Colorado Democratic Party Officially Supports Initiative to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol
Colorado Democratic Party Officially Supports Initiative to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol
Grassroots effort garnered support in hundreds of precincts and at least 15 counties across the state
APRIL 16, 2012 – DENVER – The Colorado Democratic Party endorsed the initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol, Amendment 64, at its state convention and assembly in Pueblo on Saturday.
The state party's endorsement was largely the product of a strong grassroots effort that resulted in hundreds of precincts adopting resolutions in support of the endorsement. Fifteen counties – including eight of the state's 10 largest – also reported adoption of resolutions in support of regulating marijuana like alcohol: El Paso, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Boulder, Douglas, Weld, Pueblo, Garfield, Eagle, La Plata, Delta, Routt, Elbert, and Pitkin. Due to such a strong showing of support among assembly delegates, the endorsement became part of the Democratic Party's more exclusive "essential" platform regarding criminal justice issues.
"This is a mainstream issue. Polls show that more than 60 percent of Democrats and a solid majority of Independents believe marijuana should be treated like alcohol," said Cindy Lowery-Graber, chair of the Denver Democratic Party. "A broad coalition is forming in support of Amendment 64 and I am proud to say that it now includes the Colorado Democratic Party," Lowery-Graber said.
The initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol has also received endorsements from the ACLU of Colorado, the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, the National Lawyers Guild, the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, Colorado NAACP President Rosemary Harris Lytle, and Colorado UFCW President Kim Cordova.
"Most Democrats recognize that marijuana prohibition has been just as harmful and ineffective as alcohol prohibition," said Jeri Sheperd, an attorney in Weld County who serves on the Colorado Democratic Party 2012 Platform Committee. "Amendment 64 presents a smart and responsible new approach. By regulating marijuana like alcohol we can take it out of the underground market and control it while also bolstering Colorado's economy with significant new tax revenue and job creation."
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