In Medical Marijuana Regulation Debate, Cooler Heads Prevail

Survey Results Show 88% of Coloradans Support Medical Marijuana Regulation

While interpretations of the results vary, a broad spectrum of likely Colorado voters support some form of regulation for medical marijuana dispensaries.

In a survey of 500 likely Colorado voters, nearly 88% responded "yes" or "strong yes" when asked whether they would support a hypothetical three-part regulation scheme for Colorado medical marijuana dispensaries. According to Matt Brown, the executive director for Coloradoans for Responsible Medical Marijuana Regulation, a trade group of dispensaries and growers that helped sponsor the poll, the results indicate "vast public support for responsible regulated medical marijuana."

Poll respondents were given a hypothetical ballot initiative that included three parts: licensing for MM dispensaries, allowing communities to zone and limit the location and number of dispensaries, and limits to the amount of marijuana patients may purchase at any one time. In total, 66% of respondents answered yes when asked if they would support such a proposal and 34% answered with a strong yes. Support was highest among whites under 35 in the Denver area, but was widespread throughout the state among Republicans, Democrats, and independents, alike.

While the true meaning of the poll results has come under scrutiny; experts differ on whether the numbers indicate broad support for medical marijuana dispensaries generally, or support for the discrete issue of medical marijuana dispensary regulation. Still, the timing of the poll is serendipitous for the medical marijuana industry. State legislators are privately putting together proposals for regulation to be taken up in the next session of the General Assembly, scheduled to convene in January. Broad support for some form of regulation will incentivize the legislature to take action.

Pain Management of Colorado, along with other dispensaries, are looking forward to working with the General Assembly to forge a sensible medical marijuana regulation scheme that addresses both the concerns of the public and those of our patients. In principle, we do not object to regulation, even if that includes some form of zoning, provided that we are able to reach a compromise acceptable to all parties.