At the outset of his essay, on view in its entirety, Lopez details what he sees as A64's weaknesses.
"Amendment 64 did not remove criminal penalties, nor did it make any concessions to those that are currently in jail for non-violent marijuana offenses, while ignoring the 18-21 year old community, continuing limits unlike the regulation of alcohol," he writes. "Those people are still in jail, and they will still face a hard time finding a job, resorting to dealing with the black markets for survival. This includes public consumption."
Lopez concedes that A64 proponents and opponents alike "understand that this is a step towards legalization." However, he views the measure as "only a legislative act to create an economy and not to end a war that has destroyed thousands of lives.... In fact, it still perpetuates it. It set forth guidelines for future regulations, establishing a strong bias for those who have the means to open respected marijuana businesses while also maintaining criminal penalties for those in possession of over an ounce. Talk about dangling a carrot. It has launched a green rush, but at the same time, it has made enough restrictions so that poorer and marginalized members of society still face the same problems as [they] did before and still risk going to prison and losing their basic freedoms."In other words, Coloradans, those of you who do not have money to join expensive local lobbies and attend fundraisers with other wealthy residents who have political connections, or have access to large amounts of cash, have been left out. Your voice was not heard and your community is not being represented. You, or someone you know, is suffering from having a marijuana charge on their record, on probation, or in jail. You and almost everyone you know, has been left out of a conversation."
The Civic Center happening is very different, he maintains. In his words, "The Denver 420 Rally is committed to getting the greed out of weed. We are also committed to getting our voices heard and are committed to ensuring that all of our rights, our human rights, are being considered. We will fight to make sure that members of communities most affected by the war on marijuana are included in the local and national debate and have their rights and freedoms restored. We are committed to supporting the growth of small local business and minority owned businesses while developing confidence and educating the large marijuana community on how to be active members of their community through continued contributions and peaceful political actions."
Of course, the event will feature a lot more than demonstrations and speech-making. In addition to addresses by the likes of attorney Rob Corry and activist Rico Colibri, there'll also be musical performances (most of the TBA at this point), awards presentations and a certain group activity slated to start at about twenty minutes after four in the afternoon.
Look below to see photos by Brandon Marshall of last year's Denver 4/20 rally, followed by the Lopez release.
Continue for more photos from last year's 4/20 event in Denver's Civic Center Park. More photos: 4/20 in Denver Continue for more photos from last year's 4/20 event in Denver's Civic Center Park. More photos: 4/20 in DenverContinue for more photos from last year's 4/20 event in Denver's Civic Center Park. Continue for more photos from last year's 4/20 event in Denver's Civic Center Park. More photos: 4/20 in Denver Continue for more photos from last year's 4/20 event in Denver's Civic Center Park. More photos: 4/20 in DenverContinue for more photos from last year's 4/20 event in Denver's Civic Center Park. Continue for the news release about this year's 4/20 event in Denver's Civic Center Park. Denver 4/20 news release:Denver 420 RallySaturday April 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., & Sunday April 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 2013:
Unity in a Large Marijuana Community to End Prohibition
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC -- The Largest 420 Rally in the Nation!
Amendment 64 set out to do one obvious thing: make money regulations.
The enduring ambition of the marijuana movement at large is to legalize marijuana by explicitly removing it from the Controlled Substance Abuse Act, decidedly repealing all marijuana laws and releasing current prisoners of the war on marijuana. Amendment 64 did not remove criminal penalties, making concessions for people currently in jail for non-violent marijuana offenses and ignored the 18-21 year old community. People are still in jail and they will still face a hard time finding a job, resorting to dealing with the black markets for survival. There should have also been guidelines for the smoking of marijuana in public treating it more like tobacco regulation and the Clean Indoor Air Act.
While proponents of Amendment 64 and even those who opposed it understand that this is a step towards legalization, it is still only a legislative act to create an economy and not to end a war that has destroyed thousands of lives, in fact, it still perpetuates it. It set forth guidelines for future regulations, establishing a strong bias for those who have the means to open respected marijuana businesses while also maintaining criminal penalties for those in possession of over an ounce. Talk about dangling a carrot. It has launched a green rush, but at the same time, it has made enough restrictions so that poorer and marginalized members of society still face the same problems as they did before and still risk going to prison and losing their basic freedoms.
In other words, Coloradans, those of you who do not have money to join expensive local lobbies and attend fundraisers with other wealthy residents who have political connections, or have access to large amounts of cash, have been left out. Your voice was not heard and your community is not being represented. You, or someone you know, is suffering from having a marijuana charge on their record, on probation, or in jail. You and almost everyone you know, has been left out of a conversation.
The people who wrote Amendment 64 did not have your best interests in mind or they would have repealed marijuana laws to let true free-market grow. Because of criminal penalties still in place and start-up costs that favor the wealthy, the large poor and marginalized communities miss out on opportunities for owning businesses in the new marijuana economy. Note that marijuana laws disproportionally affect minority communities and those members of these large communities are restricted from certain jobs or cannot open a marijuana business because of marijuana offenses.
The Denver 420 Rally & allies advocate human rights and believes fully that the war on marijuana is a war on poor and marginalized members of the community. Native Americans, Latino Americans, African Americans & poor White Americans have been targeted predominantly in the drug war for nearly a hundred years. The marijuana laws themselves were racist! Worst of all, Amendment 64 was created by the wealthy, for the wealthy, and even more disgusting, for those who made a fortune on the war on marijuana, such as the private prison industry and planet killing fossil fuels, which are one of the reasons marijuana was criminalized for in the first place. All of these are violations of human rights.
Making money is not a bad thing. It is also not a bad thing to have a business. America was built on small business. But, when power is gained by the persistent abuse of other human beings, which is slavery, it becomes a human rights issue. Keeping criminal penalties on marijuana in place continues the abuse of human beings. It continues to keep people in prison and continues to hold people at a disadvantage for personal growth, literally robbing them of their freedom.
The Denver 420 Rally is committed to getting the greed out of weed. We are also committed to getting our voices heard and are committed to ensuring that all of our rights, our human rights, are being considered. We will fight to make sure that members of communities most affected by the war on marijuana are included in the local and national debate and have their rights and freedoms restored. We are committed to supporting the growth of small local business & minority owned businesses. We will continue to develop confidence and educate the large marijuana community on how to be active members of their community through continued contributions and peaceful political actions.
The End of Prohibition will not come from the people until two thirds of the states unite and amend our US Constitution. Attend this year's rally and hear more about how we intend to do this, together, a marijuana community in unity. We have asked the Denver Police Department to properly prioritize their duties in regards to the smoking and consuming of marijuana for adults age 18 and over and to focus on the minors under 18 who should not be, unless in possession of a valid red card with recommended condition. We the Denver 420 Rally, formerly known as the Ken Gorman Rally, are the first and ongoing 29 year old establishment that has shaped what the large marijuana culture and community is today.
Stand up with us and show your support and unity for our cause of total freedom for marijuana locally, federally and globally including removing marijuana from the NATO Drug Treaty Act. Keep all attendance within Civic Center Park and away from the Denver Art Museum south of the park as to respect the children's event at the museum on Saturday. Anyone charged while in attendance will receive criminal defense services FREE of charge, courtesy of Attorney at Law, Robert Corry with Corry and Associates, Denver CO. Together we will build an inclusive community with civil engagement and equality. LET DENVER SERVE AS A BEACON OF HOPE.
Saturday April 20th 2013 Schedule
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Special Performance (Dj Arjitech) 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Instrumental Band Artist Performance 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m.: Hemp Fashion Show 1:00 p.m.-1:10 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance 1:10 p.m.-2:10 p.m.: Benediction 2:10 p.m.-2:20 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance 2:20 p.m.-2:35 p.m.: Invocation 2:35 p.m.-2:50 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance 2:50 p.m.-3:20 p.m.: Platform to the key note address John Pylka Chief Organizer to the 44th Annual National Smoke In 3:20 p.m.-4:20 p.m.: Key note Address given by Miguel Lopez, Rico Colibri (C.A.R.E) and Rob Corry 4:20 p.m.-4:35 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance 4:35 p.m.-4:50 p.m.: Thank Yous Acknowledgements and Dedications 4:50 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Special Performance (Dj Arjitech) 5:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m.: Closing speech 5:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m.: Instrumental Band Artist Fundraiser Performance
Sunday April 21st 2013
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Special Performance (Dj Arjitech) 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: Recognitions 12:45 p.m.-12:55 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance 12:55 p.m.-2:25 p.m.: Benediction and Awards 2:25 p.m.-2:35 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance 2:35 p.m.-2:40 p.m.: Invocation and Awards 2:40 p.m.-2:50 p.m.: Artist Performance 2:50 p.m.-3:20 p.m.: Platform to the key note address 3:20 p.m.-4:20 p.m.: Key note Address given by Miguel Lopez 4:20 p.m.-4:35 p.m.: Top Performing Artist 4:35 p.m.-4:50 p.m.: Awards 4:50 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Closing Speech
More from our Marijuana archive circa April 2012: "4/20 in Civic Center Park: Our pot critic cuts through the smoke"
