** Richard Collins, a professor of law at the University of Colorado at Boulder Law School and the director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law, can talk about legal issues connected with two proposed bills to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado. Legal experts say if either one of the bills pass then there most likely will be a legal challenge from advocates of marijuana use. According to Collins, a challenge to state legislation would likely claim that it conflicts with the constitutional medical marijuana amendment. And with or without state legislation, the issue also involves the powers of Colorado cities and towns, he said.
Collins can be reached by calling 303-492-5493 or by e-mail at richard.collins@colorado.edu. Or contact Dirk Martin in the CU-Boulder Office of Media Relations and News Services at 303-492-6431 or dirk.martin@colorado.edu.
** Bill Woodward, former director of the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, is the director of training and technical assistance at the CU-Boulder Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. He can discuss possible unintended consequences resulting from medical marijuana legislation. He can discuss research findings showing that teenage use of marijuana is causally related to the perceived approval or disapproval of its use; that a lowering of perceived disapproval of marijuana use will increase delinquency and violence among teenagers; and that marijuana use by teens is a gateway drug for other illicit drug use and serious forms of delinquency and violence.
Woodward can be reached at 303-735-0538 (office) or 303-475-9051 (cell). His e-mail is bill.woodward@colorado.edu. Or contact Peter Caughey in the CU-Boulder Office of Media Relations and News Services at 303-492-4007 or caughey@colorado.edu.