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SAFER campaign moves forward on local, statewide ballot measure |
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Written by Chris Conrad
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Thursday, 30 March 2006 |
Cannabis comparison as a safer alternative to alcohol wins regional, national support for equal rights and treatment
Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) has used the ballot
box to advance the policy that cannabis is safer to use than alcohol
and hence should be treated no more severely. Last fall SAFER scored a
major victory by getting a voter ordinance passed Denver that legalized
an ounce of cannabis for adults.
 Supporters of I-100 rallied for the initiative passed in Denver last November. Photo by Steve Fox
Local officials attempted an end-run around the voters by sending cases
to state rather than municipal court. In response SAFER has launched a
statewide initiative strategy. The group made major progress on its
Colorado campaign in March when the ballot language was approved and
adopted.
“This can often be a difficult process, but we made it,” SAFER
Executive Director Steve Fox said. “We ended up raising about $3,500
and, thanks to this fund, we were able to launch our signature drive in
February. We have more than 300 volunteer signature gatherers and they
seem really fired up.” The signature drive needs to collect some 68,000
valid signatures by Aug. 7.
The campaign is gaining traction, with 25-30 volunteers at its first
training in Boulder, 40 the next night at CSU in Ft. Collins, and a day
later 30 came to the Grand Junction training. The local CBS affiliate
showed up and gave a favorable story. A Denver Post column expressed
that Mason Tvert is leading a true grass roots movement in the state.
Texas, Florida students embrace cause and equation
Meanwhile, support for the campaign is continuing to spread among
college students. There were two significant victories on university
campuses in February. Students at both Florida State U and U of Texas
at Austin decisively passed SAFER-style referenda. The margin of
victory at FSU was 60-40 and at UT Austin it was 64-36.
“It seems the Colorado success can be replicated if local activists
follow a specific media plan. The coordinators in Austin followed this
plan and got widespread media coverage (www.safertexas.info). There are
two other major college campuses where referenda appear likely — Ohio
State and the U of Maryland,” said Fox.
“One fun upcoming event will be the SAFER St. Patrick’s Day campaign,
to call for a moratorium on marijuana arrests on St. Patrick’s Day so
that people have a recreational option other than drinking themselves
stupid. I’ve been working with an activist in Ireland who is going to
launch the SAFER Ireland campaign in Dublin on March 14 or 15. On the
same day, we will do an event near a Coors facility in Colorado. I am
also close to convincing activists in St. Louis to hold an event
outside an Anheuser-Busch facility and would like to get something
going in Boston and maybe Milwaukee.”
To learn more go to www.saferchoice.org, and please visit the SAFER donation page.
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Chris Conrad |
| About the author: |
| Staunch supporter of Oaksterdam News
Chris Conrad has studied cannabis (marijuana) since 1988. He has written two books on the topic and contributed to others. Familiar with numerous books and at least 100 scientific studies, such as federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and National Institute on Drug Abuse data. Reported on cannabis dispensaries for California legislators. Consults with government agencies. Testified at National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine hearings. Regularly consults with physicians including some of the world’s foremost authorities on cannabis and patients as to their knowledge and experiences regarding cannabis.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 August 2006 )
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Volume 2 
The Men's Wearhouse George Zimmer
