Great Legalization Debates of 2012 -- Round One

Printable PDF Poster: http://www.legalize2012.com/news/debates/debate.poster1.pdf

Great Legalization Debates of 2012 -- Round One Join Us in Shaping Cannabis Policy for the 21st Century Wed., June 22, 2011 6:30pm

Casselman's Bar and Venue, 2620 Walnut, Denver, CO

Free and Open to the Public

Moderated by Patricia Calhoun of Westword

Several Colorado groups are interested in putting a citizen's initiative on the ballot in 2012 to amend the state Constitution to "legalize" cannabis, but what does "legalization" really mean? Can all these groups work together to create true legalization based on cannabis freedom? In attempt to find unity among these groups, Legalize2012.com has organized the "Great Legalization Debates of 2012". The goal of the debates is to discuss ideas, policy and strategy on what will work best to protect Colorado cannabis consumers from arrest, prosecution and discrimination. Colorado is a model for the rest of the country, yet we don't have a clear idea of what is the best cannabis law for the state.

Participants:

• Legalize2012.com: The Cannabis and Hemp Relegalization Act
• Paul Danish, former Boulder County Commissioner and Boulder City Councilman: The Danish Plan
• Rev. Brandon Baker of the Greenfaith Ministry: The Homebrew Model
• Mason Tvert, MPP/DPA/Sensible/SAFER: The DOR/Law Enforcement/Oligopoly Model
• Kathleen Chippi, Patient and Caregiver Rights Litigation Project: The "Inalienable Right" model. Amend Article 2, Section 3 of the Colorado Constitution
• Corey Donahue, Crazy for Justice: Free Colorado Cannabis Act
• Rico Colibri, C.A.R.E.

With increasing public support for legalization, the question is not when cannabis will be re-legalized, but how it will be re-legalized. Cannabis hasn't been legal in Colorado for all adults since 1937. Will Colorado's new legalization look like it did in the early 1900s, or will it look like something new in the 21st Century? Now is the time for a Cannabis Constitutional Convention, so we can all get together and discuss the future of cannabis in Colorado.

Join us in this lively and friendly debate amongst legalization supporters to determine the best path for a Colorado citizen's ballot initiative to amend the Constitution in 2012. The MPP/DPA/SAFER/Sensible alliance has already filed their initiative, and the language cannot be changed. So their participation in the debate is not to find unity, but to explain the language that was crafted largely by out-of-state lobbyists (Steve Fox from Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C was the main co-author) to give the Department of Revenue law enforcement division sweeping powers over all cannabis in Colorado. The other groups plan on working together through the fall to come up with ballot initiative language that has a broad base of support in the state, and will be taking public input on the language for several months after this debate.

MODERATED BY PATRICIA CALHOUN OF WESTWORD Patricia Calhoun, editor of Westword, Denver's alternative weekly newspaper, has agreed to moderate the debate. Calhoun has hosted many political debates in her long career covering Colorado politics. Westword has covered Colorado cannabis politics extensively, so Calhoun will be the perfect unbiased referee to what is sure to be a heated discussion.

VENDORS WANTED

http://www.legalize2012.com/vendors.html

The Great Legalization Debates of 2012 are sponsored by:

Legalize2012.com
"Take the Greed Out of the Weed"
P.O. Box 19084, Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: 877-420-4205
Web: http://www.Legalize2012.com