Marijuana Loophole

Colorado plans to crack down on medical marijuana patients and medical pot growers with permission for more than six plants.  The head of the state Health Department says those so-called "high volume" patients and their designated caregivers show physician justification for "medical necessity" waivers.  Colorado is considering a crackdown on medical marijuana patients and growers now that the drug is legal for everyone over 21.

School Discipline Study

Fewer Colorado students are being expelled in the wake of statewide reforms, according to a new study.  Activists say this raises Colorado's voice in a growing nationwide debate over whether discipline measures are setting students — particularly those from minority communities — on a path to prison and failure.  The study analyzed data for 2012-13, the first full school year since the adoption of Colorado's 2012 Smart School Discipline law.  It found an overall 25% drop from the previous year in expulsion rates, but also that black students were almost four times as likely to be suspended, expelled or referred to law enforcement authorities as white students.

Statehouse Budget

The State House today passed and sent to the Senate a $23 billion budget that increases funding to schools, colleges, and the state's savings for a rainy day.  The budget received unanimous support from Democrats, but it was decried by most Republicans.  Only the Republican member of the budget-writing Joint Budget Committee voted in favor of the spending plan.  The budget adds $100 million to colleges for financial aid and to limit tuition increases.  Per-student spending at public schools is also increasing to keep up with inflation and enrollment growth.  Meanwhile, the state's budget reserves are being increased from 5 to 6.5%. 

Wildlife Bill Killed

The Legislature's shelved a bill to lower wildfire risks.   The bill would have strengthened the ability of county governments to ban agricultural burning and fireworks when winds are high. The proposal was suggested by a committee of lawmakers that studied ways to reduce wildfire risk.  The bill was awaiting a vote in the Senate, but senators used a legislative maneuver today to shelve it.  A Senate committee removed the fireworks provision in the bill, and then farmers complained that the ag-burning provision wasn't needed.