Court: Pot-grower must know patients

DENVER, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A Colorado appellate court upheld the conviction of a woman who grew marijuana at home, saying as a medical "caregiver," she must know her patients.

Stacy Clendenin of Longmont, Colo., who was charged in 2006 with cultivating marijuana, had told a trial court the marijuana she raised was distributed by marijuana dispensaries to authorized patients, The Denver Post reported Thursday.

The appellate court ruled that merely knowing that the user of marijuana is a bona fide patient is not enough. Rather, the court said, the "care-giver" must know the people who use the drug.

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers praised the decision.

"I hope the legislature will act and create a regulatory framework that gives substance to the Court of Appeals' findings," Suthers said.

State Sen. Chris Romer said that when the legislature convenes in January, he plans to introduce medical marijuana restrictions.