cannabisnews.com: Proponents of Legal Pot Say Foes Blowing Smoke





Proponents of Legal Pot Say Foes Blowing Smoke
Posted by CN Staff on September 20, 2006 at 07:16:42 PT
By Charles Ashby, Chieftain Denver Bureau
Source: Pueblo Chieftain
Denver -- The proponents of a ballot question calling for the legalization of small amounts of marijuana said Tuesday their opponents have been trying to mislead voters about the measure.Mason Tvert, campaign manager for the proponent group called Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, said their chief opponent - Guarding Our Children Against Marijuana - has been trying to frighten voters into believing that a vote for Amendment 44 on this year's ballot is a vote to turn children into drug addicts.
Tvert said that the reverse is more true, that prohibiting the use of marijuana only turns people to the shadows of the black market that can expose them to more dangerous drugs."This initiative is not about children, it's about adults," Tvert said. "Right now our laws in this state and this country are based on lies and propaganda. If we're so concerned about what our kids think about marijuana, why on earth would we not tell the truth about it?"Tvert said that not only are laws against the use of marijuana not keeping teens away from the drug, but actually leading them to it."Right now our opponents over at GOCAM are spreading false and misleading statements to lead people to believe that this is going to lead to marijuana use by young people," he said. "Every study that's been done on de-criminalization efforts has found that marijuana use has not increased."The ballot question calls for decriminalizing possessing less than an ounce of marijuana for anyone 21 years of age or older. It is similar to a measure Denver voters approved last year.To help in its effort, Tvert's group has formed a new proponent committee - Guard Our Children Against Marijuana Prohibition.But Beverly Kinard, a Canon City resident who created the opposition group GOCAM, said Tvert and his new group are just being silly."We have been so successful that they are having to mimic us," Kinard said. "I would say to them that this (amendment) is the same as child abuse and child endangerment to trick children into something that will damage their developing central nervous system."If they formed a group that was called Prohibition Against Polio Vaccine, would they go out and protect children against inoculations?" she added. "They're trying to use a mind control on people with propaganda, and they're trying to make kids believe that it's safe."Under the proposed initiative, it would still be illegal to grow or sell marijuana, use marijuana in public, drive while under its influence, give any amount of marijuana to a child or possess more than an ounce of marijuana.Marijuana use and possession would still be a federal crime.Currently, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a class 2 petty offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100.Newshawk: MayanSource: Pueblo Chieftain (CO)Author: Charles Ashby, Chieftain Denver BureauPublished: Wednesday, September 20, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Star-Journal Publishing Corp.Contact: newsroom chieftain.comWebsite: http://www.chieftain.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Safer Choicehttp://www.saferchoice.org/Communicating by Drug Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22171.shtmlAmbushing The Pot Initiativehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22169.shtmlStatewide MJ Initiative Backers Lose Rulinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22160.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #38 posted by Wayne on September 20, 2006 at 21:13:09 PT
Re: JohnT
That IS a great idea. It's definitely worth a try, I think he just might do it. You might try sending him an email at his website, he's got one for himself and for the whole band.
http://www.willienelson.com/headquarters/contact.htm
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #37 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 19:13:16 PT
John Tyler 
That is a great idea. Maybe he could and would. That would turn that poll around. Everyone loves Willie. Willie Nelson - America The BeautifulFrom "America: A Tribute To Heroes" (Sep From "America: A Tribute To Heroes" (September 21, 2001). http://youtube.com/watch?v=RnEBAzMI7-k
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #36 posted by John Tyler on September 20, 2006 at 19:02:23 PT
Colorado
Maybe Willie could swing through Colorado and do some concerts to promote personal freedom, spiritual freedom and SAFER. Willie kinda has a dog in this fight since he has seen the dark side of cannabis prohibition enforcement. No state in the union is free until they all are free. Colorado is close. Celebrity power could help.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #35 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2006 at 17:16:40 PT
no, let's form
Prohibition of Prohibitionists .....or Prohibition of Kinard ...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #34 posted by global_warming on September 20, 2006 at 15:53:01 PT
Mason
If you are listening,I Love YouWe can change this ugly disgrace
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #33 posted by global_warming on September 20, 2006 at 15:49:01 PT
in the middle of the Night
busy washing my dogs hardened poop on his but,getting back to this horror storythis continued prohibition on human beings who use Cannabis,and this wonderful world,I wonder, can 'we change?Can 'we change this world?The buck stops in Coloroda, 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #32 posted by global_warming on September 20, 2006 at 15:29:10 PT
prohibition is a failed mindset
it has been proven so many times, here in America and everywhere, yet this disease of prohibition has yet to be cured, imagine, there is a human being, calvina, joyce, and so many confused people such as this gal kinard, who have worked so hard to abolish the pollution of drug dependence, yet it is "ok" to swallow all the state sanctioned viox, drink all the vodka that you can safely handle, take a deep drag on your marlboro, do you feel good?I Hope You Good People can see beyond your exploitation, see beyond, the history of this place "we write, is for God and Eternity.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #31 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 14:57:45 PT
I Agree Global_Warming
You said: It is time that Americans accepted personal responsibility for their actions, "We The People, do not need or want big government hiding in the bushes.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #30 posted by global_warming on September 20, 2006 at 14:54:39 PT
it's ok
the point is being made, all the nutcase prohibitionists are coming out of the woodwork, they see the devil everywhere, the cops are going to march down main street shouting "its war" and there is no democracy, in the meantime, it seems that many good people see drug abuse as a much less danger than the invasive, degrading and costly tactics that this so called losing war on people's rights has revealed itself to be.It is time that Americans accepted personal responsibility for their actions, "We The People, do not need or want big government hiding in the bushes.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #29 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 14:28:24 PT
No It's a Different Article
They are from different papers. Two's better then one.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #28 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 14:26:04 PT
Sorry Global_Warming
I posted the same article.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #27 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 14:25:00 PT
Here's Another One
Eureka Springs : Group Gets ‘Pot’ Proposal on BallotWednesday, September 20, 2006 
A Fayetteville pro-marijuana group has collected enough signatures for a November ballot initiative seeking to make marijuana arrests in Eureka Springs a low law enforcement priority.Fayetteville NORML collected the required number of signatures to put the question to Eureka Springs voters during the Nov. 7 general election, said Ryan Denham, the group’s president. The Carroll County Election Commission approved the ballot measure Monday, election coordinator Cathy Ellis said.Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/167212/
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #26 posted by global_warming on September 20, 2006 at 14:20:13 PT
they can't be everywhere 
Eureka Springs voters will consider marijuana provision in NovemberBy The Associated PressEUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) -- Voters here on Nov. 7 will consider making marijuana-related offenses a low priority for law officers after a group successfully petitioned to place the matter on the general election ballot.The Fayetteville chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws gathered 156 signatures, a dozen more than were needed. The Carroll County Election Commission approved the ballot measure Monday."We believe this is going to free up other police resources to deal with more serious crimes," said Ryan Denham, the group's president.Under the proposal, the arrest and production of anyone who has less than an ounce of marijuana would be a low priority for police, Denham said.Eureka Springs Police Chief Earl Hyatt said existing provisions, under state law, give police officers the option of making an arrest or releasing the person on a citation to appear in court. He said the election cannot change enforcement."Whether it passes or not, if it's in contradiction with state or federal law, it doesn't count," Hyatt said.The group needed signatures from 144 people -- 15 percent of the number of residents who voted in the last mayoral election.http://tinyurl.com/hr4rcGood sense is popping up everywhere, save my tax dollar and my constitutional rights, let the good people in these United States "end" this demented prohibition now.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #25 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 20, 2006 at 13:58:48 PT
Not enough information?!?
>>But Cindy Thomas, 42, a Republican from Jefferson County, said there's not enough information about recreational use of marijuana to determine whether it would be harmful if used regularly.From http://drugwarfacts.org/causes.txtTobacco:	435,000
Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity: 365,000
Alcohol:	85,000
Microbial Agents: 75,000 
Toxic Agents: 55,000
Motor Vehicle Crashes: 26,347
Adverse Reactions To Prescription Drugs: 32,000
Suicide:	30,622
Incidents Involving Firearms: 29,000
Homicide:	20,308
Sexual Behaviors: 20,000
Illicit Use of Drugs:	17,000
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Such As Aspirin: 7,600
Marijuana:	0 Zero overdose deaths in all recorded history, compared to many thousands of deaths every year from alcohol and tobacco, and she's still not sure it's SAFER?!?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #24 posted by Celaya on September 20, 2006 at 13:20:47 PT
Paul Armentano
Fay and Barthwell promoting a Kanard - I see nothing's changed 8^)So, the old prohibitionist hacks are flowing into Colorado. Doesn't NORML and/or MPP have a few celebrities they can call on for occasions like this?Looks like it's time for Media War.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #23 posted by paul armentano on September 20, 2006 at 13:13:28 PT
Barthwell: How did you get to Colorado?
Wayne et al,And even more of interest: Who paid for Ms. Barthwell (who lives in IL) to fly to Colorado and appear -- now that she's not on the federal payroll and supposedly the DEA is not funding the anti-Amendment 44 efforts? According to Colorado Confidential, the group sponsoring these efforts and Ms. Kinard don't even have enough $$ to pay for Barthwell's plane ticket.http://coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=574According to Secretary of State records, GOCAM is not a big group. The most recent financial report shows that the organization only has $205 on hand, and almost all of it was given by the woman who heads the outlet, Beverly Kinard.
http://coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=574
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #22 posted by Wayne on September 20, 2006 at 12:43:14 PT
re: Paul #15 & #19
Andrea Barthwell was there, huh? It's funny that she's got time for this little press conference in CO, but wasn't able to show up for the 'Waiting to Inhale' debate last week in Washington. She left Dr. Murray hanging in the breeze, in a room full of pro-legalizers. For a split-second, I almost felt sorry for him...until he started talking.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by rainbow on September 20, 2006 at 12:34:06 PT
Comment #6
The ones laughing are the drug dealers and police industry if it fails.Rainbow
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by schmeff on September 20, 2006 at 12:03:45 PT
What's in Kinard's medicine cabinet?
I knew Beverly Kinard in the wayback when I lived in Colorado. She was (is?) married to a Denver cop, David Kinard. She is more messed-up about drugs than anyone I know.A hypochondriac (sp?) of the first order, her medicine cabinet was (is?) a mini-pharmacy (I looked). Whenever her two kids had an ache, sniffle, cut or bruise, Mommy had a pill or potion to solve it. She had no qualms diverting prescription meds to other family members, which is of course illegal. She loved to play doctor. Kid restless? Here's some of Mommy's Valium.Needless to say, kids who are taught from an early age that there's a pill for everything are likely to develop an unhealthy relationship with drugs in general, and when her son Scotty began abusing drugs, she became an anti-drug warrior in the mold of our old friend Joyce.I'm sure it's never occurred to her WHY her son has problems with drugs, because she is oblivious to the idea that legal drugs are an issue. Scotty's problems are a direct result of Beverly's fascination with pharmaceuticals, but in a classic case of denial, Beverly scapegoats 'illegal drugs' for her own failures as a parent.Before you start throwing stones, Beverly, take a critical look inside your own 'medicine' cabinet.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by paul armentano on September 20, 2006 at 11:54:12 PT
New Conference
To nobody's surprise, the 'friends' were longtime prohibitionist Calvina Fay and former ONDCP-er Andrea Barthwell. Same folks with the same spin...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 11:49:24 PT
freewillks 
Must have tested Willie's stash. That was really funny. Thanks for the laugh.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by freewillks on September 20, 2006 at 11:48:03 PT
500% , must of tested Willie's stash
Romans 12:2a Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 11:25:02 PT
500% More Potent
That is so wrong. No one would be walking but floating if that was true. Why not for impact make it a 1000% more potent or maybe 2000% more potent. Geesh!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by paul armentano on September 20, 2006 at 11:19:53 PT
Kinard and "friends"
just had a news conference in Denver today (under the monicker Save Our Society from Drugs) alleging that cannabis today is 500% more potent than ever before, causes damage to every organ in the body, etc. We'll see if the Colorado media calls them on their claims. Mason/SAFER were preparing to counter this yesterday, so expect another round of media hits in Colorado.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by whig on September 20, 2006 at 10:56:16 PT
Sam Adams
I tried to post it but it didn't fit my voice very well even when I explained that it was written by someone else. I really liked what you said about the difference between city and country people, because I think it's important to understand how we are different if we want to figure out a way to survive with one another. The thing is that even if the people in the country don't have to tolerate as much of one another they still are being forced to deal with the government that the city people are imposing on them, and they don't all want to be part of that at all.So really my solution is there should be two or more governments and you can subscribe to one if you think it serves your interests. Just like there was only one church that everyone was required to belong to at one time in European history, but then there was a protestant reformation and eventually the free thought movement, which meant that there became many churches that you could choose between, so the same can be done with the government.Yes, I have another website. What I just wrote is basically something I was writing about in an article I posted there, but I'm coming to more of a conclusion about it I think.This is the article, it's about a week old.http://cannablog.wordpress.com/2006/09/14/do-we-need-a-single-government/
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by Celaya on September 20, 2006 at 10:49:48 PT
dongenero
I've always wondered about the people in those polls who admit to using cannabis. It makes you wonder if these polls are pure fabrications.The truth is, it would be hard to find a family that didn't have at least one member who consumed pot, or at least had a friend that did.Considering that, it's amazing there isn't a landslide rejection of cannabis prohibition. Shows you how mean this country has become. (Or perhaps there are no REAL elections anymore.)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by BGreen on September 20, 2006 at 10:45:58 PT
Sam Adams was a real man?
I always thought you named yourself after a beer. LOLThe Reverend Bud Green
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by dongenero on September 20, 2006 at 10:42:23 PT
You're right Sam
and the referendums shouldn't have to pass.The Constitution should protect that 10%-20% from the unreasonable tyranny of the majority.And a good number of non-cannabis users apparantly must agree if the polls are always showing 50% +/- for legalization/decriminalization.The other explanation might be that far more than 10%-20% are regular cannabis users but don't admit it when polled regarding cannabis use. Of this, we can be quite sure given that people tend to not incriminate themselves.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on September 20, 2006 at 10:36:54 PT
whig - sure, but where?
Once it's posted here, I figure it's in the public domain, right? do you have another website?I've been thinking about using a different alias, I've found out some bad stuff about Sam Adams. He was Speaker of the House in Mass. after the Revolutionary War, and was a real jerk during Shay's rebellion.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Celaya on September 20, 2006 at 10:34:37 PT
Kinard's Canard
Mason Tvert says, "This initiative is not about children, it's about adults." Then Kinard responds by prattling on about.... the children. She says, "they're trying to make kids believe that it's safe." 
 
Of course SAFER is not trying to make kids believe anything. They are talking to adults about adults. Seems to me hiding behind children is worse than that old saying of "hiding behind a woman's skirt." (No offense, gals.)People injecting children into an argument about adult behavior and policy ought to be banned from the debate - or ignored by those who are airing it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by whig on September 20, 2006 at 10:30:55 PT
Sam Adams
May I post your comment? It was very well stated.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by Sam Adams on September 20, 2006 at 09:51:29 PT
one note
Something that I find fascinating that is little discussed in drug policy reform is the split between urban and non-urban voters. Urban voters are ALWAYS far more tolerant on drug law issues. Note hear that Denver approved legalization, the state as whole will vote it down overwhelmingly.I think this is the key to why the US and Europe are so far apart on drug laws. Most Euros live in close proximity to each other in cities. Most of us do not live in cities. Living in cities forces people to be more tolerant of each other. You've got the guy living upstairs, the guy living downstairs, the family next door. You've got noises, you've got bad smells, you've got music, talking, yelling, smoking, animals. You can't get away, it's in your face 24/7.What happens is that we learn to live with each other.  We become more mentally healthly. Fear-mongering doesn't work!  All the major fear-mongering issues have come from the suburbs. Coyotes, smoking, seat-belts, and most of all, drugs. Living off on your own, secluded in a house, seeing only other people exactly like yourself all the time, these are all inherently mentally unhealthy. People need social living - each other - to survive.It's easy to believe that black people are monsters when you never see any. It's easy to become spoiled and narcisstic out in the 'burbs. Ensconced in your own little private castle, everything is just the way you like it. You don't have to look at people smoking cannabis or tobacco. Even the thought of it then become reprehensible.You'll support politicians and laws to control everything, because none of the laws have any impact on your life whatsoever - or at least it's easy to believe that.We should have separate laws for the city & country. But that would be de-centralization, and only the Greens and Liberarians want that. Everyone else wants The One Big Government.On another, more disturbing note - why does MPP continue to squander the vast majority of its money on legalization referendums, at the wrong time, in the wrong place? How many times do they have to lose by 10 points or more before admitting it's not working, and probably won't ever? I seriously doubt that any state in the US will vote for MJ legalization, EVER. No one ever voted on alcohol prohibition, if they did, it probably would stayed illegal.The majority of voters will never use cannabis, it will always be 10 or 20% or less. It's awfully hard to convince non-smokers to vote to legalize, in the face of constant, overwhelming propaganda. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Hope on September 20, 2006 at 09:27:18 PT
"laughingstock factor,"
I really hate that...and it's a real thing.The one's "laughing" are doing so out of ignorance...but it's still so disturbing.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by lombar on September 20, 2006 at 09:24:02 PT
Specious
""If they formed a group that was called Prohibition Against Polio Vaccine, would they go out and protect children against inoculations?" she added. "They're trying to use a mind control on people with propaganda, and they're trying to make kids believe that it's safe.""Accusing anti-prohibition activists of using mind control and propaganda? Is this the new arguments for the weak-minded? Just accuse the opposition of doing what the goverment is doing? Using propaganda to create consent to keep caging people for not using the state-sanction drugs?( you know the ones that dumb people down and really cause serious health problems)So, what is so safe about prison? How can one deal with such stupidity? 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2006 at 09:11:50 PT
Good point!!!
dongenero ...an excellent point ...Would that we could be protected by the government in power for the same reason ... Our president was elected by the slimmest of majorities ... and that should preclude the frantic assault of his government on "liberals" and any others who oppose his policies.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 20, 2006 at 08:55:58 PT
Rocky Mountain News: Legalizing Marijuana 
September 20, 2006Excerpt: The poll results for Amendment 44 to legalize the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana for persons 21 or older showed it failing 53 percent to 42 percent. "Predictably, the people pulling for pot are from Denver - 58 percent. It fails everywhere else in the state," Weigel said. She added that there's also the "laughingstock factor," which means Colorado may not want to be viewed by the nation as the place to go for marijuana. But a proponent, Kathy Swaim, a 49-year-old nurse, said her mother died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76, and even though medicinal marijuana laws have been passed, they're not working. Swaim also said marijuana has been unfairly stigmatized. "I don't know that it's more addictive than alcohol, gambling and cigarettes - and those can destroy lives," said the Democrat from Jefferson County. But Cindy Thomas, 42, a Republican from Jefferson County, said there's not enough information about recreational use of marijuana to determine whether it would be harmful if used regularly.Complete Article: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_5007167,00.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by dongenero on September 20, 2006 at 07:50:57 PT
the laws are unconstitutional
Even if some of these initiatives are down in the polls by a very slight margin, nearly half are for it!As a Constitutional Republic, those adults who wish to use cannabis should be protected from the tyranny of the SLIGHT majority, by our Constitution.Life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The cannabis laws are unconstitutional. If the cannabis prohibitionists want a nanny state they can always move to China, or the Middle East, or Indonesia. Is it not that simple?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by paul armentano on September 20, 2006 at 07:35:44 PT
Latest CO poll numbers
http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_263081652.htmlPoll: Small Majority Of Voters Against Pot LawSupporters, Opponents Of Amendment 44 Hold EventsJodi Brooks
Reporting(CBS4) DENVER The latest CBS4 News/Rocky Mountain News poll showed a small majority of registered voters in Colorado were against legalizing small amounts of marijuana.Fifty-three percent of those questioned said they're against Amendment 44 which would make one ounce or less of pot legal to possess. Forty-two percent said they support the measure.A coalition of groups against the amendment, including Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, planned to hold a news conference Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.Supporters of the measure held their own event in Denver Tuesday.Damien LaGoy is one man who said there are true benefits to marijuana.He's HIV positive and takes medication to survive. LaGoy said all the pills make him nauseas and cause him to throw-up."If I can catch it before it gets too hard, I can stop it, but if I get full blown into nausea then I just don't want to do anything all day," LaGoy said.He said the pot eases the nausea.LaGoy was busted by Denver police in March even though an ordinance said it was legal to possess less than an ounce of pot in the city. He was charged under state law."We think this is wrong," said Brian Vicente, a lawyer with Sensible Colorado. "We think it's a waste of taxpayers' dollars and we're going to fight this out in court."Late Wednesday, the city attorney filed a motion to dismiss LaGoy's case because of several factors, including his health.(© MMVI CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment