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Colorado voters to consider marijuana legalization Vimal Patel of the Rocky Mountain Collegian (Colorado State U.)
Issue date: 8/25/06 Section: National
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Coloradans are set to vote on whether to legalize marijuana after a lively signature collection effort that included help from CSU students.
The Secretary of State's office last week certified the required number of signatures for the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative to be placed on November's ballot.
"This is a chance to make history," said Ben Prytherch, a junior liberal arts major, who was one of hundreds of volunteers who helped collect the nearly 68,000 required signatures.
The measure would legalize use and possession of up to an ounce of pot for those age 21 and older.
The drug would still be illegal under federal law, but the federal government rarely intervenes in minor pot possession cases.
So far, few polls have been conducted about how Coloradans will vote on a statewide legalization measure.
Last year The Denver Post conducted a survey of 625 respondents and found 51 percent would be opposed to one, while 37 percent would support it.
Mason Tvert, the campaign director of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, the group behind the measure, said the 14-point spread is encouraging given the circumstances of the survey.
The poll was of likely voters, who were called from home phones. College students generally aren't likely voters and are more likely to have dropped their landlines in favor of a wireless phone.
"When you poll all the grandmas and grandpas, that's what you get," Tvert said. Tvert said his group will actively start registering students to vote. He's banking on a high student turnout in November and the hope that his group's message - that alcohol is more dangerous than pot and therefore it's fundamentally unfair to keep the drink legal while banning the plant - will resonate with voters.
At CSU, several students helped out by attending SAFER rallies and collecting signatures.
The CSU chapters of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Libertarian Party were active in the campaign.
Amanda Broz, president of SSDP, said her group will help register students to vote in the November election.
"There's a huge amount of non-violent drug offenders in jail," she said. "They're in there with violent criminals; that's not a good way to rehabilitate people."
SAFER turned in about 130,000 signatures, almost double the required amount, just in case any signatures were challenged in court.
Last November, Denver voters approved Initiative 100. The measure made Denver the first city in the country to drop all penalties for use and possession of up to an ounce of recreational marijuana. However, citizens were still prosecuted under state law, hence the need for a statewide measure, Tvert said.
Prytherch said the passage of this initiative could be groundbreaking for the national pot legalization movement. "A lot of people see the pot movement as consisting of just hippies and potheads," he said, "but if this passes, it'll be exposed as being mainstream."
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Pro Marijauna Group Opens Office In Lewiston
A new organization that wants to legalize marijuana in Maine has set up shop in downtown Lewiston. The Maine Marijuana Policy Initiative has opened a new office on lower Lisbon Street.
The group is currently working on two separate initiaves. One seeks to strengthen Maine's medicinal marijuana law. The other, called the "Lowest Law Enforcement Priority," seeks to get local communities to stop using law enforcement resources on marijuana.
The groups ultimate goal is to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Executive Director Jonathan Leavitt says, "We're here in Maine to advocate for a system of control and regulation of marijuana. We want to put it on par with alcohol and we want it to be treated the way alochol is in terms of legal for adults 21 and over."
The group may have it's work cut out. Several people that we spoke with for this story only favored legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.
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Colorado Cannabis Legalization Initiative Certified For November Ballot
August 17, 2006 - Denver, CO, USA
Denver, CO: The Colorado Secretary of State's office announced Wednesday that a statewide initiative that seeks to eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for the possession of cannabis by adults has been certified to appear on the November 2006 ballot.
Sponsored by Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), the measure would amend state statutes to make the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis legal in Colorado for those age 21 or older. Last year, voters in Denver passed a similar municipal initiative by 54 percent.
Sponsors turned in more than 130,000 signatures from Colorado voters to qualify the measure for the November ballot.
"The campaign will highlight the hypocrisy of laws that prohibit the use of marijuana while allowing and even encouraging the use of alcohol, an infinitely more harmful drug," said SAFER Campaign Director Mason Tvert.
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DEA SHOULD KEEP OUT OF STATE POLITICS (Source:Rocky Mountain News)
Fate of Marijuana Measure a Local Decision
Federal agencies should stick to their knitting, as the saying goes. They have no business using their muscle to influence state ballot races.
Not only could the federal government's vast resources distort the tenor of debate within a state, it would also force out-of-state taxpayers to underwrite political campaigns that have no impact on them.
That message has fallen on deaf ears at the Denver office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is poised to assist in the campaign against Amendment 44. That measure, on Colorado's November ballot, would legalize possession by adults of as much as 1 ounce of marijuana.
Setting aside the merits of Amendment 44, the DEA's decision to raise $10,000 to hire a professional campaign manager is a heavy-handed use of federal power. Jeff Sweetin, the special agent in charge of the local office, acknowledges that the notice seeking an experienced pro to run the campaign was sent from a Department of Justice e-mail account.
Federal officials are free to offer their opinions about the legality or the wisdom of state political controversies, and that bully pulpit can often sway public opinion. But when agencies organize formal opposition to local or state ballot measures, they're interfering in the local political process. And where would it stop?
At least some federal lawmakers have acknowledged the potential for abuse. Three years ago, the House of Representatives passed a measure that would have, among other things, blocked the DEA from using its advertising budget to work against state ballot measures. ( The Senate did not pass the bill and it died in 2004. )
The National Taxpayers Union and the American Conservative Union, among others, persuaded House members that if the DEA could campaign against initiatives that would liberalize drug laws, then there is no principled reason the Environmental Protection Agency couldn't spend money lobbying against property rights protections or the Department of Justice coordinate a campaign for tougher gun controls at the state level - just to cite two possible examples.
Letting federal agencies become political activists in one area invites them to take sides on a host of others. That's why we hope the DEA will abandon this campaign - and that next year, Congress will enact legislation that would prevent any federal agency from pursuing this sort of mischief.
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Ace, You've posted a few articles on the upcoming vote and debate surrounding it. Can I ask what your position is?
Posts: 5729 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Upside: Ace, You've posted a few articles on the upcoming vote and debate surrounding it. Can I ask what your position is?
Weed used to be a big part of my life from ages 18-20. I'm 23 now. I became a strict christian, and even keep the sabbath. Although it doesn't break a commandment specifically, It goes against "the body is the temple of god" teaching. And if you're high you might be more easily tempted.
But it's an interesting topic, and could help economicaly if it was sold and taxed, and could decrease the # of people that drink and drive. Many people drink because it's legal. Imagine if instead of drunk fathers beating kids, high fathers played with them.
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Guess that depends on your definition of your body being a temple of God.If done in moderation, does drinking/smoking/eating anything that we deem unhealthy violate that teaching in your opinion?
Posts: 5729 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2003
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well i'm all for it , it is about time. one of the main points is non-violent pot offenders in with violent-crimers , that would severly reduce over crowding , and also reduce tax dollars , plus it grows out of the ground , and undergoes no proccessing , unlike beer and other things , it's like makeing tomato plant ill eagle
Posts: 742 | From: SOUTH CARRIBEAN | Registered: Mar 2006
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Setting aside the merits of Amendment 44, the DEA's decision to raise $10,000 to hire a professional campaign manager is a heavy-handed use of federal power. Jeff Sweetin, the special agent in charge of the local office, acknowledges that the notice seeking an experienced pro to run the campaign was sent from a Department of Justice e-mail account.
this part right here should be looked at closely..
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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IMO...It should be legalized...it's not nearly as bad for you as alcohol...I've never been able to understand why it's not...
I would rather come home from a hard day and take a couple of hits to relax than to have to consume a couple of drinks...it would be way better for the waste line! LOL...
And no I don't drink that much nor do I "smoke pot"... smoke isn't legal... I have kids...the only reason I don't... hense if it was legal... I'd grab the joint before the bottle...
-------------------- #1 Rule: Protect your capital! #2 Rule: Never fall for the BS on the boards! Posts: 8890 | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Upside: Guess that depends on your definition of your body being a temple of God.If done in moderation, does drinking/smoking/eating anything that we deem unhealthy violate that teaching in your opinion?
yup...
anything with Drano as an ingedient...that crank chit? do *not* smoke that...
quote:Originally posted by jordanreed: keep it illegal...dont need the govment screwin with that too...
Worse case scenario...It will make them fat, lazy(not show up to work) and paranoid. Ummmmmmm I think they should start drug testing congress.
Mary jane vs alchohol: Did you ever hear about anybody smoking a bunch of weed and committing a crime? Me neither. I had the luxury of spending a day in a holding cell and I couldnt help but notice 5 out of the 5 people there were in there did something under the influence of alchohol. I bet if you did a survey on 3rd degree murders. You would find an overwhelming number of them were using alchohol prior.......
Dont get me wrong....me loves me drinks...me just aints aloud to touch it no'mo
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" Posts: 4005 | From: Shaolin | Registered: Oct 2005
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I am not a pot user nor have I ever tried it but my question would be. If we are such an obeast country why would we legalize something that gave people the munchies? The people I see making the most money off off this would be clothing companies.
-------------------- Lookin for the money Posts: 353 | From: CA | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by farmgirl: I am not a pot user nor have I ever tried it but my question would be. If we are such an obeast country why would we legalize something that gave people the munchies? The people I see making the most money off off this would be clothing companies.
I disagree....I would buy stock in Frito-Lay and Drakes
Pot should be legalized and taxed....Like 10of13 was saying earlier the side effect of booze are far greater. Thats including anibriation stages
So whats the real problem? To much money would be lost in drug-lord kickbacks? One things for sure. The reason its not legal = $$$$$$
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" Posts: 4005 | From: Shaolin | Registered: Oct 2005
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quote:Originally posted by farmgirl: I am not a pot user nor have I ever tried it but my question would be. If we are such an obeast country why would we legalize something that gave people the munchies? The people I see making the most money off off this would be clothing companies.
Trust me farmgirl. I was a heavey abuser of BOTH at different points in my life. Pot just makes people act like jack-asses, booze makes people act like reckless jack-asses.
Mel Gibson is a good example
As far as the second part of your post.
"If we are such an obeast country why would we legalize something that gave people the munchies?"
Well then Pfizer and Merck would have to recall alot of there meds...cause i know alot of them that give people the munchies. Some people need the munchies
Nicole Richie is a good example
-------------------- "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" Posts: 4005 | From: Shaolin | Registered: Oct 2005
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i know many people that smoke cannabis , and are not fat or obease , and i have to go with rim on the point of no crimes on reffer and u don't forget what u did or said last night , much more self control with weed vs. drunk Posts: 742 | From: SOUTH CARRIBEAN | Registered: Mar 2006
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I am strongly of the opinion that it needs to be legalized.
But that nonsense about pot users not being dangerious when on it and remembering the stupid things they said and did is something the pot user can believe.
Having seen what a lot of them did, I know they are not harmless and then, later, hearing them telling their memory of it, I can assure you, either it causes cases of deep dishonesty or they can't remember.
[ September 01, 2006, 17:17: Message edited by: bdgee ]
Posts: 11304 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Ace of Spades: [QUOTE]Originally posted by Upside: [qb] Imagine if instead of drunk fathers beating kids, high fathers played with them.
quote:Originally posted by IMAKEMONEY: Pot should be legalized and taxed.
for once i agree with you imake LOL
I've only smoked pot a few times, and I think it's a sickening thought knowing people go to jail like criminals for that, when in a country like the Netherlands it's completely legal (FYI, only 6% in the Netherlands indulge, even though it's legal). When you legalize pot, nothing needs to happen "underground" anymore. If you want to keep a war on drugs then that's one effective way to go to battle (imo). Plus if you tax it like cigarettes, the government benefits from it as well! (Although I don't like that thinking of "we'll make something legal/illegal, only if it benefits US, even if we play with people's freedom")
I've never seen people bash each other's heads in on pot, in my experience when you're high on pot you're happy, you laugh, you're not violent at all, and strangely enough you're very concentrated on everything. This is not something that can be said about alcohol (which, contrary to pot, is a hard drug, why not make that illegal?)!
Alcohol and cigarettes are legal (also 2 drugs), so the only logical thing to do is make pot legal as well
Posts: 1091 | From: Brugge, Belgium / Dallas TX USA | Registered: May 2006
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I am not a user of anything but coffee anymore but pot should have been legal long ago and any body with a criminal record for having used it .this record should be exsponged also.
Compared to booze pot is nothing in regards to harm done
Posts: 6008 | From: phoenix az | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Upside: Anyone believe that it's a "gateway" drug?
I think cigarettes is the #1 gateway drug.
It's advertised like crazy, and kids see their parents do them since their born. Most people that smoke pot, tried cigarettes first. Parents that smoke pot usually don't do it in fron of their kids, especially when their young. In the D.A.R.E. program they teach kids that any harmfull substance is a drug. The ones that they actuall see what they think are "mature adults" using, are cigarettes and alcohol.
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