Today's Denver Post includes a column from SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert about how the Democratic National Convention is being held in Denver, the first city in the nation to make marijuana legal for adults. In particular, it highlights the hypocrisy in how the convention and Democratic Party leaders handle the marijuana issue compared to what appears to be their drug of choice: alcohol. 

Yet while Democratic officials are still out to lunch on marijuana, they do not seem to have any problem with having a few drinks while they're at it. In fact, they appear to be quite comfortable allowing, using and even promoting alcohol, despite the growing mountain of evidence that shows it is more harmful than marijuana.

Taking this inconsistency to the extreme, we are confronted by the almost comical hypocrisy of a political convention that is literally running on beer. The DNC has gladly accepted corporate sponsorships from Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch.

Moreover, when it comes to alcohol consumption, convention-goers will not be the only ones guzzling beer; so will many of their cars, as organizers recently announced that a number of vehicles will be using beer sludge as fuel. 

 The piece also delves into the alcohol industry's role in today's political world:

Of course, the political hypocrisy on alcohol and marijuana extends far beyond the party's national conventions. Alcohol interest groups like the National Beer Wholesalers Association have emerged as some of the top contributors to congressional members these days. In fact, the NBWA has already doled out more than $1 million to federal Democratic candidates this year, including at least $2,500 to every Democratic member of Colorado's congressional delegation. Nationwide, the beer, wine and liquor industry has contributed a whopping $3 million to Democrats in Congress during the 2008 cycle.

It also provides an interesting anecdote regarding a past Democratic presidential candidate and the unusual role drugs played in that year's DNC, as well as the election that followed:

As Democrats arrive in Denver later this month, they might want to reflect on the history of drug prohibition in this country and the rise to power of one of their party's greatest leaders.

Upon his nomination for president at the 1932 DNC in Chicago, a city marred by and largely opposed to Prohibition, Franklin D. Roosevelt used his acceptance speech to boldly and unambiguously call for the legalization and regulation of alcohol.

Word of the Democratic candidate's position spread quickly around the country and resonated amongst the millions who enjoyed using alcohol or simply did not think it warranted criminal penalties. It was these voters, known as the "wets," who many historians credit with carrying Roosevelt to victory that November.

Once again, 76 years later, a bold presidential candidate will take the DNC stage to accept the Democratic Party's nomination. Perhaps he should take a cue from history and the theme of this year's convention and make an appeal to the "greens."