2005 ELECTION MARIJUANA BACKERS REMOVE WOMAN'S BILLBOARD PHOTO

A marijuana advocacy group on Wednesday removed a controversial photo of a
woman's battered face from its billboard urging voters on Nov. 1 to
legalize small amounts of marijuana.

But the group's message remains the same.

The nonprofit group, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER),
replaced the controversial ad with a simple white billboard with the
slogan: "Alcohol use makes domestic violence 8 times more likely ...
Marijuana use does not. Vote yes on I-100."

If passed, I-100 would make it legal for anyone 21 or older to possess 1
ounce or less of marijuana in Denver. It would not pre-empt state law,
which makes possession a misdemeanor.

The SAFER group, which collected enough signatures to put the initiative on
the November ballot, argues that marijuana is a safer alternative to
alcohol by linking recreational pot use with a reduction in rates of
domestic violence.

"We don't back down from the message," said Mason Tvert, 23, director of
SAFER. "The ads were intended to be controversial, but we decided to take
steps to ensure that the message was not drowned out by emotional reactions."

Domestic violence groups have accused SAFER of misleading the public and
exploiting the tragedy of abused women for their own cause.

"They are providing inaccurate and bad information that is not helpful for
survivors,"
said Rita Smith, executive director of the National Coalition Against
Domestic Violence.

"I have seen no evidence that marijuana stops domestic violence," she said.
"Alcohol can be a factor, but not a cause."

Tvert said he has been in contact with domestic-violence groups for months
about the effects of alcohol on domestic violence and is surprised his
group's message has caused a controversy.

"It's unfortunate they are upset and offended," he said. "It's domestic
violence month and I have heard nothing about it until these billboards
went up."

Smith said taking just one factor out of the equation makes little difference.

"Toking over drinking a martini will not change domestic violence," she said.