(Also reported by KATU.com and KVAL.com)
Proponents of legalized marijuana in Colorado
are calling for a nationwide boycott of Starbucks because they say the
Seattle-based coffee company supports an organization that is trying to
thwart the use of pot for medical purposes in that state.
On Thursday a pro marijuana group held a news conference in front of
a Denver Starbucks to draw attention to what it says are ties between
the company and the Colorado Drug Investigators Association.
"It's no surprise that law enforcement organizations and their
leaders -- whose jobs are dependent on maintaining the war on marijuana
-- are lobbying to kill state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries.
But Starbucks and other companies' funding of this war should strike
any marijuana consumer or reform supporter as truly appalling. It's
time to stand up and send them all a message," Mason Tvert, head of
SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), said in a
statement.
Starbucks says the effort is misguided. The company does not provide
financial support to the Colorado law enforcement group, Starbucks said
in a statement.
"This organization is apparently targeting us because a local law
enforcement organization in Colorado posted our logo on their website.
Starbucks has not taken a position on their issue," the statement said.
"We have a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women of local
law enforcement. However, we have not sponsored this particular
organization through our foundation. It is up to the discretion of our
local teams to support those groups that are relevant in their
neighborhoods. Our stores often support organizations in their
community by donating coffee for their events."
The Colorado Drug Investigators Association Web site, which
apparently listed other national and Colorado companies besides
Starbucks as backers, is no longer working.
This week the Washington state Legislature killed bills that
would've legalized and decriminalized marijuana use in this state,
however local voters may get a chance to weigh in on this issue this
fall. Proponents of a citizens imitative that would ask state residents
whether they want to legalize pot are trying to get enough signatures
to put the question before voters in November.
