And Lopez has announced that free joints will be given away to attendees who are 21 and over.
Photos, details and the complete release below.
As you'll recall, the most recent 4/20 rally was planned as a two-day affair -- but a shooting on the first day caused the cancellation of the second.
Lopez was injured and nearly trampled in the resulting melee. And then, to compound his distress over what happened, Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown publicly questioned whether the rally was political in nature -- a designation that radically lowers the fee required for use of Civic Center Park and threatened future 4/20 events.Against this backdrop, Lopez notes in the release about today's rally, expected to get underway at 11 a.m., that "this is an officially, permitted political event," adding, "Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown challenges our legitimacy and claims our argument that the taxes will push people back into the black market is false, without explaining why. We challenge him on his relationship with the truth."
Likewise, Lopez maintains that the recreational marijuana tax structure established by the legislature -- an excise tax of 15 percent and a state sales tax of up to 15 percent, not counting local taxes -- undermines the spirit of Amendment 64, the November measure whose passage allowed adults 21 and over to use and possess small amounts of marijuana.
"Amendment 64 was sold as the 'Alcohol Marijuana Equalization Initiative,'" Lopez writes. "Marijuana taxes should be fair and equivalent to Colorado alcohol taxes, which are less than 1 percent."He also believes that "passage of Proposition AA creates public safety problems. A bloated and greedy government does not serve the Public Interest."
The cannabis giveaway -- which is permitted under A64, Lopez argues -- is intended as a symbol of such avarice. In his words, "the joint handout is a real-time demonstration of basic economics: Proposition AA's extreme taxes will undercut the Regulated Marijuana Market, and illegal Black Market and legal Gray Market (which is legal, but untaxed and unregulated) will both expand when the Government parasite kills the Industry host."
Continue for the complete release about today's "'No on Proposition AA' Campaign" rally, including a copy of the permit granting permission to use Civic Center Park."NO ON PROPOSITION AA" CAMPAIGN LAUNCHFREE JOINTS IN CIVIC CENTER PARK
Who: Friends, Stoners, Countrymen, "No Over Taxation," a Registered Issue Committee, A Whole Lot of Homeless People, campaign volunteers, Robert J. Corry, Jr., "Scorched Earth Lawyer" and Amendment 64 co-drafter.
What: Formal Launch of "No on Proposition AA" Campaign, to oppose the highest tax increase in Colorado history, authorizing a 30% State tax on recreational marijuana (15% excise tax and 15% sales tax). Free marijuana joints will be handed out to any person who is age 21 or older who attends the formal launch. No remuneration whatsoever will be accepted for the marijuana. Handing out free marijuana to adults 21+ is legal under the Colorado Constitution, Article XVIII § 16 ("Amendment 64").
When: Monday, September 9, 2013, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Denver Civic Center Park, between the two symbols of government greed and oppression, State Capitol and City Hall, Greek Amphitheatre (site of Denver 420 Rally).
Why: Amendment 64 was sold as the "Alcohol Marijuana Equalization Initiative." Marijuana taxes should be fair and equivalent to Colorado alcohol taxes, which are less than 1%. Passage of Proposition AA creates public safety problems. A bloated and greedy government does not serve the Public Interest. The joint handout is a real-time demonstration of basic economics: Proposition AA's extreme taxes will undercut the Regulated Marijuana Market, and illegal Black Market and legal Gray Market (which is legal, but untaxed and unregulated) will both expand when the Government parasite kills the Industry host.
This is an official permitted political event. Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown challenges our legitimacy and claims our argument that the taxes will push people back into the black market is false, without explaining why. We challenge him on his relationship with the truth and cite arrests of cigarette smuggling rings, including one that was linked to a terrorist organization. In Florida, cigarette smuggling has increased 294%. People smuggle cigarettes to avoid their excessively high "sin" taxes! Marijuana was supposed to be taxed and regulated like alcohol, not tobacco!
More from our Marijuana archive circa May: "Marijuana: 30 percent pot tax is reasonable and voters will pass it, activist says."
