Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2014
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2014 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Referenced: www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n313/a09.html
Page: 16A

GOVERNING FROM THE CENTER

Colorado Governor Departs From Divisive Politics

At a time when ballot box success seems increasingly defined by 
alignment with the political extremes, Colorado Gov. John 
Hickenlooper strikes us as the kind of centrist leader the nation's 
politicians could learn from. It's not so much his politics but the 
thoughtful, measured method of his delivery.

We didn't immediately identify Hickenlooper's party - he's a Democrat 
- - in hopes that readers of all political persuasions will read on. 
He's no liberal, especially when it comes to the biggest issue 
driving news from Colorado these days: marijuana legalization.

Hickenlooper openly opposes Colorado voters' decision to legalize 
adult marijuana use, even though it means taking a defiant stance 
against 55 percent of voters as he's standing for re-election.

He urges other states to wait and see before heading down Colorado's 
path. Let Colorado work out the kinks and make sure legalization is 
workable, he counsels. His biggest - and well-justified - concern is 
the effect legalization could have on teenagers, who seem 
increasingly to think that because it's legal, it's harmless.

Hickenlooper says he never wanted his state to be the national test 
case, along with Washington state, for legalization. But as he told 
this newspaper in a Point Person interview published Sunday, "You 
don't get to choose what happens to you in life. You do choose 
whether it makes you stronger, weaker, happier or sadder. And we're 
trying to make this thing work. ... We're going to do it the right way."

Hickenlooper also worries that Colorado's image is suffering. "We 
spent our lives working real hard to make Colorado a model state. You 
know, how it could be pro-business but at the same time have high 
environmental standards, high accountability on every level," he 
says. The legalization issue "becomes a distraction, which is unfortunate."

The candid way Hickenlooper expresses his concerns, combined with his 
desire to turn what he regards as a lemon into lemonade, strikes us 
as refreshing departure from acid-tongued partisan conflict.

The full Point Person interview, at dallasnews.com/points, is worth a 
read - if not for the full-throated discussion of the legalization 
issue, then for the lesson in friendly civic discourse.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom