Pubdate: Sat, 09 Jul 2016
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2016 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Ricardo Baca

ACTIVISTS WITHDRAW CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT 139

The activists aiming to implement strict THC limits on Colorado's 
recreational marijuana industry will withdraw the controversial 
Amendment 139 next week, their attorney told The Cannabist on Friday.

"139 is done," said attorney Frank McNulty, Colorado's former Speaker 
of the House and the lawyer representing the Healthy Colorado 
Coalition, made up of citizens pushing for tighter controls on the 
cannabis industry. "This is something I spent a great deal of time on 
in my last two years in the legislature, and my interest in 
protecting our state and our kids hasn't waned since then.

"Somebody has to hold this industry accountable, because our governor 
and our legislature certainly aren't doing it."

A representative with the Colorado Health Research Council - the 
well-funded coalition created by the marijuana industry and its 
partners to fight 139 and other attacks on the industry - responded 
to the withdrawal of the amendment by calling it a "poorly drafted initiative."

"This was an ill-conceived initiative that would have denied medicine 
to veterans and patients, undermined public safety and gutted the 
cannabis industry," said CHRC representative Neal Levine. "This 
failed because the proponents could not generate public support for 
their poorly drafted initiative."

Amendment 139 is a constitutional amendment that would limit the THC 
potency of dried marijuana and pot products sold recreationally at 16 
percent - which is less than the average potency for cannabis flower 
in Colorado, according to a state study. The CHRC estimates that 80 
percent of the cannabis products on Colorado shelves today would be 
considered illegal under the measure.

The amendment would also mandate warnings printed on product 
packaging that say marijuana's health risks include "permanent loss 
of brain abilities." That specific phrasing has been controversial 
with pro-legalization activists, and McNulty ties it back to a 
National Institute on Drug Abuse fact sheet that reads:

"Marijuana also affects brain development. When marijuana users begin 
using as teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory, and 
learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections 
between the areas necessary for these functions. Marijuana's effects 
on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent."

The Healthy Colorado Coalition, which had proposed the amendment, 
announced in a media release that a new group would be formed "to 
hold Big Marijuana accountable."

"Our grassroots coalition born of this effort will create a new 
organization in Colorado dedicated to upholding the health and safety 
of all Coloradans and, most importantly, we will hold the 
commercialized marijuana industry accountable for what they are doing 
to our state, our kids and our communities," Amendment 139 
representative Ali Pruitt said in the release.

The amendment's other designated representative, former Lakewood High 
School principal Ron Castagna, added in the release: "At least for 
now, the racketeers have won. The marijuana moguls put a pile of 
campaign cash on the table and won. Our kids and our communities are 
in crisis, for now."

McNulty told The Cannabist and other outlets on Friday that a group 
opposing the amendment had paid off signature-gathering firms to not 
work with the Amendment 139 team.

"The 139 opponents went out and bought up some of the most important 
circulators in the state, and without them we didn't have the ability 
to get it to the ballot," McNulty said. "They went out and paid these 
circulating firms to not circulate petitions for 139."

When asked what political consulting firms he was referencing, 
McNulty named Colorado Springs-based Kennedy Enterprises. The firm's 
president Dan Kennedy told The Cannabist he wouldn't ever comment on 
any matters pertaining to current, future or potential clients.

Some members of the state's cannabis industry were "thrilled" with 
the news of Amendment 139's withdrawl.

"As a member of the CHRC, we are thrilled that this misguided assault 
on patients, consumers, our business and our employees is over," said 
Erik Williams, the director of government and public affairs at 
Denver-based marijuana group Mindful. "We are disheartened by the 139 
proponents' vow to continue their assault. We vow to always stand up 
for our patients, community, employees and their families and our business."

Tru Cannabis CEO Bruce Nassau, the incoming board chair of the 
Marijuana Industry Group, said his group's members will continue to 
work with interested parties "to fine-tune the regulations and 
operating procedures to address issues as they arise."

"We are pleased that the ballot measure has been pulled," Nassau said 
in a statement. "The marijuana industry is governed by hundreds of 
pages of state rules that tightly regulate packaging, labeling, 
growing, harvesting, distribution, sales and a host of other issues 
to help ensure that those who shouldn't use the product don't have 
access to it. We also participate in numerous public education 
campaigns, and our members strive to speak with every customer about 
responsible use and storage.

"We are a new industry and are committed to being good members of the 
community."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom