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In its article about Nederland decriminalizing
marijuana within town limits last night, the Boulder Daily Camera
describes the town as the second in Colorado to take such a step,
following Breckenridge, whose voters passed a similar measure
last November.
Marijuana advocate Mason Tvert, founder of SAFER (Safer
Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), notes that the Camera
left out one other community: Denver. Indeed, Tvert helped
lead successful initiative campaigns in the Mile High City in 2005
and 2007.
Tvert wasn't part of the Nederland movement, but he hardly feels left
out. "It was a totally citizen-led effort," he notes, "and it
demonstrates that citizens around the state are becoming increasingly
fed up with irrational marijuana policies that steer people toward
drinking and away from using a less harmful substance."
This message is the same one Tvert and hundreds of supporters delivered at campuses
around the country on April 1. He judges the effort a success.
"We generated news coverage around the country," he says. "A feature
story appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education, and there was an item on the Washington Post education
blog. And that was part of our mission -- to generate debate about laws
that steer students toward drinking instead of making the safer choice
of marijuana."
Locally, Tvert and a group of Metropolitian State students delivered
information (and a copy of Tvert's book) to the office of Stephen
Jordan, Metro's president. Jordan wasn't there at the time, but Tvert
says his receptionist was "an incredibly nice person," and encouraged
the reps to set up a time to meet with Jordan, which they plan to do.
"The students will be following up to have a discussion with him about
this subject," Tvert says.
As for the Camera forgetting to mention Denver in the
context of marijuana decriminalization, Tvert says, "Denver's obviously
the epicenter of the marijuana reform movement in Colorado -- and
without a doubt, we'll see more cities following the lead of Denver,
Breckenridge and, now, Nederland, in taking actions and passing local
measures. They're sending a very clear message to their elected
officials that it's time to reevaluate how we treat marijuana in this
state and nationwide."
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