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Volume Two V2 Issue 2 SAFER campaign moves forward on local, statewide ballot measure
Volume Two V2 Issue 2 SAFER campaign moves forward on local, statewide ballot measure
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Oaksterdam News
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| SAFER campaign moves forward on local, statewide ballot measure |
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| Written by Chris Conrad | |
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Cannabis comparison as a safer alternative to alcohol wins regional, national support for equal rights and treatment Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) has used the ballot box to advance the policy that cannabis is safer to use than alcohol and hence should be treated no more severely. Last fall SAFER scored a major victory by getting a voter ordinance passed Denver that legalized an ounce of cannabis for adults.  Supporters of I-100 rallied for the initiative passed in Denver last November. Photo by Steve Fox Local officials attempted an end-run around the voters by sending cases to state rather than municipal court. In response SAFER has launched a statewide initiative strategy. The group made major progress on its Colorado campaign in March when the ballot language was approved and adopted. “This can often be a difficult process, but we made it,” SAFER Executive Director Steve Fox said. “We ended up raising about $3,500 and, thanks to this fund, we were able to launch our signature drive in February. We have more than 300 volunteer signature gatherers and they seem really fired up.” The signature drive needs to collect some 68,000 valid signatures by Aug. 7. The campaign is gaining traction, with 25-30 volunteers at its first training in Boulder, 40 the next night at CSU in Ft. Collins, and a day later 30 came to the Grand Junction training. The local CBS affiliate showed up and gave a favorable story. A Denver Post column expressed that Mason Tvert is leading a true grass roots movement in the state. Texas, Florida students embrace cause and equation Meanwhile, support for the campaign is continuing to spread among college students. There were two significant victories on university campuses in February. Students at both Florida State U and U of Texas at Austin decisively passed SAFER-style referenda. The margin of victory at FSU was 60-40 and at UT Austin it was 64-36. “It seems the Colorado success can be replicated if local activists follow a specific media plan. The coordinators in Austin followed this plan and got widespread media coverage (www.safertexas.info). There are two other major college campuses where referenda appear likely — Ohio State and the U of Maryland,” said Fox. “One fun upcoming event will be the SAFER St. Patrick’s Day campaign, to call for a moratorium on marijuana arrests on St. Patrick’s Day so that people have a recreational option other than drinking themselves stupid. I’ve been working with an activist in Ireland who is going to launch the SAFER Ireland campaign in Dublin on March 14 or 15. On the same day, we will do an event near a Coors facility in Colorado. I am also close to convincing activists in St. Louis to hold an event outside an Anheuser-Busch facility and would like to get something going in Boston and maybe Milwaukee.” To learn more go to www.saferchoice.org, and please visit the SAFER donation page. |
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