Pubdate: Tue, 18 Oct 2005
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2005, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

POT BACKERS DELAY BILLBOARDS

Measure's Sponsors Defend Ad's Image Of Domestic Abuse

Colorado --  Sponsors of a Denver marijuana legalization ballot 
measure announced Monday that they are delaying the debut of three 
billboards showing a battered woman.

Political leaders and domestic violence advocates had condemned the 
ads for misleading voters and exploiting the tragedy of abused women. 
The billboards had been scheduled to appear Monday, but now won't go 
up for at least three days. The planned billboards showed a downcast 
woman with a black eye, her abuser lurking behind her, and the 
slogan: "Reduce family and community violence in Denver. Vote Yes on I-100."

Nowhere was there a mention that Initiative 100's passage would amend 
Denver law to make it legal for adults to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana.

I-100 campaign director Mason Tvert defended the honesty of the 
billboard's message - and the central theme of the Alcohol-Marijuana 
Equalization Initiative - that marijuana is a safer alternative to alcohol.

He cited local and national studies that indicate booze fuels 
domestic violence and injuries and deaths from drunken-driving 
collisions, other violence and alcoholism.

A Massachusetts marijuana-reform group, Change the Climate, 
independently paid less than $10,000 for the billboards.

Tvert's group, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, plans to 
announce Wednesday whether it will go ahead with the proposed image 
or alter the ad.

"Given that there has been such a backlash, we obviously did not mean 
to offend anybody," Tvert said. "It's unfortunate that domestic 
violence groups, who are upset by these ads, have decided to be 
opposed to this, because we are really trying to raise attention to 
that issue."

Denver police and the city attorney have stressed that changing the 
local ordinance will have little impact, because the vast majority of 
pot-possession cases are prosecuted under state law as a petty 
offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100.