Post by Adam on Nov 8, 2006 18:11:42 GMT -5
Dear Friends -
As strange as it may sound, we are pleased to report that Amendment 44 in Colorado garnered about 41 percent in the election last night (although less than 50 percent of the votes in Denver have been counted). We are pleased because two out of every five voters in Colorado agreed that it makes no sense to punish adults for using marijuana. We are pleased because this campaign gave us the opportunity to take our "marijuana is safer than alcohol" message to citizens across the state and across the country. And we are pleased because we took the often politically ignored issue of marijuana prohibition and made it a major topic of debate in the state.
With very little money and only two paid campaign staffers -- the amazing (and now notorious) Mason Tvert and Evan Ackerfeld -- we stood our ground against the combined power of the White House, the governor, the attorney general, the state legislature, and anti-marijuana zealots from around the country. How often in history have two people drawn so much attention from the powers-that-be in the nation?
When I say two people, I am in no way trying to slight all of the people in Colorado who have given blood and sweat for the cause over the past 10 months. Although we had a very limited budget, we had volunteers all over the state collecting signatures, distributing literature, and spreading the word about the need to reform marijuana laws in Colorado. We could not have accomplished all we did without their support. To all those who donated your time to the campaign, we extend our most heartfelt thanks.
I also want to thank every person who has made a financial contribution to help support the campaign. Obviously, we could not have carried out any of our activities without those funds. If you were one of the people who gave $10, $50, $300, or just $4.20, please know that you helped make all of this possible. We are deeply grateful.
I encourage anyone disappointed in the result of yesterday's vote to look at the bigger picture. This campaign, following on the heels of our successful legalization initiative in Denver last year, was just one step in a five- to ten-year battle to make marijuana legal in Colorado. One low-budget initiative campaign cannot overcome 70 years of government lies and propaganda. But the writing is on the wall and we will continue to educate the public while pressuring government officials and community leaders to explain why they think adults should be punished for using a substance less harmful than alcohol.
We hope you will join us as we continue to fight for the rights of marijuana users in Colorado and around the nation. Eventually, logic and commonsense will prevail and we will win this battle.
Sincerely,
Steve Fox
Executive Director
Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER)
As strange as it may sound, we are pleased to report that Amendment 44 in Colorado garnered about 41 percent in the election last night (although less than 50 percent of the votes in Denver have been counted). We are pleased because two out of every five voters in Colorado agreed that it makes no sense to punish adults for using marijuana. We are pleased because this campaign gave us the opportunity to take our "marijuana is safer than alcohol" message to citizens across the state and across the country. And we are pleased because we took the often politically ignored issue of marijuana prohibition and made it a major topic of debate in the state.
With very little money and only two paid campaign staffers -- the amazing (and now notorious) Mason Tvert and Evan Ackerfeld -- we stood our ground against the combined power of the White House, the governor, the attorney general, the state legislature, and anti-marijuana zealots from around the country. How often in history have two people drawn so much attention from the powers-that-be in the nation?
When I say two people, I am in no way trying to slight all of the people in Colorado who have given blood and sweat for the cause over the past 10 months. Although we had a very limited budget, we had volunteers all over the state collecting signatures, distributing literature, and spreading the word about the need to reform marijuana laws in Colorado. We could not have accomplished all we did without their support. To all those who donated your time to the campaign, we extend our most heartfelt thanks.
I also want to thank every person who has made a financial contribution to help support the campaign. Obviously, we could not have carried out any of our activities without those funds. If you were one of the people who gave $10, $50, $300, or just $4.20, please know that you helped make all of this possible. We are deeply grateful.
I encourage anyone disappointed in the result of yesterday's vote to look at the bigger picture. This campaign, following on the heels of our successful legalization initiative in Denver last year, was just one step in a five- to ten-year battle to make marijuana legal in Colorado. One low-budget initiative campaign cannot overcome 70 years of government lies and propaganda. But the writing is on the wall and we will continue to educate the public while pressuring government officials and community leaders to explain why they think adults should be punished for using a substance less harmful than alcohol.
We hope you will join us as we continue to fight for the rights of marijuana users in Colorado and around the nation. Eventually, logic and commonsense will prevail and we will win this battle.
Sincerely,
Steve Fox
Executive Director
Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER)