Colorado Med Growers, Unite

MLK Marade. Got my vapor genie.

Take it easy Don't let the sound from ...

MileHIGHclub101 said:

ahhh geeezzzz guyssssss.....i know its 2:30 in the morning and i know im getting a little stoned to go back to bed but man oh man guys I know we are all on the same relative page here that's the whole reason we are on here...we're not one against another...we are the few against the system...or for the system which ever way you look at it ( i told you im stoned) but the general point is. There are a lot of people out there whom aren't entirely informed and it is the jobs of those who are to let it be known the truths of things. Lets us not get bent out of shape when someone really is in need of the truth...do you hear that...wait...Why Can't We Be Friends Why Can't WE be Friends Why Can't Wee Bee friends...

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DannyGreenEyes said:

I agree. I've been saying since I got into this a few months ago that legal growers should pony up 10% of their net earnings so we can put together a union and get a lobyist speaking for us in DC.

But with growers pointing their fingers at other growers who are paying attention to the laws, and blaming them for the heat coming from the same place it's always come from, it doesn't seem very likely.

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Exactly, there needs to be more of an alliance with the growers.
Regulations that are not inline with current society can be changed.

Remember that a harvest begins and ends with a grower. Play fair with the growers!

For those of you saying there is no such thing as a growers license, as far as i can tell you are correct. However, this wasn't about a license to grow marijuana, it's about having a license to conduct business in Colorado (any type of business). All I have been trying to point out is that if you are growing commercially you need to have a business license to legally sell your products (regardless of what those products are). Since it doesn't seem that the MMJ industry is actually being regulated yet all that means is going down and filling out a business license application and paying the fee. You will then be issued a retail/wholesale sales license and a tax ID number, and can legally conduct business.

Whether you want to believe me or not having a business license is a basic requirement to have any sort of retail or wholesale business operating in this state. It doesn't matter if you're growing MMJ, selling hot dogs, or own a corporation, you have to have a basic business license before you can open your doors and start selling anything. Thing is, that business license comes with benefits because it now means you can buy from other businesses at wholesale prices, and most of what you buy will be non taxable for sales tax purposes. It also means that you can start using business accounting methods and can write off all of your legitimate business expenses from the profits before you figure out how much tax you owe. Frankly, getting the business license is what takes you from being a black marketeer to being a legitimate business person.

Btw, to clear up a misconception- I'm NOT calling for more regulation of MMJ. What I'm calling for is the people who are involved in the business to stop playing by the black market rules they are used to and learn the legitimate business rules that they are going to have to abide by. Things like keeping accurate sales records, having insurance on your crop/equipment, paying all the various license and registration junk for the state and cities, filing monthly sales tax returns, paying social security and medicare taxes as an employer, etc. Sure, some of the people reading this already know about that stuff, but the more I talk to people in the local MMJ community the more I'm finding that there are a lot of people that want to grow commercially (and are planning on it), but that don't have a clue when asked about what they'll need to do to set it up as a business. Me, I don't want to grow commercially. I just want to help the people that do out by reminding them that they need to be thinking about and looking into these things so that the government isn't able to shut them down on a technicality or use the lack of adherence to the business laws to further regulate things.

EdGreyfox said:

For those of you saying there is no such thing as a growers license, as far as i can tell you are correct. However, this wasn't about a license to grow marijuana, it's about having a license to conduct business in Colorado (any type of business). All I have been trying to point out is that if you are growing commercially you need to have a business license to legally sell your products (regardless of what those products are). Since it doesn't seem that the MMJ industry is actually being regulated yet all that means is going down and filling out a business license application and paying the fee. You will then be issued a retail/wholesale sales license and a tax ID number, and can legally conduct business.

Whether you want to believe me or not having a business license is a basic requirement to have any sort of retail or wholesale business operating in this state. It doesn't matter if you're growing MMJ, selling hot dogs, or own a corporation, you have to have a basic business license before you can open your doors and start selling anything. Thing is, that business license comes with benefits because it now means you can buy from other businesses at wholesale prices, and most of what you buy will be non taxable for sales tax purposes. It also means that you can start using business accounting methods and can write off all of your legitimate business expenses from the profits before you figure out how much tax you owe. Frankly, getting the business license is what takes you from being a black marketeer to being a legitimate business person.

Btw, to clear up a misconception- I'm NOT calling for more regulation of MMJ. What I'm calling for is the people who are involved in the business to stop playing by the black market rules they are used to and learn the legitimate business rules that they are going to have to abide by. Things like keeping accurate sales records, having insurance on your crop/equipment, paying all the various license and registration junk for the state and cities, filing monthly sales tax returns, paying social security and medicare taxes as an employer, etc.

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Yep what he said. Its takes no time at all to set up an LLC (financial purposes) and get a state business license (online). Then apply for a federal tax ID number (online). Then you can sell your extra meds to a dispensary and pay back your grow costs. Also you take take the costs of your grow equipment, clones, ferts, and even electricity off as a business expense. I have talked to the owners of two dispensaries and they are suppose to be 1099 people that vend to them if the transaction is over $500. So my advice to you is if you plan on vending to a dispensary then cover your basis and get your business license and tax numbers. I know its strange for this group to play by the real world rules after we have been conditioned by the govt. all of these years. But remember tax evasion is how they got Al Copone and I for one aint going out like that. Grow by the rules and dont mess with not paying your taxes and you should be able to do this without fear anymore.
mcrider

EdGreyfox said:

For those of you saying there is no such thing as a growers license, as far as i can tell you are correct. However, this wasn't about a license to grow marijuana, it's about having a license to conduct business in Colorado (any type of business). All I have been trying to point out is that if you are growing commercially you need to have a business license to legally sell your products (regardless of what those products are). Since it doesn't seem that the MMJ industry is actually being regulated yet all that means is going down and filling out a business license application and paying the fee. You will then be issued a retail/wholesale sales license and a tax ID number, and can legally conduct business.

Whether you want to believe me or not having a business license is a basic requirement to have any sort of retail or wholesale business operating in this state. It doesn't matter if you're growing MMJ, selling hot dogs, or own a corporation, you have to have a basic business license before you can open your doors and start selling anything. Thing is, that business license comes with benefits because it now means you can buy from other businesses at wholesale prices, and most of what you buy will be non taxable for sales tax purposes. It also means that you can start using business accounting methods and can write off all of your legitimate business expenses from the profits before you figure out how much tax you owe. Frankly, getting the business license is what takes you from being a black marketeer to being a legitimate business person.

Btw, to clear up a misconception- I'm NOT calling for more regulation of MMJ. What I'm calling for is the people who are involved in the business to stop playing by the black market rules they are used to and learn the legitimate business rules that they are going to have to abide by. Things like keeping accurate sales records, having insurance on your crop/equipment, paying all the various license and registration junk for the state and cities, filing monthly sales tax returns, paying social security and medicare taxes as an employer, etc. Sure, some of the people reading this already know about that stuff, but the more I talk to people in the local MMJ community the more I'm finding that there are a lot of people that want to grow commercially (and are planning on it), but that don't have a clue when asked about what they'll need to do to set it up as a business. Me, I don't want to grow commercially. I just want to help the people that do out by reminding them that they need to be thinking about and looking into these things so that the government isn't able to shut them down on a technicality or use the lack of adherence to the business laws to further regulate things.

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You've obviously never applied for a business license. When you apply, if you say "give me a business license" they will reply "what type of business are you starting?". You can't just get a general business license, who ever told you that is misinformed.

If you sell hot dogs, you have to get a vendors license. If you are a retailer, then you have to get a retailers license. If you're an importer, then you need an importer's license. If you want a coproration, then you have to file papers of incorporation which doesn't go through the same office. If you wan to grow & sell MJ, then you need a MMJ license just like if you want to buy & use MMJ, and that again is through a different office. There is no occupational license for this, and nothing even close to anything that resembles one.

You have to pay income taxes to remain legal, which includes social security. You can do this quarterly, and that's all you have to do to remain legal. That's all that's required by law.

If you hire employees the rules change, and to be honest I don't think it's legal to hire employees since business licenses aren't available. I'd have to look into it to know for sure.

The only law that most growers are breaking is the 2oz law. It's very hard to grow and not break that law from time to time.

And MJ is not covered under any agricultural license. Hemp is, but for that license you have to grow Hemp which is a form of MJ that has very low to no THC levels. And that only became legal in the last 20 years or so, so before that there wasn't even a license for that.

Sorry if I was abrupt the other night, I was tired and in a bad mood. When I read you saying that there were a lot of growers breaking laws and bringing down heat on all our heads, it urked me.

If you want to grow, this is the way it is......

The MMJ license gives you the right to grow 6 plants.
You can get that increased with a Dr's referral that may or may not hold up in a court of law.
Everyone who signs you up as their caregiver give you the right to grow 6 more plants.
You can sell to MMJ license holders or to dispensories.
You have to keep track of profits & expenses and file a sole proprietors tax form (can't remember the number) quarterly.

That's about it. Other than that, every time you have more than 2oz you are breaking the law. And the cops can arrest you when ever they want and take all your stuff which you aren't likely to ever see again. But most of the arrests never go to trial.

That reminds me of another contradiction. It says that if the cops take your plants and don't take care of the plants until trial, then you can sue them for about $5k per plant. But it's against the law for the cops to water your plants or take care of them. And I don't think anyone has successfully sued them for the loss of their plants yet, and possibly never will.

The laws don't really make sense, and are far from complete, but this is what we're all dealing with. Like it or not.

mcrider said:

Yep what he said. Its takes no time at all to set up an LLC (financial purposes) and get a state business license (online). Then apply for a federal tax ID number (online). Then you can sell your extra meds to a dispensary and pay back your grow costs. Also you take take the costs of your grow equipment, clones, ferts, and even electricity off as a business expense. I have talked to the owners of two dispensaries and they are suppose to be 1099 people that vend to them if the transaction is over $500. So my advice to you is if you plan on vending to a dispensary then cover your basis and get your business license and tax numbers. I know its strange for this group to play by the real world rules after we have been conditioned by the govt. all of these years. But remember tax evasion is how they got Al Copone and I for one aint going out like that. Grow by the rules and dont mess with not paying your taxes and you should be able to do this without fear anymore.
mcrider

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LLC stands for Limited Liability Corporation. You can file corporation papers for any business, even if you want to sell blood to mesquitos. It doesn't matter what type of business, even if it's fictional. But there is no business license for growers. You can get one if you want to open a dispensory, but that's it.

The rules that apply to growers are the same that apply to every other small business or sole proprietor. Get you license if one exists, get a ficticious name registration is you have a business name that's different than your own name, and use your SS# as you tax id #. File your taxes quaterly and that's it. Just ask your local SS office for a sole proprietor tax form.

I'll let you know if anything changes, but for now that's the long & short of it.

DannyGreenEyes said:

LLC stands for Limited Liability Corporation. You can file corporation papers for any business, even if you want to sell blood to mesquitos. It doesn't matter what type of business, even if it's fictional. But there is no business license for growers. You can get one if you want to open a dispensory, but that's it.

The rules that apply to growers are the same that apply to every other small business or sole proprietor. Get you license if one exists, get a ficticious name registration is you have a business name that's different than your own name, and use your SS# as you tax id #. File your taxes quaterly and that's it. Just ask your local SS office for a sole proprietor tax form.

I'll let you know if anything changes, but for now that's the long & short of it.

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It is good to have a business checking acct in the company name.
I don't know about a specific growers license. I don't understand why you would need to pinpoint it that much.
In a sense, you are selling contract services; growing for customers. You can also retail your product, needing the sales tax licenses.

Why not -" Joe Blow Contract Growers Service & Supply Company"?

I'm learning a lot. Thanks

Arvada said:

It is good to have a business checking acct in the company name.
I don't know about a specific growers license. I don't understand why you would need to pinpoint it that much.
In a sense, you are selling contract services; growing for customers. You can also retail your product, needing the sales tax licenses.

Why not -" Joe Blow Contract Growers Service & Supply Company"?

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To open a business with a name different than your own you have to do a ficticious name registration, and you need a business license to do that. In FL ficticious name registrations go through sunbiz.org, in NY it's done the same time you get a business license at the same office. I'm not sure about CO.

Without a business license & ficticious name registration you can't get a business checking acct.

Hopefully some day they'll have an occupational license for growers that outlines the things you can & can't do. But for now we're all just flying by the seat of our pants.

Danny the police have been successfully sued by growers for damaged property (plants). Here is one of the many articles about it, the city is refusing to pay

I'm pretty sure that they got paid because they ended up opening the first dispensary in Fort Collins.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS - The city of Fort Collins has refused to pay a couple's claim for more than $200,000 for letting their marijuana plants die after they were seized in a medical marijuana case.

Police confiscated 39 plants from Jim and Lisa Masters in August 2006, but they were returned after a judge ruled the couple qualified as medical marijuana growers, even though they had not completed the required paperwork.

The pair say their plants were dead, dry and in some cases moldy when they got them back in December 2007, so they filed a claim with the city.

Police say they weren't required to keep them alive because the couple didn't have permits.

The couple's attorney, Brian Vicente, said Thursday they will probably file a civil suit in state court in hopes of forcing the city to pay.

NewGrowth said:

Danny the police have been successfully sued by growers for damaged property (plants). Here is one of the many articles about it, the city is refusing to pay

I'm pretty sure that they got paid because they ended up opening the first dispensary in Fort Collins.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS - The city of Fort Collins has refused to pay a couple's claim for more than $200,000 for letting their marijuana plants die after they were seized in a medical marijuana case.

Police confiscated 39 plants from Jim and Lisa Masters in August 2006, but they were returned after a judge ruled the couple qualified as medical marijuana growers, even though they had not completed the required paperwork.

The pair say their plants were dead, dry and in some cases moldy when they got them back in December 2007, so they filed a claim with the city.

Police say they weren't required to keep them alive because the couple didn't have permits.

The couple's attorney, Brian Vicente, said Thursday they will probably file a civil suit in state court in hopes of forcing the city to pay.

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If they sued & won, that would be great. It would be the first one I heard of, and it would make me feel a lot better.

But that articles says they'll probably file a civil suit. It doesn't say if they ever filed or what happened to their claim.

If you're saying that you know them and they won & opened a dispensory, again that would be cool. I hope they did sue & they did win. But I've read many articles in the Denver paper about people getting their stuff taken and never getting it back. And not being compensated in any way, nor were they ever brought to trial.

If you know of an article about them filing suit and winning, post the link. I'd love to read it.

But I really brought that up to point out a contradiction in the law. One law saying that the cops have to take care of your plants. And anohter law saying that cops can't care for plants. That's just one of a few contradictions that I know of, and I'm sure there are many more that I don't know of.

Anyway, I'm tired of arguing. If anyone knows of a license for growers then post info on it. If anyone has info on the laws, post that too. Other than that, stop complaining about those who don't get a license to grow. I have too many other things to do than to argue about something that doesn't exist.

DannyGreenEyes said:

Anyway, I'm tired of arguing. If anyone knows of a license for growers then post info on it. If anyone has info on the laws, post that too. Other than that, stop complaining about those who don't get a license to grow. I have too many other things to do than to argue about something that doesn't exist.

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They did win Danny, like I said there are TONS of articles on them I just copied the first one I found.

DannyGreenEyes said:

Anyway, I'm tired of arguing. If anyone knows of a license for growers then post info on it. If anyone has info on the laws, post that too. Other than that, stop complaining about those who don't get a license to grow. I have too many other things to do than to argue about something that doesn't exist.

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Come on Dan now your taking the fun out of it...we could argue about where all those cookies that the cookie monsters eats actually goes...or the name of that creature that lives up your nose to bite your fingers off if you put it up there too far...or perhaps if frosty the snow man truly could end up in your ice water someday. All things that could be fun to argue but not all that real. Are you really willing to get rid of all of these fun topics...

I've got a question for all you in CO. If I'am a legal mmj user in CO and I choose to grow my own medicine with the legal # of plants I may grow for myself, can I then legally sell any surplus meds that I may grow to either a dispensary or another legal patient? Thanks for the help.

Yes and Yes.

MileHIGHclub101 said:

Come on Dan now your taking the fun out of it...we could argue about where all those cookies that the cookie monsters eats actually goes...or the name of that creature that lives up your nose to bite your fingers off if you put it up there too far...or perhaps if frosty the snow man truly could end up in your ice water someday. All things that could be fun to argue but not all that real. Are you really willing to get rid of all of these fun topics...

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Everything else you mentioned is fun to argue about. lol

greentree85 said:

I've got a question for all you in CO. If I'am a legal mmj user in CO and I choose to grow my own medicine with the legal # of plants I may grow for myself, can I then legally sell any surplus meds that I may grow to either a dispensary or another legal patient? Thanks for the help.

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That's about the size of it. But if you don't file taxes as a sole proprietor quaterly and pay your taxes, then you're breaking the law.

And if you have more than 2oz of meds at a time, you're also breaking the law. That's the only one that's hard not to break. lol

That's pretty much what I figured. Just out of curiousity, are there any known cases of peoples houses being randomly chosen to make sure they are'nt over their allotted # of plants? Can't imaginve they would want to mess with someone only legally growing for themselves. Also, I ran across a co-op in morrison posting on craigslist. It is called greenlightdenver.com, anybody know anything of them and how their "program" works? Thanks in advance.