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Volume Two V2 Issue 4 SAFER petition drive places marijuana legalization initiative on CO ballot
Volume Two V2 Issue 4 SAFER petition drive places marijuana legalization initiative on CO ballot
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Oaksterdam News
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| SAFER petition drive places marijuana legalization initiative on CO ballot |
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| Written by Steve Fox | |
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Colorado voters will decide Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) submitted 129,000 signatures Aug. 7 from Colorado citizens who support a state ballot initiative to legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. To qualify for the ballot, 67,829 of the signatories must be state-registered voters. The Secretary of State must verify the signatures and by Sept. 6 declare whether a sufficient number of registered voters signed the petition. This became the major impetus for a statewide initiative: If Denver officials were going to use a legal loophole to undermine the will of the voters, the only solution was to change state law.  MADE IT — Mason Tvert of SAFER announces that his group had turned in twice the required number of voter signatures. Photo courtesy of SAFER Last November, the organization coordinated a similar initiative campaign in the city of Denver. Consistent with its mission of educating the public about the fact that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, the campaign promoted this message in every press release and in every media appearance. SAFER specifically argued that adults should not be punished for making the rational choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol. Denver citizens embraced the SAFER message and the initiative passed by a 54-46 margin, making Denver the first US city to eliminate all penalties for marijuana possession. (California and most other states do not allow such a local action.) Unfortunately, Denver officials refused to respect the will of the people and instructed law enforcement to keep citing residents under state law for marijuana possession. This became the major impetus behind the statewide initiative campaign. If Denver officials were going to use state law to undermine the will of the people, SAFER reasoned, the only solution was to eliminate the state law. SAFER announced the statewide campaign late last year and launched the signature drive on March 1, following a relatively easy approval process for the ballot language. The petition drive picked up momentum throughout the summer, climaxing during the final weeks, when about 2,000 Colorado residents a day were signing the petition to place the initiative on the ballot. {quotes}SAFER's signature drive was bolstered by the support of more than 500 volunteers from around the state.{/quotes} These volunteers came from all walks of life, from punk bands to the business world. Even the mayor of one small town circulated a petition for the campaign. After the initiative qualifies, SAFER plans to spend the fall encouraging supporters of marijuana reform - especially on college campuses - to register to vote and then get out to vote on Nov. 7 (or early, as is possible in Colorado). The campaign's large volunteer base will be activated in an effort to educate tens of thousands of registered voters about the initiative. Most significantly, SAFER will take advantage of the media opportunities provided by the campaign to spread its “marijuana is safer than alcohol” message throughout the state of Colorado and across the nation. Win or lose, this will undoubtedly undermine support for marijuana prohibition in the country. Of course, {quotes right}should the initiative garner more than 50 percent of the Nov. 7 vote, the unified ban on marijuana in this country will officially be over.{/quotes} It will then truly be a high time in the Mile High city. For more information about the campaign or to make a donation, please visit safercolorado.org.  |
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