After nearly two weeks of work, a legislative committee focused on recreational marijuana implementation forwarded a single bill Wednesday to the Senate, up against the looming end of the session.
Three distinct bills went into the committee April 9. By Wednesday, only House Bill 701, by far the largest and most comprehensive, remained. Much of the committee's work revolved around amending the bill, following public comment that included a presentation by Colorado law enforcement and extensive assistance from legislative staff. It's carried by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula.
Lawmakers were hustling to get the bill out of the Senate by Friday so the Senate and House can tussle over the final version in a conference committee before the end of next week, when legislators hope to terminate the 2021 session.