Pubdate: Wed, 12 Feb 2014
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2014 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Bryce Crawford

NO LOGO FOR YOU, OLD-YOUNG SPLIT ON POT REP AND COUNTY BOARD OF
HEALTH SAYS WEED AND SCHOOL DON'T MIX

It seems like, in these parts, there's nothing quite like a new logo
to piss the people off, and so it was when the state unveiled the
byCOLORADO campaign last August, which was created as a royalty-free
way to promote products made in Colorado. Those negative feelings came
to a head at the beginning of the legislative session, when Carbondale
lawmaker Rep. Bob Rankin introduced a bill that would ask the voters
to decide if the logo stayed or went. (It died in committee.)

It figures, then, that certain businesses that did want to use it were
not allowed to: marijuana centers, as Colorado Springs resident Don
McKay found out a couple weeks ago when he was told that companies in
federally illegal industries were ineligible.

"It surprises me that your department, supported by Colorado
taxpayers, does not endorse an industry that was developed primarily
by a majority vote indicating the desires of those same taxpayers,"
McKay, the co-owner of Southern Colorado Medical Marijuana, replied to
the state in late January. "A requirement that every company that uses
your logo is in full compliance of all state, local, and federal laws
is unenforceable, arbitrary, and subject to significant personal bias
while reviewing applications."

Contacted by the Indy, logo program director Teri Cavanaugh said the
decision stands, and explained further.

"This goal is focused on building Colorado's reputation as a
maker-economy, not just a vacation destination," she writes. "Since
the program includes this outward focus, we are currently authorizing
only businesses that are legal both locally and nationally. The
program is just getting off the ground, as is legal MJ in Colorado.
Our intention is to monitor national changes in MJ laws and be
prepared to adjust the byCOLORADO rules as they evolve."

Keef crumbs

A new Quinnipiac University poll conducted between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2
revealed that a small majority of Colorado voters polled, 51 percent,
think legalized marijuana is hurting the state's reputation. "Among
voters 18 to 29, 57 percent say legal marijuana is good for the
state's image," reported the Associated Press. "Among voters older
than 65, 67 percent say it's bad."

On Jan. 27, the El Paso County Board of Health passed Resolution No.
2014-04. The subject? Opposition to recreational marijuana, naturally.
"WHEREAS marijuana is not a benign substance ... smoke is an irritant
. use is associated with a higher likelihood of dropping out of
school .... [it] compromises judgment," and for a host of other
reasons, "the Board of Health encourages the governing boards of El
Paso County, and municipalities within El Paso County, to discourage
the non-medical use of marijuana."  
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