Feds concerned about Colo. marijuana law

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DENVER, April 27 (UPI) -- A U.S. prosecutor has warned Colorado officials that proposed changes to the state's medical marijuana law might conflict with federal law.

The letter from U.S. Attorney John Walsh to state Attorney General John Suthers was in response to a request for clarification on the Colorado law, The Denver Post reported Wednesday.

Walsh said he was concerned with two provisions in the bill, H.B. 1043. One, which failed to pass the Colorado House and has been dropped, would have set up a state fund to provide loans for people seeking to set up businesses supplying medical marijuana.

Another provision, which remains in the bill, allows growers to apply for waivers to expand beyond the 500 plants that are the limit in the bill.

Sen. Pat Steadman, a Denver Democrat, said the state is getting "mixed messages" from the federal government. The Obama administration has a policy of not interfering with legitimate medical marijuana businesses or users.

The bill's main purpose is to address concerns about loopholes in the current law as the number of marijuana dispensaries and users grows.