Colorado struggles to rein in medical pot market

Colorado has struggled for years to rein in medical marijuana caregivers. Now that the drug is now legal for all adults over 21, the job isn’t getting any easier.

A panel of lawmakers and regulators declined Monday to endorse a proposed bill relating to new limits on the state’s medical marijuana framework, deemed a “gray market” of untaxed commerce by some but difficult to tweak because it is enshrined in the state constitution.

The Colorado Board of Health meets next week to consider capping caregivers to 10 patients. A proposed bill would also make it harder for marijuana patients to get medical permission for more than six plants.

The “extended plant count” exception is seen as another loophole allowing a few medical marijuana patients to have large quantities.