Protecting the Parents and the Children in Colorado

Colorado recently attempted to pass multiple Bills that would endanger the cannabis community as a whole. The first bill that attracted the public eye was a "conversation" about a bill that would limit caregivers to only being allowed to grow up to 6 plants per patient and no more than 30 per caregiver. This Bill would also require Doctors to violate the Doctor / patient confidentiality agreement by requiring the Doctor to go into full detail to the State about the patients medical conditions. Currently this Bill can not find anyone on the Senate to sponsor it, so we watch and wait.

Meanwhile, they tried to slip in two dirty Bills under our distracted noses. These two bills, 14-177 and 14-178, concern the welfare of Children.



The first bill 14-177 was created to define the definition of a "Drugged Endangered Child". The Bill contained vague wording that basically stated if a child was around anyone who had anything to do with Schedule 1 and 2 drugs, the adult would be guilty of making the "Drugged Endangered Child". This is one of about 20 interpretations of what the true meaning of the definition is.

You can find 14-177 Here: http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2014A/csl.nsf/MainBills?openFrameset

The second bill proposed was the penalties for an adult who is found guilty of "Drugged Endangered Child". This bill also had more vague wording about the definition and the possibility of multiple charges for the same crime.

You can find 14-177 Here: http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2014A/csl.nsf/MainBills?openFrameset

I was contacted on Thursday via a Facebook friend who inquired about the fact I am the Chapter Leader for Colorado & Denver Moms for Marijuana. She attached a copy of the two bills and asked my opinion not as a mom, but as a Law student. (I am half way through to receive my Associate Degree.) Upon reading both Bills, as a Law student I was appalled by the absolute vague wording of the Bill. As a parent, I became terrified.

I knew we had many groups against this, so I created an Emergency Meeting on Sunday to help coordinate all the parents and organizations together. 25+ people filled iBAKE Denver, 6 viewed via Google Hangout, while 4 other attended via Phone conference. We organized and discussed our fears. I was asked to speak about how I lost my two eldest children and why I do not have my youngest with me. I burst into tears and stated I could not speak about that.

The hearing and community discussion with the possibility of passing a vote was to be on Wednesday, April 9th. We agreed to meet out front at 11 to Rally then to fill the Senate with out faces and voices during the hearing.



Due to the wording as it sat, let's say you had your friend over for lunch before going shopping for the day. In your locked basement, you have your legal MMJ grow, which has nothing to do with your friends visit. Her Ex decides to call CPS on your friend for bringing her 13 month old baby over to your house. Your friend ends up getting harassed by CPS because she allowed her daughter to be in the same residence of a grow... because just breathing the air could put her at risk...... AND you are found guilty for Misdemeanor Child Endangerment charges.

Yes this view of what could happen may be far fetched, However, with the wording as it sat, it is a reality if people follow the letter of the law. Another example would be;


You drop your kids off at Grandma's to play. A passerby sees Grandma in a hammock with her eyes closed, possibly asleep, in the backyard while the kids play. Nosey decides Grandma is an old lady who MUST have taken too many of her pills and passed out leaving the kids to run wild.... damn old people and their pills. Nosey calls CPS to protect the children who are running wild while Grandma is passed out. When you come back to pick up the kids, you discover you and Grandma are facing Endangered Child Charges because Grandma takes a pain killer and a few other Subdual 1 & 2 prescriptions. The kids are traumatized, Grandma feels like it is all her fault, and it could have been prevented.



In reality Grandma had spent the whole day at the Zoo with the kids, and was laying in the hammock playing "monster" with the kids waiting for one to try to sneak up on her. Another far fetched scenario, yet with wording that leaves translation open, anything could happen. Let's not even mention when parents start getting turned in at NFL and MLB games. What about the fact that second hand cigarette smoke is deadly......


There was 20+ people to testify the positive side of the Bills. This took over five hours. We heard from the Police Department and CPS/DHHS. However we did not hear from people who where the general public who felt this Bill would help the community. There were 30+ people who wanted to speak against the Bills. I listened to countless stories from parents who were terrified they would loose their children. I listened to testimony from the parents of our Cannababies in Colorado who are using Cannabis Oil to heal. We had #TeamLandon, #BraveBruno, #Dhalia, & #BabyMaggie, all children who need their parents to be allowed to safely manufacture their cannabis butter and cannabis oils. I heard testimony from my own dear friends, I cried with them as they struggled to tell their stories and terror due to being targeted in the Cannabis community.

I was so happy to continuously hear the Senators themselves question the wording of the Bills also. They too where seeing the flaw in the good intentioned bill. In reality what the Bills are created to do is protect the children from dangerous drug situations, such as Meth and Crack, not Prescription pills, booze, or weed. However, as stated repeatedly, the wording was too vague, to open for multiple handles for Police and CPS to grasp. Too many unnecessary children taken from loving homes.

After 7 hours of testimony we came towards the close. I suddenly felt the undeniable need to testify. I felt my story needed to be heard. I had heard of what could happen, and how it wont, but no one had actually LOST their children to these poorly worded laws. I was the one who the worst happened to. I already experienced what they all fear.

I was called to testify. I kept it short and sweet. I had no notes, and here I was facing Colorado Senators who were giving me three minutes of their time at 8 p.m. I took a deep breath and basically said.....

"I have listened to testimony for 7 hours. I have 3 children. My two eldest where taken from me 4 years ago because Texas custody courts found out I had a Bong in my closet in Nebraska. Due to vague wording in the laws, I lost my two eldest. Out of fear of losing him too, I gave my 4 year old to my son to my mother 2 years ago. This summer I want to bring him home where he belongs, with me. I can't talk about my kids because all I do is cry. I work 16 hour shifts in order not to think about my lost family. I can not fix my family. We are broken and there is nothing to be done about it.



In Law school I was taught that when you draft a Law, it must be clear to the common man. I have seen 50+ testimonies in here of different ways that the law was read. This is not acceptable. I understand that we desperately need laws to protect children. I was raised by a Mother who has Multiple Personality Disorder, now known as D.I.D. Due to the constant oversight and mandated counseling, my mother was able to raise me, her daughter. I am thankful there were organizations that were in place to make sure I was safe.

However, currently, I am a Caregiver for a Stage 4 Cancer Patient. I do NOT have a MMJ card because I will NOT give up mu Constitutional right to have a concealed weapon. Law School taught me to NEVER give up a Constitutional right. I have an Ex-Husband who is very violent, and I need to be able to defend myself. With the way these Bills are worded, If I bring my son home in 2 months, I am guilty of a charge of "Drugged Endangered Child." Am I supposed to stop caring for my Cancer patients life, or put my son in danger? I understand that we need to protect the children, But we do not need to pass more laws with vague wording that will allow what happened to my family happen to others. When you draft up these Bills, please remember vague wording ruins lives."

I was the last to testify. The Senators decided that they needed to Amend the Bills to have clear wording
They removed wording that allows multiple charges and they placed a section in the bill that states:

"NOTHING IN THIS PART 4 SHALL PROHIBIT THE USE, POSSESSION, CULTIVATION, DISTRABUTION, OR MANUFACTURE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE THAT IS PERMITTED BY COLORADO LAW AND THAT IS USED, POSSESED, CULTIVATED, DISTRIBUTED, OR MANUFACTURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH COLORADO LAW, IN A SITUATION THAT DOES NOT POSE A THREAT OF INJURY TO A CHILD'S LIFE OR HEALTH.".



They will be signing the Bill on Monday. I will be there, to look them in the eyes as they vote, and to Thank them for listening to the public. I was so scared all I would do is cry, but I found my voice and was able to stand up for my children for the first time in four years. In a small way, I reclaimed control of what happens to my children.



IN TWO MONTHS I AM BRINGING MY SON HOME TO COLORADO!!!!