Pubdate: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 Source: Boulder Weekly (CO) Copyright: 2006 Boulder Weekly Contact: http://www.boulderweekly.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/57 Alert: Stop the DEA Subversion of Elections http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0335.html Cited: SAFER Colorado http://www.saferchoice.org/safercolorado/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DEA HITS THE FUND-RAISING TRAIL The Drug Enforcement Administration is looking for donations to help in its fight to keep marijuana illegal in Colorado. The DEA hopes to defeat a statewide ballot measure that would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of pot. SAFER Colorado, the organization that sponsored the ballot measure, says the DEA, a federal agency, has no business using taxpayer money to involve itself in political campaigns. But DEA officials maintain that their actions are legal under federal law. SAFER Colorado, an acronym for Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, is the same organization that successfully campaigned last year on a ballot measure that made it legal for adults over 21 to possess less than an ounce of marijuana in Denver. Although that measure passed, Denver officials have stated their intent to fine pot smokers under state laws. The statewide ballot initiative would eliminate that option, while leaving home-rule cities free to prosecute marijuana users as they see fit. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake