OIL AND GAS HEALTH RISK STUDY
Denver—For the most part, people have nothing to worry about when it comes to health issues related to oil and gas drilling. That’s the gist of a report from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment which recently completed several studies at drilling sites on the Western Slope and the front range. Department spokesman Mike Van Dyke admits however that more studies are needed. He says they looked at more than 10,000 air measurements between 2008 and 2015 in two active drilling areas and didn’t find any health problems. In addition, researchers looked at a dozen studies between 2013 and this year in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Australia dealing with potential human health issues related to living near drilling sites. Van Dyke says the only conclusion is that no health problems have been found…so far.
MARIJUANA CLUBS DEBATED BY COLORADO SENATE COMMITTEE
Denver—Federal laws and police objections be damned, Colorado lawmakers are forging ahead with plans to make it easier and more convenient to light up a joint in public. The Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee approved a handful of bills dealing specifically with marijuana clubs. One of the five measures, Senate Bill 63, creates a marijuana consumption club license. Republican Committee Chairman Tim Neville says it makes sense to him, since current state law neither bans nor permits pot clubs for medicinal or recreational smoking. The Colorado law enforcement community is by and large against the bills. Greenwood Village Police Chief John Jackson says the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) believes it’s been difficult enough for law enforcement to deal with since recreational weed was legalized by voters in 2012. In addition, Jackson says the laws are still in violation of federal banking regulations. Last night’s committee approvals were the first hurdle. If passed by the legislature, Colorado would be the first state in the nation to allow marijuana clubs.
