Colorado Compassion Club

The Colorado Compassion Club,[1] founded in 2004, opened a storefront in 2005 and registered with the Colorado Secretary of State in 2006, making it the first medical marijuana dispensary in the state of Colorado.[2] This planted the seed in Colorado that grew into the first state to legalize recreational use by the Colorado Amendment 64 on November 6, 2012 along with the state of Washington.[3]

Founding

Founded by Thomas and Larisa Lawrence, the Colorado Compassion Club set a precedent that would lead to the legitimization of the medical marijuana industry. Established before Colorado HB-1284[4] that set forth regulations for the medical marijuana industry, the Colorado Compassion Club laid the foundation that set industry standards. Other founding members included Ken Gorman, Scott Fry and Anton Marquez. The Colorado Compassion Club first began as an organization that strived to provide safe access to medical marijuana for qualifying patients, trained caregivers and provided resources for patients and caregivers seeking to become legal under 0-4-287 - ARTICLE XVIII of the Colorado State Constitution,[5] also known as Amendment 20,[6][7] allowing the medicinal use of marijuana for qualifying conditions. The Colorado Compassion Club was the first organization that held public meetings for people to learn more about becoming registered patients and caregivers, and with the help of Ken Gorman, found doctors that were willing to sign recommendations leading to an influx of patients and caregivers.

After a raid from local and federal authorities in 2004,[8][9][10] The Colorado Compassion Club, decided the next best course of action would be to go more public in helping others [11] and began dispensing medical marijuana to chronically ill patients on a weekly basis from the Grant Avenue United Methodist Church, followed by a permanent establishment on Colfax Avenue. The founders of the Colorado Compassion Club made great sacrifices[12][13] in trailblazing the medical marijuana industry so that others could follow suit.[14] Using a strong relationship with the media, grassroots activists and local politicians, Thomas and Larisa pioneered the legitimization of medical marijuana and were also the first people in the state to get confiscated marijuana back from the police[15][16] without wasting public time or dollars. The founding members of the Colorado Compassion Club, were the “canaries in the coal mine”[17] and showed the state of Colorado that it was possible to establish a medical marijuana center without further federal intervention while working with community leaders to exemplify a model for other leaders of the medical marijuana community to follow and build upon.[18] The Colorado Compassion Club was dissolved in 2008.

See also

References
  1. Boulder Weekly, March 24, 2005 https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=16120 copy of the original (currently unavailable) Boulder Weekly text
  2. 2004: Denver residents Thomas and Larissa Lawrence open the Colorado Compassion Club, possibly the state's first marijuana dispensary - Westword http://www.westword.com/news/medical-marijuana-timeline-what-a-long-strange-trip-its-been-5825542 Denver, Friday May 28, 2010. Joel Warner, Westword.
  3. Jonsson, Patrik (December 8, 2012). "Obama's other option on pot: Legalize it for everyone?". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  4. Colorado State Legislature, Colorado State Legislature. "HOUSE BILL 10-1284" (PDF). HOUSE BILL 10-1284. Colorado State Legislature. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  5. "Colorado Constitution, Article XVIII, Section 14 – Medical use of marijuana". 0-4-287 – ARTICLE XVIII. State of Colorado. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  6. "A Guide to Drug-Related State Ballot Initiatives". National Families in Action. National Families in Action. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  7. Grogan, Fedil. "History of Colorado Medical Marijuana Laws". Sensible Colorado. Sensible Colorado. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  8. Pope, Daniel (February 22, 2006). "Mile High Medicine". Cannabis Culture. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  9. Warner, J. "PUTTING THE KIND IN KINDBUD". Weedbay. Boulder Weekly. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  10. Ari Armstrong, Ari. "DEA, Metro Drug Agency Allege Abuse of Medical Marijuana Registry". Free Colorado. Ari Armstrong. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  11. Armstrong, Ari. "Corry Addresses Medical Marijuana Meeting". Ari Armstrong. Ari Armstrong. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  12. Abbott, Karen. "Medical pot growers seek joint resolution". Karen Abbott. Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  13. Hood, Grace (2005). "Cannabis crusaders". Boulder Weekly. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  14. "Colorado: High Noon - Larimer County is at the center of the battle over medical marijuana". Hemp News. The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation. Archived from the original on April 28, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  15. Armstrong, Ari. "Denver Police Return Medical Marijuana". Free Colorado. Ari Armstrong. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  16. Cardona, Felisa (August 4, 2006). "Cops slip up on medical marijuana". Denver Post. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  17. Warner, Joel (March 28, 2005). "The Kindness of Strangers". Alter Net. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  18. Zaffos, Joshua (February 8, 2007). "Smokin' Medicine". Cannabis News. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  • A fight for human rights Discussion in 'The Drug War Headline News' started by Suetaz, Jul 6, 2004.
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