Reader: We Should Sue Oklahoma and Nebraska for Making People Fat

A pair of law professors from Concordia University argue that Colorado should pay Oklahoma and Nebraska for the headaches caused by limited marijuana legalization, just as the government here could be responsible for pollution that flows by river into their territory. The theory engendered a great deal of debate among...

By Michael Roberts

February 19, 2015

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

A pair of law professors from Concordia University argue that Colorado should pay Oklahoma and Nebraska for the headaches caused by limited marijuana legalization, just as the government here could be responsible for pollution that flows by river into their territory.

The theory engendered a great deal of debate among readers, with this one coming up with a unique way to look at the situation.

Chris Johnson writes:

By this logic, other states should be suing Oklahoma and Nebraska for their contributions to the obesity epidemic by the "toxic sludge" they sling over their borders aka high fructose corn syrup. Unlike marijuana, which has yet to be fully determined to cause health problems due to lack of research, we have plenty of research showing how detrimental corn syrup is to a healthy diet, yet it's shipped over their state lines constantly.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts. For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

Follow:

Facebook: 111180895657427

Twitter: @mikerobertscolo