Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is on his way out of office, leaving behind a record-setting trail of vetoed legislation, The Gazette reports. During a Tuesday bill-signing ceremony, Hickenlooper suggested would be his last, the governor passed on HB 1263, which would have added autism spectrum disorder as a qualifying condition for the state’s medical cannabis program.
Gov. Hickenlooper Vetoes Legislation To Add Autism To List of Qualifying Conditions
Adults and children with autism and their parents and caregivers held an early rally at the Colorado state capitol building on Tuesday, maintaining the vigil for the rest of the day.
Their cause was gaining support of Colorado HB 1263, which would have granted children with autism access to legal medical marijuana treatments. The bill would have also allowed adults to treat autism with cannabis, although anyone 21 or over can purchase adult-use cannabis in Colorado.
State chapter director of Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism (MAMMA) Michelle Walker said HB 1263 was about giving “hope to families who have children with autism as well as autistic adults throughout the state of Colorado,” The Gazette reports.
During their rally, the bill’s supporters implored the governor to sign the legislation into law. Ultimately, however, their efforts were not enough to convince Gov. Hickenlooper. He vetoed the bill along with three others on Tuesday, bringing his 2018 total to nine vetoes.
Bi-Partisan Support Not Enough To Turn Autism Measure Into Law
Of the 30 states (and D.C.) that have legalized medical cannabis, only 5 consider autism spectrum disorder a qualifying condition. Colorado was poised to become the sixth. But bi-partisan support for the measure was not enough to convince Gov. Hickenlooper to sign the bill.