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Medical Marijuana Registry Program Update

(as of July 31, 2009)
In the November 2000 general election, Coloradoans passed Amendment 20, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) was tasked with implementing and administering the Medical Marijuana Registry program. In March of 2001, the State of Colorado Board of Health approved the Rules and Regulations pertaining to the administration of the program, and on June 1st, 2001, the Registry began accepting and processing applications for Registry Identification cards.

Statistics of the registry include:

  • 13,102 new patient applications have been received to date since the registry began operating in June 2001. Twenty-nine (29) applications have been denied, 18 cards have been revoked, 210 patients have died, and 1,751 cards have expired, bringing the total number of patients who currently possess valid Registry ID cards to 11,094.
  • Seventy-three percent of approved applicants are male.
  • The average age of all patients is 41. Currently six patients are minors (under the age of 18).
  • Fifty-five percent of patients reside in the Denver-metro and Boulder area, with the remainder of patients found in counties throughout Colorado.
  • Patients on the Registry represent all the debilitating conditions covered under Amendment 20. Severe pain is a reported condition for 90% of all registrants; muscle spasms are the second-most reported condition at 27%.
  • Sixty-seven percent of patients have designated a primary care-giver (someone who has significant responsibility for managing the patient's care).
  • Over 800 different physicians have signed for patients in Colorado.

Please see the tables below for a complete listing of all statistical information.

As of June 14, 2004 care-givers are no longer issued cards.

As of January 25, 2008 only a portion of the patient's social security number appears on their registration card.

As of October 27, 2008 all applications, renewal and changes to the Registry must be submitted via mail and include a legible photo copy of the patient's Colorado Identification. Faxes and emails will no longer be accepted.

As of December 1, 2008 all changes to the Registry must be signed by the patient making the change in blue ink.

In addition to administering the Registry, CDPHE has been charged with accepting and reviewing petitions to add conditions to the current list of debilitating medical conditions/symptoms. To date, four petitions have been received, one for Parkinson's disease, one for Asthma, one for Anxiety and another for Bi-Polar Disorder. All petitions were subsequently denied due to lack of scientific evidence that treatment with marijuana might have a beneficial effect.

There have been three marijuana-related convictions of patients on the Registry, and no physicians have experienced federal reprisals. However, reluctance to participate due to the inconsistencies between state and federal marijuana laws has been expressed by doctors and patients alike.

No general funds have been designated for this program, and the Amendment allows CDPHE to collect fees to cover the administrative costs of administering the program. Currently the fee is $90, and is evaluated annually by CDPHE. The fee was lowered from $110 on June 1, 2007.

Numerous questions have arisen regarding interpretation of statutory language. The law does not clearly state where marijuana plants may be grown or if two or more patients and/or care-givers may share one growing space. Statutory language also places certain burdens upon local and state law enforcement officers, such as the requirement of keeping alive plants that are confiscated until a resolution is reached (i.e. a decision not to prosecute, the dismissal of charges, an acquittal, etc.)...

Table I: County Information

County Number of Patients Percent of Patients
Adams 739 7%
Alamosa 15 <1%
Arapahoe 959 9%
Archuleta 25 <1%
Baca 11 <1%
Bent 5 <1%
Boulder 1,166 11%
Broomfield 107 <1%
Chaffee 43 <1%
Cheyenne 4 <1%
Clear Creek 37 <1%
Conejos * *
Costilla 4 <1%
Crowley 13 <1%
Custer 11 <1%
Delta 85 <1%
Denver 1,518 14%
Dolores 8 <1%
Douglas 339 3%
Eagle 85 <1%
El Paso 1,157 10%
Elbert 39 <1%
Fremont 95 <1%
Garfield 105 <1%
Gilpin 55 <1%
Grand 48 <1%
Gunnison 57 <1%
Hinsdale 4 <1%
Huerfano 47 <1%
Jackson * <1%
Jefferson 1,272 11%
Kiowa * *
Kit Carson 3 <1%
La Plata 111 1%
Lake 34 <1%
Larimer 1,013 9%
Las Animas 22 <1%
Lincoln 5 <1%
Logan 15 <1%
Mesa 393 4%
Mineral * *
Moffat 17 <1%
Montezuma 31 <1%
Montrose 82 <1%
Morgan 15 <1%
Otero 50 <1%
Ouray 11 <1%
Park 91 <1%
Phillips 8 <1%
Pitkin 61 <1%
Prowers 5 <1%
Pueblo 190 2%
Rio Blanco 6 <1%
Rio Grande 8 <1%
Routt 47 <1%
Saguache 27 <1%
San Juan * *
San Miguel 20 <1%
Sedgwick 3 <1%
Summit 149 1%
Teller 122 1%
Washington 3 <1%
Weld 489 4%
Yuma 4 <1%

* Indicates fewer than three patients in each category

Table II: Conditions

Reported Condition Number of Patients Reporting Condition Percent of Patients Reporting Condition**
Cachexia 251 2%
Cancer 359 3%
Glaucoma 149 1%
HIV/AIDS 150 1%
Muscle Spasms 3,033 27%
Seizures 365 3%
Severe Pain 9,948 90%
Severe Nausea 2,506 23%

**Does not add to 100% as some patients report using medical marijuana for more than one debilitating medical condition.

Table III: User Characteristics

Sex Percent on Registry Average Age**
Male 73% 40
Female 27% 43

** The overall average age of all patients is 41 years old.