RIFT BETWEEN MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION GROUPS

Divisions Within Industry Come into the Open

Rifts between two different groups pushing for the legalization of
marijuana in Colorado continued to grow last week after one coalition
went ahead with a so-called "conservative" attempt to legalize
marijuana in 2012.

Legalize 2012, one of activist groups plotting a legalization ballot
initiative, on Friday blasted another coalition for filing eight
different versions of a legalization initiative that they say
"appeals to law enforcement." Laura Kriho, a driving force behind
Legalize 2012, was particularly upset with members of the coalition
that includes the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), Drug Policy
Alliance (DPA), Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER),
and Sensible Colorado for filing their initiative with the Secretary
of State without giving them much time to review the initiative's language.

"I'm not sure why they did this without telling anybody," said a
statement from Kriho. "Even the legislature gave us more notice to
comment on their proposed legislation than they did. It really shows
their bad faith."

However, Mason Tvert of SAFER said Legalize 2012 was shown the
language of the initiative about a week before they filed it. Tvert
said they asked Kriho and Legalize 2012 for any suggestions and
feedback on the language but did not receive any.

"Rather than provide any suggestions, they spent a week complaining," he said.

Tvert said the coalition submitted eight different versions of the
legalization initiative to see what language would pass the Title
Setting Review Board, which has to approve an initiative before it
can go on the ballot. All of the versions have the same basic idea N'
legalize marijuana use and possession of up to an ounce for people
over the age of 21 N' though they differ when it comes to issues like
taxes and earmarking.

Legalize 2012 is against the initiative's one-ounce limit because
they believe it could create confusion since possession of two ounces
or less of marijuana is currently considered a "petty offense." The
group also worries that the one-ounce limit would require the
Department of Revenue to convert their Patient and Medicine Tracking
Database and Surveillance System to a "massive database" for
marijuana users so authorities could track how much marijuana is
bought and sold.

Legalize 2012 also opposes the versions of the initiative that would
allow a 15-percent excise tax on the sale of marijuana.

"The lines have been clearly set now on the division of cannabis
reform policy in Colorado," says a press release from Legalize 2012.
"The MPP/DPA/Sensible/SAFER initiative has chosen to ignore any local
efforts for a real legalization ballot initiative in favor of writing
an initiative that appeals to law enforcement."

However, Tvert thinks the versions of the legalization initiative
that were filed have the best possible language to achieve the goal
of legalizing marijuana. He said while he might not agree with
everything in the eight versions of the initiative, the language has
been studied by lawyers, has taken into consideration the feedback of
thousands of people and has a good chance of making it onto the ballot in 2012.

"It's unfortunate that (Legalize 2012) is spending its time and
energy fracturing the marijuana reform movement and not working to
build support for legalization instead," said Tvert. "It's easier to
tear something down than it is to build something up."

Tvert is confident that their legalization initiative could pass even
without the support of groups like Legalize 2012.

He pointed to polls that were issued this year that found
approximately 50 percent of Coloradans support legalizing marijuana.
SAFER ran a legalization effort in 2006 that failed on a 61-38
percent vote, but Tvert believes more people have become in favor of
legalization since then.

However, Legalize 2012 is less sure that the coalition's initiative
will pass if it does not have the entire marijuana community's support.

"This unilateral move by MMP/DPA/Sensible/SAFER cast doubts that any
cannabis law reform ballot initiative in Colorado would be
successful," the group says in a press release.