A delegation of Vermonters will leave for Colorado this weekend to visit with a variety of stakeholders in that state’s legalized marijuana program.
Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn will be accompanied by Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan; Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Darrow;
Jake Perkinson, an attorney for the Champlain Valley (medical marijuana) Dispensary; Mary Alice McKenzie, director of the Burlington Boys & Girls Club; David Mickenberg, a lobbyist fr the Marijuana Policy Project;
Bill Young, director of the Maple Leaf Farm Treatment Facility; Rutland County Sheriff Steve Benard; and Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette.
The group will meet with Gov. John Hickenlooper’s staff, law enforcement officials, visit retail outlets and marijuana producers and meet with drug treatment personnel.
“Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana, and we want to see the impacts of that law.” Flynn said in a news release. “Legalization is being discussed in Vermont and we believe that an on the ground look at how it has been implemented will give us a unique insight into the issue. It is important to learn as much as we can about the regulation, the effects on communities, and any other information that will provide policymakers with as much information as possible when considering decision points around this issue.”
Here is the group’s itinerary:
Monday
8 a.m.: Breakfast meeting with Rep. Jonathan Singer
9:30 a.m.: Meeting with Denver District Attorney’s office
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Tour of Sweet Leaf Cultivation Facility
1 p.m.: Meeting with Andrew Freedman, Governor’s Office
3 p.m.: Meeting with John Walsh, U.S. Attorney
4:30-6:30 p.m.: Reception at Prohibition – Denver Restaurant
Tuesday
8 a.m.: Meeting with Colleen Dyke and Trista Ritterbach
10 a.m.: Meeting with Professor Sam Kamin, Denver University Law Professor
11:30 a.m.: Tour of Dixie Elixirs manufacturing facility
1:45 p.m.: Meeting with Scott Martinez (Denver City Attorney) and staff
3 p.m.: Meeting with Barb Brohl (Executive Director of the Dept. of Revenue), Ron Kammerzel (Senior Director of Enforcement – Dept. of Revenue), Lewis Koksi (Executive Director of the Marijuana Enforcement Division)
4:15-5 p.m.: Tour of Denver Relief Retail Marijuana Store/Medical Marijuana Center
Wednesday
7:15 a.m.: (part of delegation) – Meeting with Art Schut, CEO of Arapahoe House (treatment facility)
7:30-9:45 a.m.: (part of delegation) – Meeting with Tom Gorman, High Intensity Drug Unit
8:00 a.m.: (part of delegation) – Meeting with Connie Rule (Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club of Colorado) and Tina Martinez (V.P. of Program Services for Metro Denver Boys & Girls Club)
10 a.m.: Meeting with attorneys Christian Sederberg, Jordan Wellington, and Andrew Livingston
