Colorado Medical Marijuana Patient Decline
For the fifth straight month in a row Colorado medical marijuana patient numbers according to the CDPHE medical marijuana registry continue to fall. June of 2011 had the highest number of patients, around 128,000 and only 5 months later that number has fallen to only 80,000. The 80,000 patients registered were back in November 2011, and with the way numbers of patients are falling, one can only assume now in January 2012 that the numbers are down even more, maybe to only 65,000 patients which means that half of medical marijuana patients in Colorado have chosen to not renew their cards.
A recent Denver Westword article speculated on the reasons for the decline in registered marijuana patients in Colorado and pointed out that the fee for medical marijuana cards dropped from $90 to $35 on January 1, 2012, so many patients may just be waiting for the price break to renew. High Country Caregiver wants to highlight some reader comments from the Westword article as to other reasons why patients wouldn’t register anymore.
One reader comment from ‘CAREGIVER’ to Denver Westword which got the most ‘likes’ says:
“I serve as a caregiver for lots of patients and am a patient myself. We all have our recommendations, from our doctors, that are up to date, but none of us are registering with the state. None of us trust that our information will end up in the hands of the DEA. I know lots of other caregivers and patents in the same situation because they all to feel the same way.
We all feel it’s much wiser to simply operate like it’s illegal, but keep our doctor’s recommendations, in writing, up to date, just in case we need it. That’s been working out fine for all of us so far!”
Other medical marijuana patients like PUBLIUS CEASAR point out the invasion of privacy on patients as a reason not to register:
“The reason I didn’t renew is because of the intrusiveness of the system. Tracking how much I buy, taking my picture, etc. I’m legal with just a doctors recommendation, why should I register?”
The CDPHE medical marijuana registry is crashing and drowning under its own weight for a variety of reasons, the chart below illustrates the demise of the CDPHE Colorado medical marijuana registry:
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