Bente Birkeland

Medicinal pot brownies, candies, and other infused products are here to stay in Colorado. A Republican lawmaker introduced a bill to ban medical marijuana centers from selling infused products. But after facing opposition from the medical marijuana industry and lawmakers, including some members of her own party, she is significantly changing the measure.

State lawmakers have given initial approval to a bill that would allow Coloradoans to carry concealed handguns without a permit. The Republican-controlled state house gave the bill the nod Tuesday, despite loud opposition from state law enforcement officers and Democrats. 

In Colorado, a person who wants to carry a concealed handgun must go through two steps, including passing a criminal background check to buy one, followed by getting a permit from a county sheriff to carry one.
concealed.

House bill 1205 would make this second step optional.

Leaders in the Democratic controlled Senate say it’s proving difficult to find millions of dollars in savings to help backfill proposed cuts to K through 12 schools. Senate President Brandon Schaffer wants to restore about half of the education funding cuts and has asked committee chairs to find additional savings.

Colorado is approaching the midpoint of its legislative session, and Republicans in control of the House are flexing their newfound majority and moving forward a few controversial bills through that chamber. This comes after weeks of signature bills being quietly killed by their own sponsors.

The State Senate could take up a bill as early as Friday that aims to give the public more information about security scanners, including the new full body scanners at many airports like Denver International Airport.