Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2006
Source: Craig Daily Press, The (CO)
Copyright: 2006 The Craig Daily Press
Contact: http://www.craigdailypress.com/site/feedback
Website: http://www.craigdailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2334
Author: Joshua Roberts, Daily Press writer
Cited: Amendment 44 http://www.safercolorado.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Amendment+44

MARIJUANA PROPAGANDA

Amendment 44 Backers Seek Gramnet Records

The campaign director for a Denver-based group leading the charge for 
pro-marijuana legislation said his organization "anxiously" awaits 
the response from a local drug task force that may have violated 
state campaign laws.

So far, that response hasn't come.

"Our response to that is 'no comment,'" said Dusty Schulze, task 
force commander of the Greater Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team.

In late September, GRAMNET released a statement urging residents to 
vote against Amendment 44 -- a question on the November general 
election ballot that, if approved, would legalize the possession of 
up to one ounce of marijuana for anyone 21 or older. The eight-page 
release, which included information titled "The Truth about 
Marijuana," was attributed to eight officials in Moffat and Routt 
counties, including the sheriffs from both counties and the district 
attorney, who prosecutes cases in both counties.

On Friday, the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative committee, a 
branch of the group Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, filed 
an open records request with GRAMNET. The group is trying to learn 
whether the drug task force broke state law by spending more than $50 
preparing and distributing the release.

"It's against the law," said Mason Tvert, a campaign director for 
SAFER. "When the police break the law, it's a big deal. ... And I 
would think our government using our tax dollars to break the law is 
a big deal."

Schulze said attorneys for GRAMNET would review the request before 
moving forward. The agency is composed of Moffat and Routt counties' 
law enforcement agencies.

SAFER contends that GRAMNET may have violated the Colorado Fair 
Campaign Practices Act, which prohibits state or local government 
from making campaign contributions to an issue committee advocating 
passage or defeat of a ballot initiative.

"Putting together such extensive materials must have taken many, many 
hours," Tvert said on Friday. "Based on the response to our records 
request -- along with any other information we receive in the 
meantime about GRAMNET's involvement in the campaign -- we will 
determine whether to bring this case before the Secretary of State."

The committee's request for information, filed under the Colorado 
Open Records Act, seeks access to all writings, public records and 
criminal records relating to GRAMNET's press release urging 
opposition to Amendment 44.

The request also seeks annual or hourly salary information for those 
who drafted, signed, reviewed or spent time working on the release. 
It also asks that the materials sought be made available as soon as possible.

As of Tuesday afternoon, SAFER had not received any of the 
information requested, Tvert said.

Robert J. Corry, a Denver attorney representing the SAFER committee, 
said GRAMNET has three days to respond to the request. He said the 
committee would move forward with litigation if it does not have a 
response to the request by today.

Polling information suggests the November vote on Amendment 44 may be 
a close one. According to a poll released in late September by Survey 
USA, which gauged 532 likely Colorado voters, there are still a large 
number of undecided voters.

According to the poll, 29 percent of voters said they would vote in 
favor of the amendment, versus 36 percent in opposition; 35 percent 
said they were uncertain.

Proponents of Amendment 44 say the proposed legislation's aim is to 
stimulate debate, educate the public and free adults from the risk of 
breaking the law for a relatively harmless activity -- using 
marijuana. They also said that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol 
and adult possession should be treated the same under the law.

Opponents contend that the measure hinders both law enforcement and 
families, provides a gateway to more serious drug abuse and gives 
drug dealers access to youths. They also say that marijuana is a 
dangerous and addictive drug.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine