Latest news with #WheatRidge
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Colorado can still lead on harm reduction. First we need to fix this new law.
A laptop displays the website of an online kratom retailer. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Imagine you're a veteran in Wheat Ridge, or a single mom in Lamar living with chronic pain. You've finally found something that works: a legal, plant-based supplement that helps you stay off opioids. But then, just as things start to stabilize, the state passes a law that could complicate how you access it. That's what just happened to thousands of Coloradans. On Thursday, Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 25-72 into law. We appreciate his commitment to public safety and consumer protection. But this law makes things more confusing, not safer. For the people who rely on kratom-derived products to manage pain or recover from addiction, it's a major step backward. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I've worked in public policy for over 20 years, and I represent the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART), a nonprofit advocating for science-based kratom regulation (to be clear, we don't sell or profit from these products). We've been trying to get rules in place that protect consumers and reflect real-world use for years. This bill doesn't get us closer to that goal. Kratom is a plant-based supplement long used in Southeast Asia and now increasingly used here in Colorado. One of its natural compounds, 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, is found in products that patients say have helped them avoid returning to painkillers or heroin. Especially in rural and low-income areas, where access to traditional treatment can be limited, these products can mean the difference between stability and relapse. In 2022, Colorado's own state feasibility study laid out a clear, science-backed path for regulating these products. It advocated setting dosage limits, requiring testing and labeling, and establishing strong oversight. But SB-72 doesn't follow that roadmap. It was rushed through in the final days of the legislative session and now leaves Colorado with a fragmented and unclear system. Safe products could be sidelined while dangerous ones remain on shelves. Consider the facts: Claim: The bill bans unsafe high-potency products. Reality: It doesn't. The most dangerous products — high-mitragynine shots and kratom/kava blends — are still on shelves. Meanwhile, safer products made by responsible companies are pushed out. Claim: It regulates 7-OH. Reality: The law sets a 2% cap on 7-OH but excludes anything above that threshold from regulation altogether. That leaves patients, businesses, and law enforcement in regulatory limbo. Claim: It adds safety and labeling rules. Reality: The bill makes only minor changes for kratom and none for 7-OH, even though that's often the compound patients rely on most. There's also been public discussion tying this bill to the tragic death of Daniel Bregger. We deeply respect his family and their advocacy. But the facts matter: At the time, 7-OH products were not commercially available. Using that tragedy to justify this law distracts from the real dangers SB-72 fails to address. The law now excludes many 7-OH products from the definition of a 'kratom product,' but offers no clarity on how they should be regulated. 7-OH remains legal in Colorado, but SB-72 creates confusion instead of guidance. That helps bad actors more than consumers. Retailers don't know what they can sell, patients don't know what they can trust, and law enforcement doesn't know what to enforce. We want regulation. In fact, the brands we work with already follow many of the rules this bill should have required, such as limiting dosage based on science, testing products, and labeling ingredients. These are basic protections. But SB-72 doesn't ensure they're followed by everyone. It's a major missed opportunity. Colorado has built a national reputation for bold, evidence-based leadership on cannabis, psychedelics, and public health. SB-72 doesn't live up to that legacy. But it's not too late. Let's come back to the table, this time with patients in the room. We can still build a framework that's clear, fair and focused on safety. Colorado can still lead. We just have to choose to. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New owner and future of Lutheran legacy campus unveiled in Colorado
For decades, a 100 acre property in the center of Wheat Ridge operated as a medical campus. Now the former Lutheran hospital property is changing. "We want to get going just as quickly as we can," Chris Elliott Principal of E5X said. On Tuesday, Intermountain Health announced that E5X, a Colorado based developer, would be taking over as the new owner. At an event unveiling the future of the site, Elliott shared some personal history about his connection to the site. "A couple of stories of my own: I let an abdominal pain go for too long and I spent three weeks in this hospital and had my appendix out. My mother worked here for 20 years. So, there's a deep personal connection here," he said. That's part of the reason Chad Moynahan, real estate Director for IMH, said they stood out among other interested buyers. "After thoroughly evaluating 10 distinct proposals, we finalized terms and conditions and are under a contract to sell the property to E5X," Moynahan said. "This ensures that redevelopment will be handled by a team dedicated to the community's well-being." E5X The development design will be in line with the city's master plan. Low density housing will fill the outer edge while higher density and taller buildings will be in the center, up to the five-story maximum approved by voters. Lauren Mikulak, Community Development Director for the City of Wheat Ridge, says it's the next chapter for the community. "It's essentially a new neighborhood. 100 acres is essentially 12 city blocks. It's not just new homes. It's new sidewalks, it's new bike lanes, new parks," she said. Included in the master plan are requirements for green space and preservation of two historic buildings on the property: the blue house and the chapel. Elliott says they are working on how best to incorporate the old with the new. "Do you have any ideas yet.?" CBS Colorado Reporter Karen Morfitt asked. "We have a couple of parties interested in doing a restaurant in here and then we've talked to others that maybe will build an event space. The library district. ... we've talked to a lot of people who could make use of it and preserve the integrity of the space," he said. For everyone, including Elliott, the hope is a future that will last for the next 100 years. "We want something that stands the test of time," he said. Moynahan says they are still in the closing process, and both IMH and E5X declined to discuss the sale price of the property.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- The Sun
I thought watching my 4-year-old cry through chemo was the darkest moment of my life – then a phone call broke my heart
A MUM whose daughter is undergoing chemotherapy has faced another devastating tragedy after suddenly losing her husband in a crash. At 7:50am on 30 April, a car struck 25-year-old Brian Licon while he was riding his motorcycle on his way to work. 4 4 Brian was rushed to Denver Health Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead. The Wheat Ridge Police Department confirmed that no arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing. Brian's four-year-old daughter, Analicia, is in remission for leukaemia but continues treatment to ensure no cancer cells remain. Her mum, Rebecca Herrera, 22, is now grappling with how to support her daughter's mental health while also managing the costs of ongoing treatment. Rebecca, a full-time mum from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, said: "Brian was nice to everyone, he helped anyone he could. He was a hard-working man and went to work every day to provide for his kids." "Part of the reason we launched the GoFundMe is to help us with the treatment costs. Analicia is in remission, but my biggest worry right now is her mental health going through chemotherapy without her dad." Rebecca shared how difficult it has been for Analicia to adjust to life without her father. "We have been staying at my mother-in-law's house. I tried to go home, and she was screaming and crying, saying it was making her sad. Tragic Ferrari Crash: British Couple Die in Spanish Rally Horror "She is four, she doesn't understand, but I know she can tell it is different and he is not here." Brian was on his way to work when the crash occurred at the intersection of Sheridan Boulevard and West 32nd Avenue. Police confirmed that the driver of the other vehicle remained at the scene. Rebecca received a call around 9:30am informing her that Brian had been in a motorcycle accident and was at the hospital. She said: "The hospital called to say I needed to rush over there. They told me Brian had been in a motorcycle accident, and he was in critical condition. "But by the time I got there, he had passed. "I was able to see him. I was in disbelief, complete shock. I couldn't believe it, I still can't believe he is gone." When Rebecca returned home, she had to break the heartbreaking news to her two daughters, Analicia, four, and Athena, 11 months, that their father had passed away. 4 4 Rebecca said: "Brian was working hard to support his family while Analicia battled cancer after her diagnosis in December 2023. "I spoke to my daughter, but her only being four, I don't think she understands. "Brian was the most amazing dad, he loved his kids. He fought for his kids, he did anything they asked – they were his babies." In the wake of Brian's tragic death, Rebecca has started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and support her family's living costs. "I loved everything about him," Rebecca said. "We had been together since high school. "He was so funny, I loved the way he loved me. I don't think I will ever find anyone who loves me like he loves me." Where to get support for bereavement There is lots of help and available if you are experiencing grief after the death of a loved one. NHS therapy and counselling service s - NHS talking therapies services are for people in England aged 18 or over. You can speak to your GP about talking therapies or get in touch with the talking therapies service directly without going to your GP. At a loss - Find bereavement services and counselling across the UK Child Bereavement UK - Offers support if you are bereaved after losing a child. Or if you're a child or young person who is grieving after losing someone. The Good Grief Trust – a charity run by bereaved people, helping all those experiencing grief in the UK. Samaritans – if you're struggling you can call Samaritans any time on 116 123 to talk about anything.
