LANGUAGE Cannabis and Hemp Re-legalization Amendment Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado: Article XXII of the Constitution of the State of Colorado, 1876, as amended, is amended by the addition of the following NEW SECTION, to read: Intoxicating Liquors REPEAL OF PROHIBITIONS SECTION 2. REPEAL OF MARIHUANA AND MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE LAWS. (1) DEFINITIONS. (a) "CANNABIS" MEANS THE FLOWERING BUDS OR RESINS OF THE FEMALE CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT, CONTAINING MORE THAN 1.0 PER CENT ORGANIC CANNABINOID COMPOUNDS, OR ANY DERIVATIVE, PREPARATION, COMPOUND, OR MIXTURE OF MORE THAN 1.0 PER CENT CANNABINOIDS, WHETHER NATURALLY OBTAINED OR SYNTHESIZED. (b) "CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS" MEANS ALL COMMERCIAL CANNABIS DRUG PRODUCTS IN ANY DOSAGE FORM (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NATURAL FLOWERS, CHEWING FORMULATIONS OR SMOKING PREPARATIONS) THAT ARE DESIGNED, INTENDED AND MARKETED BY VENDORS OR MANUFACTURERS WITH HEALTH CLAIMS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TREATMENT FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: ANOREXIA, ANXIETY, ASTHMA, CHRONIC PAIN FROM ANY CAUSE (INCLUDING ARTHRITIS OR MIGRAINE HEADACHE), DEPRESSION, EPILEPSY OR SEIZURES, GLAUCOMA, INSOMNIA, MUSCLE SPASM OR SPASTIC CONDITIONS AND OTHER NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS (INCLUDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS), NAUSEA AND VOMITING DUE TO CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY OR OTHER CAUSES, STRESS, OR OTHER THERAPEUTIC USES WHICH MAY BE ASCERTAINED BY FUTURE RESEARCH. (c) "CANNABIS PERSONAL USE" MEANS THE NON-COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION, POSSESSION, CONSUMPTION, AND USE BY AN ADULT PERSON TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, OF SIX (6) KILOGRAMS OR LESS ANNUALLY OF CANNABIS FEMALE FLOWERS AT NO MORE THAN TWENTY (20) PER CENT MOISTURE CONTENT. (d) "CANNABIS PRODUCER" MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WHICH CULTIVATES THE CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT IN COLORADO TO YIELD CANNABIS FOR SALE. (e) "CANNABIS PRODUCTS" MEANS ALL COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS THAT INCLUDE CANNABIS, MARKETED BY VENDORS OR MANUFACTURERS WITHOUT HEALTH CLAIMS, IN ANY DOSAGE FORM (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NATURAL FLOWERS, CHEWING FORMULATIONS OR SMOKING PREPARATIONS). (f) "HEMP" MEANS THE ENTIRE CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT, WHETHER MALE OR FEMALE, EXCEPT FOR CANNABIS. CANNABIS SATIVA HAVING 1.0 PER CENT OR LESS CANNABINOIDS IS HEMP AND SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE PSYCHOACTIVE PROPERTIES. (g) "HEMP NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS" MEANS ALL PRODUCTS MADE FROM HEMP DESIGNED OR INTENDED AS FOOD, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: WHOLE SEEDS, SEED PROTEIN, SEED OIL, SEED CAKE, OR SIMILAR PREPARATIONS. (h) "HEMP PERSONAL USE" MEANS THE NON-COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION, MANUFACTURE, POSSESSION, CONSUMPTION, AND USE BY ANY ADULT PERSON TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OF ANY AMOUNT OF HEMP. (i) "HEMP PRODUCER" MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WHICH CULTIVATES THE CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT IN COLORADO TO YIELD HEMP FOR SALE. (j) "HEMP PRODUCTS" MEANS ALL PRODUCTS MADE FROM HEMP THAT ARE NOT DESIGNED OR INTENDED FOR FOOD, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CORDAGE, FIBER, FUEL, PAINT, PAPER, PARTICLE BOARD OR OTHER FORMED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, PLASTICS, OR SEED FOR CULTIVATION. (k) "STATE OF COLORADO" MEANS THE STATE OF COLORADO, ANY OF ITS BRANCHES, DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. (2) ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY FOLLOWING THE ELECTION WHICH ENACTS THIS AMENDMENT, ALL STATUTORY LAWS, ORDINANCES, PROHIBITIONS, OR REGULATIONS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO PREVIOUSLY ENACTED CONCERNING OR RELATING TO CANNABIS, MARIHUANA, MARIJUANA, MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUNDS, OR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOLS, AS DEFINED IN CURRENT COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, SHALL BECOME VOID AND OF NO EFFECT WITH REGARD TO CANNABIS, MARIHUANA, MARIJUANA, MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUNDS, OR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOLS, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN; BUT ALL OTHER PARTS OF SUCH STATUTES SHALL OTHERWISE REMAIN IN EFFECT. (3) BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST FOLLOWING THE ELECTION WHICH ENACTS THIS AMENDMENT, THE COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF ALL CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, CANNABIS PRODUCTS, HEMP, HEMP NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS, OR HEMP PRODUCTS, WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF COLORADO, SHALL, SUBJECT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF COLORADO, BE PERFORMED EXCLUSIVELY BY OR THROUGH SUCH AGENCIES AND UNDER SUCH REGULATIONS AS MAY HEREAFTER BE PROVIDED BY STATUTORY LAWS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO. (4) ALL LAWS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO SHALL ALWAYS: (a) USE THE FOLLOWING TERMS AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION 2 WHEN MENTIONED IN ANY STATUTORY LAW: CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, CANNABIS PERSONAL USE, CANNABIS PRODUCER, CANNABIS PRODUCTS, HEMP, HEMP NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS, HEMP PERSONAL USE, HEMP PRODUCER, AND HEMP PRODUCTS, AND SHALL NOT USE THE TERMS: MARIHUANA, MARIJUANA, OR MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE IN ANY CONTEXT; (b) CONFORM TO THE PRINCIPLES AND LIMITATIONS EMBODIED IN THIS CONSTITUTION; (c) TREAT HEMP EITHER EQUALLY OR LESS RESTRICTIVELY THAN COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED CEREAL AND FIBER CROPS UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO; (d) TREAT CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS EITHER EQUALLY OR LESS RESTRICTIVELY WITH REGARD TO UNLAWFUL ACTS, PROHIBITIONS OR PENALTIES FOR ANY OFFENSE THAN FERMENTED MALT BEVERAGES (BEER) AS DEFINED IN COLORADO REVISED STATUTES AS OF JANUARY 1993; (e) AUTHORIZE BEHAVIOR TESTS TO DETERMINE IMPAIRMENT DUE TO CANNABIS, WHERE SUCH IMPAIRMENT MIGHT RESULT IN AN ACT THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE OPERATION OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT OR A MOTOR VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE ROADSIDE SOBRIETY TEST FOR ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT, OR A SIMILAR TEST OF REFLEXES AND RESPONSES TO DETERMINE MENTAL AND/OR PHYSICAL ACUITY; (f) PROHIBIT THE USE OF ANY CHEMICAL TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF CANNABIS OR CANNABIS METABOLITES AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT OR ANY INSURANCE COVERAGE OR BENEFITS; OR FOR CREATING A PRESUMPTION OF IMPAIRMENT BY CANNABIS; (g) AFFIRM THAT CANNABIS PERSONAL USE FOR ANY PURPOSE AND HEMP PERSONAL USE FOR ANY PURPOSE SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY REGULATION, RESTRICTION, PERMIT OR LICENSE, PROHIBITION, STATUTORY LAW, OR TAX ENACTED BY THE STATE OF COLORADO; (h) AFFIRM THAT PERSONS TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, SHALL NOT BE: PROSECUTED, DENIED ANY RIGHT OR PRIVILEGE, BE SUBJECT TO ANY PROPERTY FORFEITURE, NOR BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL OR CIVIL PENALTIES FOR THE CULTIVATION, POSSESSION, OR CONSUMPTION OF HEMP, HEMP NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS, HEMP PRODUCTS, CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS; (i) AFFIRM THAT IT IS LAWFUL AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT HEMP, HEMP NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS, HEMP PRODUCTS, CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS SHALL BE CULTIVATED, MANUFACTURED, TRANSPORTED, DISTRIBUTED TO ADULTS, SOLD AND USED WITHIN COLORADO, SUBJECT TO LOCAL OPTION AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (9) OF THIS SECTION (2), BY CANNABIS PRODUCERS AND HEMP PRODUCERS AND AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL OUTLETS, AND THAT NO LICENSE SHALL BE REQUIRED TO BE A HEMP PRODUCER; AND (j) AFFIRM THAT CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE COLORADO FOOD AND DRUG ACT AS OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS, AND THAT CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS MAY BE RETAILED AT PHARMACIES, AND THAT CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS SHALL NOT BE CLASSIFIED AS PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. LICENSED PRACTITIONERS SHALL BE ABLE TO PRESCRIBE CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS TO AN INDIVIDUAL OF ANY AGE. (5) UNLAWFUL AND LAWFUL ACTS BY MINORS. (a) IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON: (i) TO SELL, SERVE, GIVE AWAY, DISPOSE OF, PROCURE, EXCHANGE, OR DELIVER ANY CANNABIS, CANNABIS PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION OF A LICENSED PRACTITIONER, TO ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS, OR TO PERMIT ANY OF THE ABOVE; (ii) TO OBTAIN OR ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN ANY CANNABIS, CANNABIS PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION OF A LICENSED PRACTITIONER, BY MISREPRESENTATION OF AGE IN ANY PLACE WHERE CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS ARE SOLD IF SUCH PERSON IS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS; (iii) TO POSSESS ANY CANNABIS, CANNABIS PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION OF A LICENSED PRACTITIONER, IF SUCH PERSON IS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS; (iv) TO PERMIT ANY CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS TO BE SOLD OR DISPENSED BY ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS; (v) TO SELL OR OFFER TO SELL ANY CANNABIS, CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS BY USE OF A VENDING MACHINE OR OTHER COIN-OPERATED MACHINE. (b) IT IS LAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE YEARS TO BUY, OBTAIN, POSSESS, OR USE ANY CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS IF PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED PRACTITIONER. HEMP, HEMP NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS AND HEMP PRODUCTS (WHICH DO NOT HAVE PSYCHOACTIVE PROPERTIES) ARE ALWAYS LAWFUL FOR ANY MINOR PERSON TO BUY, OBTAIN, POSSESS, OR USE. (6) PENALTIES. ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBSECTION (5) OF THIS SECTION (2) IS GUILTY OF A CLASS 2 PETTY OFFENSE AND, UPON CONVICTION, SHALL BE PUNISHED THE SAME AS DEFINED IN 12-46-114(1) C.R.S. AS OF JANUARY 1993. (7) LICENSING. WITHIN 180 DAYS OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS DIRECTED TO ENACT INTO LAW STATUTES GOVERNING THE LICENSING OF CANNABIS PRODUCERS AND RETAIL AND WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS OF CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS, BUT SUCH STATUTES SHALL BE EITHER EQUAL OR LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN THE LICENSING STATUTES GOVERNING FERMENTED MALT BEVERAGE ALCOHOL PRODUCTS (BEER) AS DEFINED IN COLORADO REVISED STATUTES AS OF JANUARY 1993. SHOULD THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FAIL TO ENACT SUCH LAWS WITHIN 180 DAYS, AT THAT TIME, ALL CANNABIS PRODUCERS, RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS MAY PRODUCE AND SELL CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO NO FURTHER RESTRICTIONS THAN ADHERENCE TO SUCH OTHER LAWS OF COMMERCE AS PRESENTLY GOVERN RETAIL AND WHOLESALE OPERATIONS IN COLORADO, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENACTS LICENSING STATUTES. (8) AMNESTY AND CLEARING OF CRIMINAL RECORDS. UPON THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT, AMNESTY IS GRANTED FOR ALL CANNABIS, MARIHUANA, MARIJUANA, MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUND, OR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL RELATED ACTS WHICH ARE NO LONGER ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. ALL PERSONS PRESENTLY INCARCERATED IN COLORADO ONLY FOR CANNABIS, MARIHUANA, MARIJUANA, MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUND, OR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL OFFENSES WHICH ARE NO LONGER ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF COLORADO, SHALL BE RELEASED NO LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY FOLLOWING THE ELECTION WHICH ENACTS THIS AMENDMENT. INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF CANNABIS, MARIHUANA, MARIJUANA, MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUND, OR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL VIOLATIONS SHALL BE TREATED AS IF THEIR CASES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DISMISSED, AND MAY PETITION UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECORDS ACT (24-72-308 C.R.S.) TO HAVE THEIR ARREST AND CRIMINAL RECORDS INFORMATION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECORDS SEALED. SUCH PERSONS MAY TRUTHFULLY STATE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF CANNABIS, MARIHUANA, MARIJUANA, MARIHUANA CONCENTRATE, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUND, OR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL RELATED ACTS WHICH ARE NO LONGER ILLEGAL. (9) LOCAL OPTION. MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT COMMERCIAL SALES OF CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS UPON A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. THIS OPTION DOES NOT EXTEND TO CANNABIS MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, HEMP, HEMP NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS, HEMP PRODUCTS, CANNABIS PERSONAL USE, OR HEMP PERSONAL USE. (10) NOTIFICATION. UPON PASSAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ATTORNEY GENERAL AND GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO ARE INSTRUCTED TO INFORM THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OF THIS AMENDMENT'S PASSAGE AND TO URGE THE REPEAL OF THE FEDERAL PROHIBITION LAWS AGAINST HEMP AND CANNABIS AND TO ENACT FEDERAL LAWS SIMILAR TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AMENDMENT. For more info., contact: The Colorado Hemp Initiative Project P.O. Box 729 Nederland, CO 80466 (303) 784-5632 email: bhip@darkstar.cygnus.com Petitions available beginning of February. Also, donations greatly appreciated and needed! -- Boulder Hemp Initiative Project P.O. Box 729 Nederland, CO 80466 (303) 784-5632