State Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Denver, agrees with most legislators that the budget will be the 800-pound gorilla in the room that dominates this session of the Colorado General Assembly.

“The latest financial report indicates that we, in the Legislature, faces the challenging task of overcoming a severe shortfall of about $2 billion in order to balance the budget,” the District 3 state representative said. “It is a severe problem and probably the first question asked about every issue presented for consideration will deal with cost and how to pay for it.”

While this is an election year, he said he feels members of both parties will be working together to deal with the financial issue.

Medical marijuana is another major issue facing the Legislature, Kagan said.

“I know there are a lot of people who are dissatisfied with what has happened concerning medical marijuana,” he said. “People told me this wasn’t what they envisioned when they voted for the constitutional amendment that legalized medical marijuana that passed in 2000.”

He said the way the medical marijuana issue has developed is a serious problem.

“I believe people voted to make it easier for people who truly needed marijuana for pain management to have access to it,” he said. “But now all the dispensaries have opened. I know there are several in my district and many people aren’t pleased about that.”

He said he thinks everyone agrees the people who need marijuana for medical use should have easy access to it. But he said, if dispensaries are the way to go, they need to be regulated so they aren’t dominated by unlawful elements. He said the dispensaries should also be more low key so there isn’t the blatant advertising on the store fronts.

As he prepares for the upcoming season, Kagan said one bill he plans to co-sponsor is aimed at creating transparency in the true costs of medical care.

He said now it is difficult to determine the exact costs of tests or what tests your doctor ordered.

“There is a lot of discussion at the state and national level about controlling the continuing rise in health care costs,” he said. “I feel there is no way to get that control until there is complete knowledge of all aspects of the costs. Knowledge is essential when seeking to control costs.”

This is the first full legislative session for Kagan, who was appointed by the Democratic Party to fill the vacancy created when former State Rep. Anne McGihon, D-Denver, resigned. When he was sworn in, he announced he planned to run for a full term in the House of Representatives in 2010, so he will be seeking the party nomination in District 3 later this year.