Colorado Governor Signs Bill to Allow Those on Probation to Use Medical Cannabis
Colorado 
Governor John Hickenlooper has signed House Bill 1267 into law, allowing those on probation to use medical cannabis.
Medical cannabis has been legal in Colorado since voters approved Amendment 20 in 2000. However, the use of the medicine while on probation or parole has remained prohibited.
House Bill 1267, which takes effect immediately, changes that.
“If it’s in the constitution, you should have the right to use it on probation;” says Representative Joe Salazar (D-Thornton), the bill’s primary sponsor.
Colorado now becomes the 3rd state in the U.S. – joining Arizona and Rhode Island – that allows the medical use of cannabis for those on probation or parole. California allows those on parole to seek permission from the courts to use medical cannabis after being released from prison or jail, but the courts have the full authority to deny that request.
– TheJointBlog
Mrs. Tagg
My husband met with his probation counselor this morning and was told he would still not be able to use medical marijuana, med card or no med card-new law or no new law. He is not on probation for a weed-related crime, has chronic back pain and is extremely allergic or intolerant to pretty much every pain killer out there…we have been waiting for this law to pass and now we don’t know what to do! She also said that when he signed his probation agreement, he signed away his right to use marijuana-again-med card or no med card. I refuse to accept this and if anyone has any suggestions as to what we should do, please let me know!!!
Kelly Raisley
I am on parole and they are saying parole was never stipulated in the actual bill only probation. Any advice please on my next steps? I obtained my card on the 11th reported that I received it, used it, took UA yesterday, and this menswear today.
louie
I’m on probation for a dui and my public defender has told me that this law is only for new offenders placed after the bill was passed, it’s not proactive. But even when they went recreational the city dropped most of its petty marijuana charges on offenders in the system. This is a medical purpose and if they do such things for those offenders with out a medical reason to carry why the hell would they deny all of us! Simple answer. .. money. It doesn’t make a profit to suddenly let such a accessible offender just slip by. I have court for hot UAs and I will keep you all updated on my current situation.
Anonymous
it says on the bill it applies to people on probation ON or AFTER the effective date so your public defender told you wrong. public defenders are known for doing a half ass job because they are not paid by there clients they are paid by the state so they are kind of on the courts side.
Anonymous
That sux I’m on probation n have my red card n have been taking u.a.s for 2 years I wish there was a light at the end of this tunnle
Chrissy
The bill applies to anyone on probation at the time the governor signed the bill. I testified twice at hearings on this bill and I have a lawyer who has submitted a motion to the Boulder courts to assert my right to use MMJ. My lawyer assures me that the courts can’t deny the right to use MMJ per this new law. If they do they will be in violation of law. The only people who are not allowed MMJ on probation are people whose crime was MMJ-related. Trust me, I’ve spent hours on this subject and have total confidence in my lawyer, who is an associate of Joe Salazar, the state rep who introduced the bill.
Anonymous
Is there any way you can pass along your lawyers information.?
Michael
It bothers me there’s more about this drug that isn’t never noticed. Why put a human in a wall of concrete and steel doors. Never being released from jail, never making contact with family, losing all your rights, and being subjected to lockdown 2o hours a day, being incarcerated, is no joke. And for what a plant that eases some discomforts. And the stress on a human being, parolee’s should need it right away just to ease the stress of being in jail. These parole board members who are nothing but control freaks only add to the stressed out people in general. I say if your not breaking the law than stay away from people who your system has really really messed up.
No name
That post made me cry because this is my problem.
Anonymous
I think it’s better to allow parolees and substance abuse victims to use marijuana rather than take court ordered man made synthetic drugs.
DenCO
they have told me as well since I signed my parole agreement that this bill does not apply to me but I have read the bill & I do not have a MM crime. What should be my next steps in obtaining my red card?
Mike Crow
The probation officers are idiots and will lie thru their teeth to keep you restricted. My probation officer tells me I have to still call the drug line everyday until a judge signs off on this, bull crap, their idiots.
country
To all of everybody raise a lot of stink about parole not allowing this class action lawsuit I guess is the only way to get there attention make a website and then send to governor so those officers with super hero powers as they think can loose there jobs oh and how many probation or parole officers drink and drive or hit the green are out there keep up the fight people
David
I’m just got done with court on 10 counts in KS I’m moving to Colorado with my sister they dropped all but 2 counts @put me on 2 years PB unsupervised as long as the don’t go back to KS if they catch me back in the state then they roll me back @ I do 2 years in county you can bet your ass I’m going to get mine ounce we get established!!!!!!!!!
Maggie
Hi
Does anyone have this similar situation?
I am on probation. I live in Colorado but I was transferred to Colorado from a crime in another state. Does this bill apply to a transfer probationer?
Thanks
Johnny H
Does this law pretend to Mesa County
Anonymous
I’m looking at probation what should I do as far as signing probation papers
John Lee Quenzer
I’m going to the same thing on probation for a year for alcohol they told me probation officer no medical marijuana but they said I could do a motion to the judge and I’m waiting to hear back from the judge I am paranoid to keep smoking but I’m not going to stop until the judge tells me no is there anything I can do to help my case so I can smoke on probation