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History of Colorado Cannabis Reform
Denver 4/20 Rally to be Historic
4/20 is International Cannabis Day, celebrated by millions of people
throughout the world. Every year on 4/20 at 4:20 pm, citizens worldwide
gather together to celebrate their favorite plant.
The Denver 4/20 Rally will
have special significance this year since it is the first 4/20 Rally
to be held since the passage of a law that makes cannabis possession
the "lowest priority" for law enforcement
in the city of Denver. In addition, for the first time in history, the
city of Denver has granted a permit for cannabis re-legalization activists
to officially hold a the 4/20 Rally in Civic Center Park in Downtown
Denver. In years past, the gatherings had been small and informal, because
the City refused to grant permits.
Perhaps the City is finally listening to the will of the voters and
will make the Rally the "lowest priority" for police that
day. On the other hand, rumors are swirling that the Denver Police Department
is going to use the 4/20 Rally as a training exercise for the massive
protests scheduled for the upcoming Democratic
National Convention in Denver in August. Last year at 4/20, over
100 well-armed law enforcement officers patrolled a crowd of less than
2000 people, making 64 marijuana-related arrests. The estimated cost
of the increased law enforcement presence was more than $12,000, making
marijuana-related arrests cost taxpayers over $187.00 each!
According to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the police presence at
the 4/20 Rally in 2007 was an example of how they already treated cannabis
as the "lowest priority". Click below to watch a video of
Mayor Hickenlooper claiming the police were already treating cannabis
as a low priority before the Nov. 2007 vote, juxtaposed against the
video of over 100 police officers arresting dozens of people at the
4/20 Rally in 2007: http://www.vflog.com/vflogs/hickenlooper/hickenlooper01.html
History of Denver Cannabis Reform
Denver citizens have voted 3 times in the past 3 years to legalize
small amounts of cannabis for adult possession. In 2005, Denver voters
passed Initiative 100 by 53% of
the vote. The Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative made it legal
for adults over 21 years old to possess one ounce of cannabis or less
in the City and County of Denver.
In 2006, Denver voters passed the Amendment
44, a measure to implement the Denver initiative statewide. However,
the amendment failed to get enough votes in the rest of the state and
was not passed into law. But the measure was approved by 56% of Denver
voters.
Despite these two votes, the Mayor's did nothing to stop cannabis arrests.
Instead, arrests and prosecution for marijuana offenses began increasing.
In 2007, Safer Denver put a third initiative on the ballot: this time
they would model their law after a successful law in Seattle, which
made marijuana arrests the lowest priority for law enforcement officers.
Denver voters passed the lowest priority
law by 57% of the vote.
Cannabis-related Tourism
SAFER
Denver modeled their "lowest priority" law after a law
passed in Seattle in 2003. Since the law passed, Seattle has seen their
marijuana-related arrests decrease dramatically, with no apparent negative
consequences. In addition to the money saved on law enforcement and
court costs, Seattle has been able to capitalize on "cannabis-related
tourism" with the large and popular Seattle Hemp Fest. Over the
3-day festival, over 200,000 people attend, many from out-of-town, generating
an estimated $6 million in revenue for the city and local businesses.
Colorado Governor Ritter and his spokesperson Evan Dryer have been
approached about how the "lowest priority" law would increase
cannabis-related tourism in Colorado, and how that would benefit the
economy. Watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg6tu_T0I6Y
Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel
As required by the "lowest priority" law, Mayor Hickenlooper
appointed an 11-member Marijuana Policy Review Panel to "assess
and report on the effects" of the law. According to Brian Vicente,
chairperson of the Panel, they have had two meetings since the election
and are trying to collect hard data on current marijuana arrests and
prosecutions in the City. The next meeting is not scheduled until May
28, well after the 4/20 Rally is held.
Upcoming Legal Trainings
4/20 participants are encouraged to attend a series of legal trainings
next week about how to protect their rights when interacting with the
police. The trainings are designed for protesters at the Democratic
National Convention, but the information will be very valuable and 4/20
participants are being encouraged to attend.
What Will the Mayor Do?
On April 20, there will be a true test of whether or not Denver Mayor
Hickenlooper will listen to the Denver voters. Although the lowest priority
law applies to adult possession in private, police constantly prioritize
which laws they enforce and when. Will police make the 4/20 Rally their
"lowest priority" that day? Or will it be treated the same
as it was last year, with increased law enforcement presence and arrests?
Will Denver Police use it as a training exercise for the Democratic
National Convention, or will they use it as a training exercise on how
to look the other way? The Mayor's office has refused repeated requests
to comment for this article.
Proponents think 3 votes in 3 years should be enough to get the City
to change its cannabis law enforcement policies.
Call to Action
Please call the Denver Mayor and City Council and wish them a peaceful
4/20 this year. Tell them you hope the Mayor will order the police to
honor the will of the voters and make cannabis enforcement the lowest
priority that day, and every day.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
Phone: 720-865-9000
E-mail: MileHighMayor@ci.denver.co.us
Website: www.denvergov.org/mayor
Denver City Council
Phone: 720.865.9534
Email: dencc@ci.denver.co.us
Website: www.denvergov.org/CityCouncil
Remind them, that just like the 1968 Democratic National Convention
in Chicago, "The whole world is watching!"
http://www.jofreeman.com/photos/convention68.html
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