Colorado DU members, what do you think the chance is of the recreational pot law passing?

[Logical]

This looks like the CA attempt all over again. I hope it is not like that, but I do not have much confidence.

How is it looking in Colorado so far? Is there any money behind the backers? Is there a huge lobby against it?

[hlthe2b]

1. Well, after the city of Fort Collins voted to outlaw medical pot dispensaries--closing all current

shops-- in a referendum last Fall, it became clear how focal is the pro-pot liberalization support across the state.

So, no, I personally am not very optimistic. I still can't believe that they could just up and vote to close legally licensed (by the state) businesses that were in compliance with the state law. But, that's exactly what they did. Individual business/property rights & Investments be damned.

[RKP5637]

12. Yeah, nation of freedom and equal opportunity. What a bunch of BS. As you

say, "Individual business/property rights & Investments be damned." We're a nation of laws, not rights. The 'Idiocracy' gets greater each day IMO.

[kentuck]

2. Just my opinion...

I think some form of pot legalization will pass...

[Esse Quam Videri]

3. Uhhhhh......this is the first I've heard of it, honestly.

Could you provide some info on it? I scan the Denver Post every day and watch an hour and a half of local news in the morning and have not heard anything about it.

[Logical]

4. Here you go.......

DENVER -- Colorado voters will decide this fall whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use when the state becomes the second in the nation to put such a proposal on ballots this year.

The Secretary of State's Office said Monday that supporters of the legalization initiative collected enough signatures to get their measure before voters, meaning Colorado will join Washington state in putting a recreational pot question on November ballots.

Voters will be asked whether adults older than 21 should be allowed to use marijuana even without a doctor's recommendation. The measure would allow adults to have up to 1 ounce of marijuana or six marijuana plants. The proposal also allows for commercial pot sales, though cities and counties would have permission to ban marijuana sales if they choose.

<snip>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/colorados-marijuana-legal_n_1305079.html

[rawtribe]

5. Here's the website

http://www.regulatemarijuana.org/

[joshcryer]

8. You didn't see the Regulate Responsibly ad campaign?

It was pretty damn epic and amazing, it was on every TV station here. That's how they got the signatures. I was amazed to see it.

[curlyred]

6. Remember Santorum carried Colorado

Really embarrassing, but there are a lot of conservative nitwits here. I would give it 50-50 at best.

[joshcryer]

7. 75% give or take. They haven't started the ads hard yet, saving up.

But I think it's going to pass. It's just too sensible. The ads they did run were pretty awesome, there was a massive legalization ad campaign that they had to get the signatures, and I know that if they put those ads back on it'll go very nicely, they were very good ads:

Another one:

There's a billboard out now and I expect much more to happen as it comes closer:

In 2010 marijuana regulation polled at around 49%. It's likely higher now given 1) that Coloradoans have dispensaries every couple of blocks, and 2) that Colorado's demographics are more Democratic friendly and 3) the Democratic Party in Colorado has officially endorsed legalization.

Pretty epic.

[RZM]

9. The Colorado Democratic party has endorsed legalization?

Really? I did not know this. Good for them. They get a 'rocky mountain high-five' from me

[joshcryer]

11. Yep, I just kicked the thread in Politics 2012, sank like a rock apparently:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/125130101

[Logical]

10. I hope you are right! n-t

[otohara]

13. Rocky Mt. High

I do!
But the barrage of bullshit anti-pot ads haven't run yet.

When our new nasty ass Sec. of State said they didn't have enough signatures, short by 2000, they had two weeks to gather them. They turned in 12,000.

Our new SOS is a real icky person, a tool for ALEC, he's trying real hard to come up with ways to shave off a few hundred thousand votes. Luckily we have a Dem senate that will stop the ALEC voter ID law. he also tossed out almost half of the original signatures, which is high, saying they were invalid - He is not to be trusted

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. Does it matter? The Obama DOJ will smash public will with a hammer once more if it passes. n/t

[Logical]

16. Well, you have a good point there. I hope public pressure stops Obama from doing that. n-t

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. It's going to be close.

Last I read, "yes" was about eight or nine points ahead of "no," but not over 50%.

Mason Tvert and Brian Vicente have really laid the groundwork for this, with "marijuana is safer than alcohol" non-binding initiatives at state universities a few years ago, then got Denver to vote to legalize it, then lost a statewide initiative in 2008 (?). I think they got 41% then.

Colorado has also had the experience of retail pot stores through the medical marijuana dispensaries. The sky has not fallen.

These guys are well-connected with big movement funders, who will throw money at the initiative in the fall if it looks then like it can win.

There's also a legalization initiative in Washington state.

Unlike Washington, and California in 2010, there is no significant opposition from the medical marijuana folks.