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.