THANKS TO BRECKENRIDGE ON MARIJUANA VOTE

I am writing to express my gratitude to the voters of the town of
Breckenridge for passing the sensible reform of removing criminal
penalties for less than an ounce of marijuana last month. It was an
overwhelming victory for common sense amidst the typical hysteria of
those who fear a substance that is less harmful than alcohol.

Despite this victory, the road to full legalization in Colorado
remains extremely challenging. Voters need to hold their elected
officials accountable for their positions on marijuana. That means the
Breckenridge Town Council, State Sen. Gibbs and State Rep. Scanlan,
and our U.S. Rep. Polis need to hear from you on changing state and
federal laws. I intend to monitor the actions of the town and county
police and inform the public if their actions are contrary to the
clear will of the voters.

Just as important as continued activism is a heightened sense of
personal responsibility. Marijuana should not be used publicly, should
not be used when driving or at work, should not be shared with teens,
and should not be abused. This county's youth should not take the
wrong message away from this election: Marijuana is something that
responsible adults should be able to enjoy in moderation without fear
of criminalization, but it is potentially harmful to young, developing
minds. There are many things that teens are not ready for yet, like
drinking alcohol, voting, getting married, and marijuana.

I agree with those who say there are more important issues facing our
country like unwinnable wars, a broken economy, a miserable health
care system, and environmental neglect. However, marijuana reform is a
low hanging fruit that should be done sooner than later. I confess to
not understanding the forces of the status quo. Why don't facts
matter: 20 million Americans criminalized for pot possession since
1965 while use has remained the same, 60,000 people in U.S. prisons
today for marijuana violations only, $25 billion in annual enforcement
costs, and forgoing billions in tax revenue on a substance less
harmful than alcohol. Someday soon, these facts will prevail. Thank
you Breckenridge for moving our justice system a little closer to
logic and compassion.

Sean T. McAllister, Esq.

Breckenridge