cannabisnews.com: Pot Backers Can't Stoke Hickenlooper










  Pot Backers Can't Stoke Hickenlooper

Posted by CN Staff on October 27, 2005 at 10:33:06 PT
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News 
Source: Rocky Mountain News  

Colorado -- Pro-pot forces worked hard Wednesday to draw Denver's brewpub-owning mayor into a debate about the merits of the marijuana initiative on Tuesday's ballot. Mayor John Hickenlooper wasn't taking the bait. "Mayor Hickenlooper's attention and energy are focused on issues that actually matter to Denver, which more than anything else seems to be what is annoying these folks who already know that passage would be irrelevant as state laws on marijuana would still be enforced in Denver," said Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, the mayor's spokeswoman.
That didn't stop 20 supporters of Initiative 100, which asks Denver voters whether to change city law to legalize adult possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana. They rallied outside City Hall, calling Hickenlooper a hypocrite and a "drug dealer" because his brewpubs sell beer, yet the mayor opposes the pot measure because he says marijuana is a "gateway drug" to destructive addictions. "What is the difference between Mayor Hickenlooper and a marijuana dealer? The mayor has made his fortune selling a more harmful drug: Alcohol," read a huge banner unfurled by members of the I-100 group, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER). The central theme of the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative is that adults should have the legal right to choose marijuana, which proponents - citing national and local studies - call a safer alternative to booze, which they argue fuels deadly violence, car wrecks, collegiate binge-drinking and alcoholism. "Given that this is a city that is clamoring for more police, I think (Hickenlooper) should worry more about why we need those police and less about keeping adults from making the safer choice to use marijuana," said SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert, who has been striving for weeks to drag one of Colorado's most popular politicians into a debate. City Councilman Charlie Brown said SAFER's attack on the mayor was in keeping with what he branded a deceptive campaign to mislead voters into thinking I-100 is an anti- crime initiative to boost the city's police staffing. Brown and others have criticized the group's lawn signs declaring: "Make Denver SAFER, Voter Yes on I-100." A backlash from domestic violence groups forced SAFER to cancel a billboard showing a battered woman and her abuser with the slogan: "Reduce family and community violence in Denver. Vote Yes on I-100."Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)Author: Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain NewsPublished: October 27, 2005Copyright: 2005 Denver Publishing Co.Contact: letters rockymountainnews.comWebsite: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Safer Choicehttp://www.saferchoice.org/Change The Climatehttp://www.changetheclimate.org/ No for Denver Pot Initiativehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21226.shtmlSAFER Could Still Be Smarterhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21223.shtmlThe 'Virtues' of Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21220.shtml

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Comment #17 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 28, 2005 at 04:19:25 PT
Marijuana Laws Enforced by the State
Yes, it would make a difference. The city of Denver would not be enforcing marijuana prohibition creating a potentially huge case load on the state that they will not be able to sustain.By the way, if you want to end marijuana prohibition, get dealers to start selling marijuana laced chocolate bars. They would sell like wildfire and the war on marijuana would be over in months.
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Comment #16 posted by global_warming on October 27, 2005 at 17:42:22 PT
re:Grog and your Women
Your childrenMay decideTo sing to those StarsSongs that "we" caan never hearImagine These ChildrenWalking before this Eternity
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Comment #15 posted by runderwo on October 27, 2005 at 17:40:56 PT
wow
"They rallied outside City Hall, calling Hickenlooper a hypocrite and a "drug dealer" because his brewpubs sell beer, yet the mayor opposes the pot measure because he says marijuana is a "gateway drug" to destructive addictions."That would have been an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast alcohol with marijuana as a "gateway drug".
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Comment #14 posted by boballen1313 on October 27, 2005 at 17:22:42 PT
RECREATING WITH DRUGS
This is real issue for a beer drinking, pot smoking pervert. I need to toss in my 2 cents. 
KEEP BEER PRICES DOWN!
LEGALIZE POT LIKE (OR WITH) GROG!
DON'T MAKE ME BEG A PIMPLE FACED 16 YEAR OLD FOR MY COPY OF PENTHOUSE!!! and can't we all just get along?!!!!!
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Comment #13 posted by global_warming on October 27, 2005 at 16:17:39 PT
re: turning off
Can you hear it?That is which is missing,Seven Hundred Thousand human beings,In this year' of our existenceHave experiencedThis God Bless AmericaAlmost a million Human BeingsFace illnessPovertyScience, Understanding,This New WorldIs deep in "shit"Cannabis, the Filling Light,Not only can fill our gas tanksIt can Light our Souls,Lighteng this worldTowards Grace
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 27, 2005 at 15:40:24 PT
Dankhank
I turned off my music and turned on Lou Dobbs. I know who he is. The one from Arizona.
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Comment #11 posted by global_warming on October 27, 2005 at 15:34:31 PT
What Cop ?
What Magistrate?Can JudiciatePlace a "mark" On some living soul?
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on October 27, 2005 at 15:22:41 PT
Dankhank
I haven't been watching the news but I'm listening to music. What cop is that?
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Comment #9 posted by Dankhank on October 27, 2005 at 15:17:24 PT
lou dobbs soon
America's toughest cop
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Comment #8 posted by global_warming on October 27, 2005 at 15:04:05 PT
Testimony
And we are living testaments
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Comment #7 posted by global_warming on October 27, 2005 at 14:59:21 PT
re:comment #2
There is only one reality
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 27, 2005 at 14:39:29 PT
Taylor121 
Thanks for the information. I haven't found any news except the Philly article so far.
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Comment #5 posted by Taylor121 on October 27, 2005 at 14:28:01 PT
Dallas: Rescheduling rally a success
I am happy to report that yesterday's rally in Dallas was very successful! Approximately 20 people were in attendance including multiple sclerosis patient Tim Timmons and many of his friends and family members.Everyone gathered in front of the Health and Human Services building holding signs and a large banner calling on HHS to reschedule medical marijuana now. Tim and I spoke briefly to the group and members of the press who came to cover the rally. Stories about the rally ran on local radio and television stations.I am particularly happy to report that around 12:30 pm two representatives from HHS came down and asked to speak to spokespeople from our group. They said they were receiving many calls and emails about rescheduling marijuana and would like to talk to us personal about our concerns. If you made one of those calls or sent one of the emails thank you so much!Tim, Karen and I met with Regional Director Linda Penn and three of her associates for about half an hour. Tim shared his story with everyone and then questions were asked and answered by both delegations. At the end of the meeting Mrs. Penn assured us she would pass on our requests for an answer to the Data Quality Act Petition and the immediate need to reschedule marijuana to Secretary Leavitt. Mrs. Penn also promised to let us know Secretary Leavitt's response. We will be sure to keep you up to date!Have a wonderful weekend,Noelle Davis
Executive Director
www.TexansforMedicalMarijuana.org
(512) 220-9209 ext. 214
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Comment #4 posted by Taylor121 on October 27, 2005 at 14:23:52 PT
Nervous
I'm not sure about how this Denver proposal is going to work out. The SAFER campaign is interesting, but I don't know if it is appealing to the folks that don't know about cannabis.Btw, Miers withdrew her nomination to Supreme Court
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Comment #3 posted by siege on October 27, 2005 at 13:44:12 PT
Mayor
Mayor Hickenlooper's attention and energy are focused on issues that actually matter to Denver,
Then how is it that you as mayor have not let your people grow cannabis for food and Medicine and renewable fuel.
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Comment #2 posted by Jim Lunsford on October 27, 2005 at 12:36:34 PT
Off Topic
It seems the political climate is turning the oil company profits into a hurricane of it's own. Well, isn't that just dandy? Especially since this plant does pretty much everything oil does, except kill us. I long for the day when I can smell the cannabis exhaust fumes! I think that would put an end to road rage! Hopefully, their pull is waning. Of course, they've had a long run for their money. But, by refusing to build new refineries they have made a major strategic error.  That survey, which concluded that corporate america tended to promote people with sociopathic tendencies,noted that such people failed to plan for the long run. All actions were done for short term gain and recognition. I guess the idea of building new refineries didn't figure into any real gain. Now, this winter, when people are cold and hungry, I guess the powers that be will have to choose. Hopefully, they will chose better than the Czarists did.Rev Jim LunsfordFirst Cannabist ChurchReality: Different for everyone
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 27, 2005 at 10:40:58 PT

Related Article from The Denver Post
Where There's Toke, There's Ire ***Backers of Denver's ballot measure on marijuana say Mayor Hickenlooper has made a "fortune selling a more harmful drug: alcohol."By Christopher N. Osher, Denver Post Staff Writer  October 27, 2005
     
 
 
Supporters of a pro-marijuana initiative Wednesday called Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper a hypocrite for opposing their efforts. During a rally outside the City and County Building, they unveiled a banner that read: "What is the difference between Mayor Hickenlooper and a marijuana dealer? The mayor has made his fortune selling a more harmful drug: alcohol." 
Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_3155051
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