cannabisnews.com: Pot Backers Delay Billboards





Pot Backers Delay Billboards
Posted by CN Staff on October 18, 2005 at 10:12:31 PT
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News
Source: Rocky Mountain News 
Colorado -- Sponsors of a Denver marijuana legalization ballot measure announced Monday that they are delaying the debut of three billboards showing a battered woman. Political leaders and domestic violence advocates had condemned the ads for misleading voters and exploiting the tragedy of abused women. The billboards had been scheduled to appear Monday, but now won't go up for at least three days.
The planned billboards showed a downcast woman with a black eye, her abuser lurking behind her, and the slogan: "Reduce family and community violence in Denver. Vote Yes on I-100." Nowhere was there a mention that Initiative 100's passage would amend Denver law to make it legal for adults to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana. I-100 campaign director Mason Tvert defended the honesty of the billboard's message - and the central theme of the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative - that marijuana is a safer alternative to alcohol. He cited local and national studies that indicate booze fuels domestic violence and injuries and deaths from drunken-driving collisions, other violence and alcoholism. A Massachusetts marijuana-reform group, Change the Climate, independently paid less than $10,000 for the billboards. Tvert's group, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, plans to announce Wednesday whether it will go ahead with the proposed image or alter the ad. "Given that there has been such a backlash, we obviously did not mean to offend anybody," Tvert said. "It's unfortunate that domestic violence groups, who are upset by these ads, have decided to be opposed to this, because we are really trying to raise attention to that issue." Denver police and the city attorney have stressed that changing the local ordinance will have little impact, because the vast majority of pot-possession cases are prosecuted under state law as a petty offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100.Note: Measure's sponsors defend ad's image of domestic abuse.Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)Author:  Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain NewsPublished: October 18, 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/Pot Backers Won't Halt Domestic Violence Adshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21193.shtmlPot Law Backers Draw Flakhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21190.shtmlGroup To Ask Denver Voters To Legalize Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20656.shtml 
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Comment #56 posted by Hope on October 19, 2005 at 11:25:35 PT
Unkat27...From looking at your website...
I'd say you were a very disturbed individual.:o)No. Just teasin. We're all "disturbed" about this or we wouldn't be here.Blame it on Virtuous Bill, aka known as the honorable Bill Bennet, when he said, "Where's the outrage?" It's his own fault. If he hadn't made the question so prominent, many of us might not have decided to tell him where the hell it is.
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Comment #55 posted by unkat27 on October 19, 2005 at 10:56:57 PT
Hope
You're right about that. Regardless of my suffering, my work is all I have. If I don't go insane first, I might survive to see it go somewhere.
Some of My Work
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Comment #54 posted by Hope on October 19, 2005 at 10:00:41 PT
Unkat27...That's beautiful.
"Yes, I agree. It also motivates me. When I don't have mj, I feel like I have a monkey on my back, weighing me down in everything I do. When I have mj, it's like sprouting wings. The weight on my back is gone and I am very motivated to do things."I'm sorry about, "Btw, I haven't had any mj for 18 months. I have been a turtle with a monkey on my back all that time. I hate it."Risking sounding like a nut, and perhaps losing whatever credibility I might have with anyone, I'm going to say it anyway. Something I think I heard God say to me once in that "still, soft voice".Life is hard, but you can do it.
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Comment #53 posted by unkat27 on October 19, 2005 at 09:41:26 PT
Mj motivates me too.
"Besides, when I smoke cannabis, I get off of my duff and get busy. There is nothing wrong with that. Marijuana motivates people."Yes, I agree. It also motivates me. When I don't have mj, I feel like I have a monkey on my back, weighing me down in everything I do. When I have mj, it's like sprouting wings. The weight on my back is gone and I am very motivated to do things. Btw, I haven't had any mj for 18 months. I have been a turtle with a monkey on my back all that time. I hate it.
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Comment #52 posted by FoM on October 19, 2005 at 07:26:34 PT
OverwhelmSam
Thank you. Thank you very much! LOL!She didn't die luckily but it was a mind blower for our small town. He wasn't jailed but treated for drug use and has recovered his life I think. I saw him years later in our store with his children and he looked fine.
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Comment #51 posted by goneposthole on October 19, 2005 at 06:21:32 PT
four ounces or less in Alaska is legal
It is better than indigenous Alaskans drinking bootlegged alcohol.It is illegal to possess alcohol on indigenous communities in Alaska.Besides, when I smoke cannabis, I get off of my duff and get busy. There is nothing wrong with that. Marijuana motivates people.Who can argue with that?If Alaska can do it, so can Colorado.
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Comment #50 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 19, 2005 at 05:51:25 PT
FoM
From now on, you're in charge of marketing. Start cranking out those billboards designs. LOLOn this guy who killed his wife, I'm not sure you can draw any conclusions and say that the cocaine was anything more than a contributing factor. There are millions who have used cocaine, and didn't kill their wives. It's like I've always said, there are some sick puppies out there, who may otherwise seem normal, that under the wrong circumstances do something terrible. 
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Comment #49 posted by runderwo on October 18, 2005 at 23:49:09 PT
correlation vs causation
It is difficult to sift one from the other and that is why we have science. From a single anecdote, it is difficult to draw any conclusions. Typically, the first thing you do is take a large sample set so that your statistical significance in your results is as high as possible. Then you control for as many confounding factors as possible. (This is the very difficult part and the part where most drug research is lacking.)Then you attempt to show that your correlation is at least 50% higher compared to the control group if you are trying to say that something happens MOST of the time. If you are trying to say that there is some kind of increased risk, then you have to show that it happens more frequently than in the control group, and that the difference is statistically significant. (Most people don't bother with the statistical analysis and go straight to the press to drum up more funding.) Then, having established a high correlation, you continue to try to find the cause. Is there a dose response relationship? What is the mechanism by which X causes Y? Once you have hypothesized on the mechanism, if you can confidently show that your hypothesis is not contradicted by repeating the results in another randomly selected group, then you have a true claim to make. It could still be refuted later, but at this point it is a theory - it has been tested and the evidence is on your side.You might notice that several of the above steps are skipped in most drug warrior research. That is not a coincidence. Particularly annoying to me are the microscopic sample sizes in many studies, the lack of statistic analysis, and the complete absence of good controls. Good controls are very difficult to design outside of a laboratory setting, but it is possible; most researchers are simply lazy, out for the money, or politically motivated.
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Comment #48 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 20:59:53 PT
Hope
I know it loaded slow for me too but it was mentioned on Lou Dobbs so it probably is getting lots of hits. It buffered for me too. I'd try again tomorrow if I were you rather then waste too much time just waiting. I don't have trouble with most videos or things like that but I think bottle necking occurs and slows down everyone. Someday this won't happen and we will get everything fast I think. We've come a long way in a short time with the Internet.
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Comment #47 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 20:52:43 PT
It's still loading
I got to see a little bit of it. It looks good.Maybe I can get it to load better tomorrow.
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Comment #46 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 20:23:00 PT
or "Buffering"
Like it's coming in so fast and hard they have to slow it down or something.
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Comment #45 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 20:21:22 PT
Big Box Mart
Still loading.
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 19:28:37 PT
Hope
The one that was on Lou Dobbs was Big Box Mart.
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Comment #43 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:23:22 PT
It worked.
I was utterly horrified.
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Comment #42 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:20:47 PT
Now...
my bottom eyelids are feeling heavy...dang!
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Comment #41 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:17:02 PT
"1000 Faces of JibJab Fans"
I'm sure I don't have time for that.And I'm "Utterly Horrified" enough.Thank you.:0)
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Comment #40 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:15:09 PT
I was wondering how I got into all that 
sanpaku stuff.Reykr. 
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Comment #39 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:12:13 PT
I don't know...
Let me decide.Do I want to be "Utterly Horrified" or "1000 Faces of JibJab Fans". You're right about being slow. This is a very slow machine. I do not enjoy the luxury of quick loads. Somethings just don't work at all. It takes forever to download stuff. I can take up hobbies while it's loading.
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Comment #38 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:09:08 PT
sanpaku
This concerned me...I had to go look in the mirror. I'm not sanpaku...and I just can't bear right now to think about all that it would mean if it would be true. 
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 19:08:54 PT
Thanks Dankhank
I turned on the History Channel.I remember Miss Kitty!
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Comment #36 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 19:06:21 PT
Hope
Why are you worried about Jib Jab? Lou Dobbs had the guys on that did it. It might be slow loading though. 
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Comment #35 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:05:23 PT
DankHank
I've seen shows like that. They had their vices...deed they did.Many, many, many and varied vices.Vices? That makes for an interesting discussion. 
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Comment #34 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 19:03:41 PT
http://www.jibjab.com/Home.aspx
I'm not certain I want to click on anything on that page. Got to get my nerve up.
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Comment #33 posted by Dankhank on October 18, 2005 at 19:03:21 PT
History channel
tongue and cheek look at Vice in the old west ... get a looksee ...on now
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 18:24:05 PT
Off Topic: A Little Comic Relief
This is from Jib-Jab. It's called Big Box Mart. Enjoy LOL!http://www.jibjab.com/Home.aspx
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Comment #31 posted by mayan on October 18, 2005 at 18:15:04 PT
Free Publicity!
I think the folks at Change the Climate are brilliant! Now they can either alter the ad and everyone will be anticipating the new one to see what it's all about...or they can just back out and not spend a dime after having sparked many a conversation comparing cannabis to alcohol. Totally brilliant!THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Leading Theologian Speaks Out On 9/11 in NYC:
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20051018161329430Dr. David Ray Griffin to speak in Ireland!
http://www.waronfreedom.org/pix/corkconfposter.jpgJumbo Jets & Gigantic Doubts - & Mass Denial: 
http://rense.com/general68/jumbo.htm9/11 Busters:
http://www.911busters.com/
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Comment #30 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:44:22 PT
Oh boy
"He started it." I recognize that shirt now...I used to have one just like it.
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Comment #29 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:42:30 PT
Reykr got up and made a cool speech...
and another prospective juror said they felt the same way. They both were dismissed....but that is just so cool.
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 17:41:13 PT
On The Blog
I read it and I would never get to be on a jury like that case either because I would have to say the same thing. 
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 17:32:51 PT
Oh That's Celia
Her husband started it. You should have seen Celia when she confronted her husband's tennis instructor. They went out and had a few drinks and talked about it. LOL!http://www.showcase.ca/weeds/
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Comment #26 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:31:50 PT
check out Reykrs blog
http://www.livejournal.com/users/reykr/He had jury duty today and told them he thought marijuana shouldn't be illegal. Marijuana was involved in the case. They 
didn't choose him.
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:25:37 PT
sorry...should have copied and pasted...
Issue...not subject is what you actually said.
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Comment #24 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:24:44 PT
"The whole subject is very strange to me."
You can be very thankful for that, FoM.
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:23:11 PT
Comment 5
I like that picture, FoM. I haven't watched the show but I enjoy hearing about it. I can tell you one thing probably from looking at that picture though. Everybody better "watch out" for a woman in a tight, low cut, spandex, leopard print blouse... with a drink in her other hand, no less. :O)
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 17:19:21 PT
Hope
I actually had forgotten all about this until the issue about the billboard and it made me think about substances and domestic violence. This whole issue is very strange to me.
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Comment #21 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:16:27 PT
She must have taken down the curtains
his grandmother gave them.
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Comment #20 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:15:27 PT
It sounds bad.
I can't imagine the hate or delusion or...well I just can't imagine...and don't want to...and I don't know if cocaine could actually cause something to flame up...like alcohol does. If there is hatred there of course...it will flare because of alcohol use. Perhaps that is true, too...of cocaine.Cocaine doesn't seem to make people who use it seem especially happy. I have seen that.
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 17:10:33 PT
Hope
It's hard for me to remember but it was something about her curtains or something like that. Nothing bad. They both were well respected in the community. It was very shocking for everyone when we heard about this. It was a very small town.
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Comment #18 posted by Hope on October 18, 2005 at 17:07:05 PT
The cause...
As a Blues fan...I'd like to say that the cocaine killer man may have just come home and found some turble turble wrong done goin on.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 16:49:03 PT
 runderwo 
This is the most confusing of topics I have commented on in a long time. I heard he had been on a few day coke binge but was that the cause? It contributed to the snapping out he did but did it cause him to do that? I don't know. When we don't know if something causes violence why use it to make a point about marijuana? See I can't figure it out. He didn't drink but he did smoke marijuana.
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Comment #16 posted by runderwo on October 18, 2005 at 16:38:49 PT
FoM
But was the violence caused by the cocaine or was it caused by some other source of frustration or anger? We should be careful with confusing correlation and causation. That is the exact tactic the prohibs use when they point out that someone smoked pot before going and mauling a bunch of people, or before shooting some police officers. (Never mind the fellow's lifelong violent tendencies that doesn't make it into the story.)
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Comment #15 posted by unkat27 on October 18, 2005 at 16:38:44 PT
IDIOTS!
"It's unfortunate that domestic violence groups, who are upset by these ads, have decided to be opposed to this, because we are really trying to raise attention to that issue."I have just one word for these people. IDIOTS!
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 15:57:39 PT
Violence and Cocaine
My husband worked at GE years ago. He worked second shift. Everyone knew everyone in this small plant. One man didn't return after lunch break. Someone called the plant and told the foreman what happened. The man did a line of cocaine went home and got in a fight with his wife and stabbed her around 150 with a small knife. Their one child found the mother on the floor and he was sitting on the floor of a closet when the police got there. So violence can be caused by other substances too.
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Comment #13 posted by E_Johnson on October 18, 2005 at 15:13:22 PT
You must be trying to rile me observer
"I have to chuckle when I hear people assume that droves of this or that political victim group would vote this or that way. They don't know."I grew up with domestic violence and if you write these people off in this callous whingeing manner, then you're just not a person I respect at all. Domestic violennce kills people. My mother came close to dying from it.Go ahead and insult her, call her member of a political victim group.If you want a world where bullies can do anything they want, then you're already living in the world of your dreams.
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Comment #12 posted by unkat27 on October 18, 2005 at 14:19:22 PT
It figures
It figures. The repugliklan fascists can demonize cannabis with similar ads and political BS all they want, but when the Pro-cannabis party attempts to do likewise, they get bashed to hell for it. I hate the people that run this lousy excuse for a democracy.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 13:52:24 PT
Robbie
Yes it does seem things are heating up. I think Cannabis is finally getting into the mainstream and I look forward to the day when news won't be something I will have to do and we can get on with issues after prohibition on cannabis is finally over.
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Comment #10 posted by Robbie on October 18, 2005 at 13:45:08 PT
Interesting times
I've seen some of the recent articles FoM has posted, and the debate seems to be heating up. Let's hope we can make gains on this issue given the obstacles we're facing on most others.Here is an article, FoM, that I thought you might want to post if you can. It's from a former Seattle police chief where he calls for legalization of all drugs.http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-legalize16oct16,0,3428942.story?track=hpmostemailedlinkHope all the Cannabis News folks are well!!
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 11:59:17 PT
Call Me What Names You Like
OK I'll call you observer!
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Comment #8 posted by observer on October 18, 2005 at 11:56:47 PT
So they got publicity without paying a dime?
That Change the Climate ... they're crazy! (Like foxes.) Now, if they had paid for big bland ads, would the issue have gotten this exposure? I have to chuckle when I hear people assume that droves of this or that political victim group would vote this or that way. They don't know. Remember Eindhoven.see:Dopey Fans Too Relaxed for Fights
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6056.shtmlIt's OK To Smoke Dope, England Fans Told
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread18986.shtmlBasketball Riots in LA, Soccer Thugs in Europe
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6122.shtmletc.I'm still not convinced that staying curled up ball, afraid to move because of potentially offending someone's sense of political correctness, is a great way to get things done. Change the Climate are professionals who know what buttons to push to ride the publicity like no one else has done.  Call me what names you like, but I think we need more of this kind of bold thinking, not less. 
http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 11:54:56 PT
PainWithNoInsurance
I'm glad you liked my idea. Please share them with anyone if you want to. When you use a person in their early 40s you can get the respect of those your own age and the respect of those that are older. They are important age groups.
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Comment #6 posted by PainWithNoInsurance on October 18, 2005 at 11:51:11 PT
Good ideas
Great ideas FoM. We should all go to their web site and suggest our ideas about future billboard messages and any other input we can provide. I gave them one of my suggestions at the email link on their site.We should all make a financial contribution to changetheclimate.org . I gave a finacial contribution to Changetheclimate.org about six months ago. They sure are doing the work that needs to be done to end prohibition.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 11:40:00 PT
And One More
Maybe this cover can make some here see what I mean. This is so mainstream particularly in Colorado and California.http://www.showcase.ca/weeds/
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 11:01:26 PT
One More
I can see a billboard in my mind with a man and a woman in their early 40s or so holding a pretty little bag of marijuana and they both have a cute shrug and a quizzical expression on their face. Say something like we don't believe this should be a crime. How do you feel? Please vote.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 10:36:51 PT
Another Idea
An endorsement from someone in Weeds or a celebrity that is well respected.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 10:31:39 PT
An Idea For a Billboard
How about a straight forward billboard. One that says what we all hope for. That the laws should be changed because it's time now. Reefer Madness has been exposed to everyone in all walks of life and it's time to change these antique laws.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 18, 2005 at 10:18:59 PT
Related Article from CBS4Denver.com
Monday Launch Halted For Pro-Pot BillboardsOctober 17, 2005(CBS4) DENVER -- Three new billboards that were scheduled to go up Monday to try to drum up support for an initiative that would legalize marijuana in Denver have been delayed.One of the ads was set to be placed on a billboard near Invesco Field at Mile High.Some people are concerned that the billboards will send the wrong message.The billboards will say nothing about what Initiative 100 is and won't make any reference to the issue legalizing marijuana. They feature a downcast woman with a black eye with her abuser lurking in the background. The slogan is "Reduce Family And Community Violence ... Vote Yes On I-100."Mason Tvert, director of a group called Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, said Initiative 100 would lead to a safer city if it were passed."If this passes it will make the city of Denver safer by allowing adults over 21 to use marijuana as an alternative to alcohol," Tvert said.Tvert believes alcohol is what fuels crimes, such as, domestic violence and lifting the prohibition on marijuana will reduce incidents like these."We're clearly sending a message that the use of alcohol is acceptable and we're encouraging folks to use it when many of them would otherwise be willing to use a far less harmful substance," Tvert said.Opponents say supporters are hiding the real issue."This initiative will not put more cops on the street," Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown said. It will put more marijuana on the street, and how you can relate that to making a city more safe ... it's just incomprehensible to me." The billboards are being paid for by a group from outside Colorado. The group last week rejected calls to drop the ad campaign, but on Monday they said they were going to hold a press conference on Wednesday to address the issue.Ellen Stein Wallace, director of Safehouse Denver, called the billboard outrageous."It really minimizes the brutality and lethality of the issue. And it's almost as if they're saying this would go away if people just smoked enough marijuana to chill out," Wallace said.Wallace pointed out that Safehouse Denver has served plenty of women whose batterers smoked marijuana.Copyright: MMV CBS Television Stations, Inc.http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_290124226.html
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