Drug Policy

Marijuana and gay marriage: New study explores their legal link

Same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization aren't natural bedfellows, as it were. But do the topics have more in common than seems obvious at first blush? Jonathan Rauch thinks so. In a new Brookings Institution study on view below in its entirety, he maintains that just as states have the right t ... More >>

Marijuana: Eric Holder says fed response to Colorado law coming soon

Yesterday, eight former DEA administrators sent a letter to ranking members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (see it below), encouraging them to quiz U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder about why the Justice Department hasn't cracked down on Colorado and Washington state over their recently passed ma ... More >>

Marijuana: United Nations board says Colorado pot law violates international treaties

As we reported earlier today, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder didn't choose his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee to share the Justice Department response to marijuana laws in Colorado that contradict federal policy. The measures contradict international treaties, too, as a new rep ... More >>

Marijuana ordinance to make Nederland first U.S. city to regulate pot since its prohibition?

The Amendment 64 Shadow Task Force is made up of activists monitoring a governor-appointed group charged with making recommendations about the implementation of A64, which allows adults 21 and over to possess small amounts of marijuana. Now, the shadow task force is trying to beat the state to the p ... More >>

Marijuana: Maryland pot decriminalization bill latest example of Amendment 64's impact

Yesterday, we highlighted a Pennsylvania proposal that mirrors Amendment 64, the Colorado measure whose proponents see as a template for nationwide marijuana reform. Today, a Maryland bill to decriminalize pot is the latest example of other states following in Colorado's footsteps -- but perhaps mov ... More >>

Marijuana: Obama administration has done poor job of talking about drug policy, czar says

Just over two months since the signing of Amendment 64, a direct challenge to federal marijuana policy, the Obama administration still has provided no guidance to Colorado about whether a challenge to the law is forthcoming. As a result, observers searching for clues about the feds' thinking are lef ... More >>

Marijuana legalization proposal like Colorado's coming to Pennsylvania: More states to follow?

Following Amendment 64's passage, marijuana reformers have pushed for similar measures beyond Colorado's borders -- the idea being that if cannabis is legalized in more states, the federal government will have to change policies making pot illegal under all circumstances. That's precisely what's hap ... More >>

Marijuana: Obama drug czar cites "serious national conversation" about legalization

Since the passage and signing of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, Coloradans and folks for and against policy reform nationwide have waited for word as to whether the federal government will block implementation of the law. The latest clue to the feds' approach comes in a lett ... More >>

Marijuana petition asks Joe Biden not to push for crackdown on Colorado, Washington

The longer the federal government waits to tell Colorado and Washington whether it will allow the states to determine their own marijuana policy after each passed pot-reform measures, the more theories surface about who in the administration might prove to be an impediment. The latest involves Vice ... More >>

The history of cannabis in Colorado...or how the state went to pot

See also: William Breathes looks back on three years as the country's first pot critic

Marijuana: Amendment 64 opponents turn to op-eds to make up for shortfall in ad money

The fight for and against Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol act, is entering its final stages -- and Roger Sherman, campaign director for Smart Colorado, the No on 64 movement, admits that he can't compete with proponents when it comes to resources. So he's countering with events and ... More >>

Marijuana Majority website boosts Amendment 64 with power of celebrity, social media

Last week, we noted that actress Susan Sarandon is voicing robocalls on behalf of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. Now, a new website, MarijuanaMajority.com, is pushing such measures here and elsewhere using the words of other notables who've questioned drug policy, including F ... More >>

Marijuana: Why ex-drug warriors hate Amendment 64, other drug initiatives

Former drug czars, DEA administrators and national "addiction experts" have come out in opposition to Colorado's Amendment 64, as well as similar measures before voters in Washington and Oregon. In other wildly-unexpected news: The sky is, indeed, blue.

Amendment 64 camp on law-enforcement support, teachers union opposition

At noon, proponents of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, will hold a press event at which two law-enforcement organizations will join previous backers in expressing their support for the measure; get details below. A spokeswoman stresses that the get-together isn't a response to ... More >>

Marijuana: Amendment 64 Blue Book changes, legislator criticism don't worry proponent

Yesterday, members of the Legislative Council Committee asked for changes in the Blue Book description of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, suggesting along the way that the initiative is likely to spur lawsuits. Opponents pounced on these assertions and others, but a 64 backer ... More >>

Marijuana activist says Obama campaign using "Harold and Kumar" clip to hide bad policies

Update below: Kal Penn and John Cho, the stars of the Harold and Kumar movies, have been to Colorado multiple times in recent weeks to stump for the Obama campaign, and both appear with the president in a video about Penn hosting Democratic National Convention coverage this week; see it below. Howev ... More >>

Marijuana: George Soros link to Amendment 64 claimed, disputed

Billionaire George Soros is a frequent conservative target for donating big bucks to liberal causes (of course, conservatives have munificent billionaires of their own -- but that's another story). Now, Smart Colorado, a group opposing Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, sees Sor ... More >>

Marijuana study author: U.S. Attorney wrong about rising teen pot use

Yesterday, we told you about a study showing no link between medical marijuana legalization and teen pot use. The co-author of that study, University of Colorado Denver professor Daniel Rees, sees the findings as directly contradicting attempts to link MMJ and marijuana usage among young people tha ... More >>

Marijuana: Ken Buck says Amendment 64 backers care more about profit than people

New update below: The campaign supporting Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, treated news that Weld County DA Ken Buck had taken a high-profile role with Smart Colorado, an organization devoted to defeating the measure, as a cause to celebrate, portraying him as a polarizing figu ... More >>

Marijuana prohibition's end would unite police, community, advocate says

Tonight, Neill Franklin, a former Baltimore narcotics cop who's now the executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, aka LEAP, will be speaking in Denver (details below) about ending marijuana prohibition in Colorado. If that happened, he believes, "it would be very significant in reu ... More >>

Video: Amendment 64's first campaign ad encourages marijuana talks

Last month, the backers of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, unveiled a billboard near Mile High Stadium (and a liquor store) that took a soft-sell approach to promoting the proposal. So, too, does the first campaign commercial for Amendment 64, which starts airing today and is ... More >>

Students for Sensible Drug Policy holding international conference in Denver

Today through Sunday, experts on U.S. Drug Policy and the medical marijuana movement are meeting with politically minded students from across the nation at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. And while 4/20 is still a month a way, the students debating the pros and cons of drug policy at Students ... More >>

Marijuana: Ex-guv thinks Regulate act could bring down global pot prohibition

When backers of the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act turned in 12,000-plus signatures Friday to cure a 2,407 signature shortfall toward qualifying for the November ballot, a special guest was on hand: Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico. Johnson thinks the Regulate measure could be the b ... More >>

Operation Sweet Leaf raids boost marijuana regulation, says Mason Tvert

Mason Tvert.​To pot prohibition supporters, Operation Sweet Leaf, a raid on 25 reputed cannabis grows, paints the picture of growing criminality that begs for a police crackdown. But Mason Tvert, one of the main proponents of the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, which recently submitted ab ... More >>

Marijuana at the Crossroads: Event asks if MMJ lawyers are breaking oath

According to keynote speaker and DU prof Sam Kamin, "Marijuana at the Crossroads," a Sturm College of Law symposium that starts tomorrow (see the schedule below), aims to get beyond the usual pot palaver. Sample subject: Are attorneys breaking their professional oath simply by specializing in medic ... More >>

Medical marijuana v. recreational use: NORML controversy, Colorado connection

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the country's most powerful cannabis advocacy organization, and it's long had a close link to Colorado, which hosted its 40th anniversary conference last year. But relations between NORML and Colorado's medical marijuana community ... More >>

Drug Policy Alliance backs Good Samaritan bill aimed at ending busts after 911 overdose calls

Art Way.​Art Way, who manages Colorado's branch of the Drug Policy Alliance, is currently hard at work on an intriguing piece of legislation set for introduction in the next session: a Good Samaritan bill intended to prevent those who call 911 when a friend is overdosing from being arrested fo ... More >>

Marijuana activists ask John Suthers to take ethics pledge after Dan Hartman criticism

John Suthers.​At noon today, Mason Tvert and other Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act backers will stage an event at Attorney General John Suthers's office. Why? Suthers feels a letter by (outgoing?) Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division head Dan Hartman published in places mulling MMJ retai ... More >>

Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol celebrates Supreme Court wins with Signature Bomb

Mason Tvert.​The Colorado Supreme Court has rejected two title-board-related challenges to the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 -- one by gadfly Doug Bruce, another from advocate Corey Donahue. Although these matters may have seemed like distractions, Regulate proponent Mason Tvert ... More >>

Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act endorsed by ACLU, petition signatures reach 60,000

Mason Tvert.​The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 hasn't sparked up love from all pro-marijuana activists, but it continues to win support from other sources. According to Regulate proponent Mason Tvert, the latest organizations to endorse the measure are the American Civil Libertie ... More >>

Reefer Madness, Redux

Medical marijuana state employees won't face fed prosecution: What's it mean for Colorado?

Jan Brewer.​As reported by our Toke of the Town blog, the Department of Justice's response to a lawsuit by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer directly contradicted an assertion by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers that state employees might be prosecuted for enforcing state medical marijuana law ... More >>

Despite challenge, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 keeps its name (for now)

Doug Bruce​As we mentioned earlier this week, Colorado Springs conservative Douglas Bruce had petitioned the Colorado Title Board to change the title of the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 to include TABOR-related tax language. The hearing on that challenge was yesterday morning, b ... More >>

Marijuana legalization: Legalize 2012 objects to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act name

Tvert & Vicente.​The firestorm of invective at the Great Legalization Debate suggested that parties behind competing marijuana-reform measures for the 2012 ballot might not be exactly rooting for each other. More evidence: Legalize2012.com has created a guideline for reporters that objects to ... More >>

Proponents of marijuana legalization know that where there's smoke, there's ire

Marijuana legalization debate preview: Meet the advocates who'll be hashing it out

Free me.​It's fitting that Wednesday night's debate between Colorado cannabis activists has been dubbed "Round One." The event is being advertised as a "lively and friendly" debate -- but if it's as impassioned and fiery as the comments on our marijuana blogs have been, it might be closer to ... More >>

War on drugs' 40th anniversary: Protesters at Skyline Park say policy has failed (PHOTOS)

​Forty years ago today, President Richard Nixon declared war on drugs -- and according to protesters who gathered at Skyline Park earlier today, that's forty years too many for a failed policy that's done more damage than good not only to America, but to countries around the world.

Marijuana legalization: Read eight initiatives filed for 2012 Colorado ballot consideration

Brian Vicente.​Sensible Colorado's Brian Vicente has been talking about a 2012 ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for adult use here since at least this November 2009 post. But his effort to accomplish this feat is one step closer to reality now that he's submitted eight variations on a ... More >>

Reader: Linking sex assault, marijuana ban in legalization campaign demeans rape victims

Toni Fox.​Local voters are likely to consider at least two 2012 ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use -- one from Legalize2012.com, another via a group featuring SAFER's Mason Tvert. And these two outfits have very different views judging by a Legalize2012.com re ... More >>

Medical marijuana industry about to be cornered by drug companies, Sativex?

​As we've reported in the past, a recent investment report coming out of Colorado pegged the size of the medical marijuana market at $1.7 billion, just under the amount generated annually by Viagra sales. That's enough moolah to catch the attention of the pharmaceutical companies, which appear ... More >>

Pot legalization: Booze-fueled-sex-assault victim previews Women's Marijuana Movement event

Toni Fox.​At 11:30 a.m. this morning in the State Capitol's Senate press room, members of the Women's Marijuana Movement will mark both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Alcohol Awareness Month by arguing that increased cannabis use may help prevent rapes fueled by booze. It's a subject that ... More >>

Proposition 19 loss gives CO chance to be first state to legalize marijuana, says Mason Tvert

Mason Tvert.​Update: Reached a short time ago, SAFER's Mason Tvert is philosophical about the defeat of marijuana legalization measure Proposition 19 in California. He sees a number of flaws in the approach of organizers there that may have contributed to it falling short -- errors he feels hi ... More >>

Cannabinomics: The Marijuana Policy Tipping Point: Where does Colorado land?

​According to Christopher Fichtner, a psychiatrist and former Illinois mental health director, the country's on the verge of radical marijuana policy change (i.e., legalization) -- something Fichtner writes about in his new book, Cannabinomics: The Marijuana Policy Tipping Point. And it looks ... More >>

Colorado AG John Suthers lauded by state drug investigators

Attorney General John Suthers​ Correction: Representative Tom Massey, R - Poncha Springs, was responsible for the "genie in a bottle" quote originally referenced in this blog post -- and now deleted. Our apologies. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers was recognized by his peers yesterday f ... More >>

Three years after his murder, memories of Ken Gorman -- Colorado's most vocal pot activist -- have gone up in smoke

Ken Gorman's diaries of a mad pot man: A look at the marijuana activist's writings

www.kengorman.orgPot dealer and prominent activist Ken Gorman was killed in his home in 2007. He was 60.​Ken Gorman, the subject of "High Times," this week's feature, was famous for his pro-pot diatribes and anger-fueled sermons against the establishment. When he wasn't spouting off at the ste ... More >>

Marijuana movement for women urges: Spill the beans to your mom about pot on Mother's Day

Jessica Peck Corry, marijuana mom.​For the most part, the marijuana movement has long been seen as a predominantly male group -- but that's about to change. Just in time for Mothers Day, a variety of local pot activists (most of them female) are launching the Women's Marijuana Movement with th ... More >>

Tom Tancredo wants to turn marijuana into the toke of the town

Legalizing marijuana -- medical or otherwise -- has become the toke of the town