His latest gambit: Shortly after Congress adapted Representative
Betsy Markey's resolution in praise of the craft-beer industry, Tvert
publicly beseeched her to do the same for the medical marijuana
business. After all, his release declares, MMJ dispensary owners "are
also entrepreneurs who are crafting a product that is useful to
society."
Voting for the measure is "a no-brainer," Tvert feels. To find out
why, read on:
Congresswoman Betsy Markey Sponsors Resolution
Recognizing Craft Beer Industry -- Colorado Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Owners Call on Her to Introduce Similar Resolution Recognizing the
Burgeoning Medical Marijuana Industry
Markey praises "entrepreneurs that are creating jobs" in beer
industry and wants to "celebrate that [brewing] is a craft" --
Dispensary owners say they are also entrepreneurs crafting a useful
product
SAFER: If Markey can celebrate American "tradition" of alcohol
production and use, she should have no problem celebrating the American
tradition of people using a far SAFER substance -- MARIJUANA
FORT COLLINS -- On Tuesday, May 18, Congress adopted a resolution
sponsored by U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey of Colorado, recognizing the craft
beer industry in light of its promotion of entrepreneurialism and its
contribution to society. Now medical marijuana dispensary owners across
the congresswoman's home-state are calling on her to sponsor a similar
resolution recognizing their industry for the very same reasons.
As POLITICO reported this morning (see the entire report at http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1005/house_passes_beer_bill.html):
We've got quite a number of microbreweries and entrepreneurs that
are creating jobs, and we wanted to celebrate that this is a craft,"
Markey told POLITICO.
"I think beer has been a tradition since this country was
founded," said Markey. "We wanted to celebrate entrepeneurship -- and
good beer!"Markey is obviously partial to brews from her home state of
Colorado, but she won't claim a favorite.
"You can't just have one," said Markey. "It really depends on
what mood you're in. Sometimes, I like a light beer -- I might want a
Skinny Dip -- or otherwise prefer a heavier brew."
The real question is: Why would anyone vote against this?
"It does seem like a no brainer," said Markey.
Medical marijuana dispensary owners say they are also entrepreneurs
who are crafting a product that is useful to society. Last week, the
Colorado legislature adopted regulations of the state's booming medical
marijuana industry, establishing legal production and dispensation of
marijuana.
"I'm just as much an entrepreneur as the owner of any microbrewery in
Colorado," said Tina Valenti, owner of In Harmony Wellness, a medical
marijuana dispensary in Markey's district. "Cultivating various strains
of medical-grade marijuana is just as much a craft as brewing various
types of beer."
"Just as Congresswoman Markey might want a lighter beer on one
occasion and a heavier beer on another, my patients might need a more
potent type of marijuana on one occasion and a less potent type on
another," said Kayvan Khalatbari, owner of Denver Relief.
Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), a Colorado-based
non-profit organization that highlights the relative safety of marijuana
compared to alcohol, is also calling on Markey to introduce a
resolution recognizing the medical marijuana industry.
"If Congresswoman Markey can introduce a resolution touting the
production of alcohol -- a drug that contributes to acts of violence and
other serious problems -- we don't know why she wouldn't be willing to
introduce one touting the production of a far less harmful product that
had never been found to contribute to such problems," said SAFER
Executive Director Mason Tvert.
"Why would anyone vote against that?" Tvert said. "It's a no
brainer."
