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February 17, 2010 04:48 AM UTC

Hickenlooper Draws Fire Over Pot Appointee

  • 21 Comments
  • by: ColoRabble

A controversial letter written by an appointee of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has just been unearthed, and it’s already bringing heat on the would-be governor.

How about this for an opening line (keeping in mind this letter is entirely about marijuana):

Dear Citizens of Colorado,

Those who want to legalize drugs weaken our collective struggle against this scourge of our society. Like a cancer, proponents for legalization eat away at society’s resolve and moral fiber. The marijuana-drug legalization movement has nothing to offer users and addicts but more drugs.”

Unfortunately for Hick, who officially vouched for this anti-pot extremist, an internal poll recently commissioned by local and national marijuana policy reform organizations found that half of likely voters in Colorado – and two-thirds of likely voters in Denver – support making marijuana legal and treating it like alcohol.



In other words, this probably won’t sit well with the large and growing population of marijuana reform supporters, not to mention the exceptionally vocal community of organizations and individuals working to legalize marijuana. In fact, they are already taking action and calling on Hickenlooper to replace his appointee, which has already resulted in a flood of e-mails into the mayor’s office.

The anti-marijuana manifesto was distributed by Denver Police Lt. Ernie Martinez, and just over one year later, Hickenlooper appointed him to the Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel – an official city body charged with implementing a voter-approved ordinance designating adult marijuana possession Denver’s lowest law enforcement priority to the “greatest extent possible”.

Yet Martinez was the most vocal public opponent against that initiative, and has since made it abundantly clear he has no intention of fulfilling that mission. So, essentially, Mayor Hickenlooper appointed a anti-marijuana crusader to fill a role on a panel working to reduce marijuana arrests and prosecutions in the city. That’s like appointing Tom Tancredo to the Latino Commission.

Needless to say, Lt. Martinez’s views on marijuana are entirely out of line with most Denver voters and a whole lot of Colorado voters. And, come on, “a cancer eating away at society’s resolve and moral fiber”? Really?

Is this someone Hickenlooper wants to associate himself with? He can’t possibly think it will help him with his base, and it certainly isn’t going to motivate many college students and progressives to make sure they vote for him. And if a marijuana-related initiative ends up being on the ballot statewide – or in localities around Colorado – there will surely be a surge in pro-marijuana voters hitting the polls (and out-of-state college students rushing to re-register in Colorado…).

As you can see, Lt. Martinez distributed the letter in his capacity as president of the Colorado Drug Investigators Association, which is an interest group composed of drug task force members and other law enforcement officials hellbent on keeping marijuana illegal – and thus keeping their jobs. Do these drug task force and DEA guys really have nothing better to do with their time?

It was written in late August 2006, just days after Amendment 44 – a statewide initiative to remove penalties for adult marijuana possession – qualified for the ballot, and it includes a laundry list of disingenuous, misleading and outright false “Facts vs. Fiction.” For example:

Fiction:  This nation’s drug policy has failed.  It is time to try something new like legalizing small amounts of marijuana.

FACT:  Marijuana use has been the cause of deaths from accidents, disease and recently possible toxicity.

For the record, polls have shown that more than 75 percent of voters nationwide think the war on drugs is a failure, including 86 percent of Democrats, 81 percent of independents, and 61 percent of Republicans. And as for the claim that marijuana has resulted in deadly diseases and deaths related to its toxicity, Lt. Martinez would be hard pressed to find significant, objective and methodologically sound evidence to substantiate his claim.

After all, every objective study on marijuana has concluded that it’s far less toxic, far less addictive, and far less harmful than alcohol for the user and society.

(Disclosure: I will go ahead and out myself so as to not be labeled a sock puppet. My name is Mason Tvert, I’m the executive director of SAFER, and a coauthor of Marijuana Is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink?)

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21 thoughts on “Hickenlooper Draws Fire Over Pot Appointee”

  1. This is old news – you haven’t really “unearthed” anything that is suddenly bringing on heat for Hickenlooper. I know it’s your cause, but be honest.

    Quick question for you. What’s more likely, legalization under Governor Hickenlooper or Governor McInnis?

    Keep up the good work but dont shoot yourself in the foot in the process.  

    1. I can see where you’re coming from with regard to the letter being from 2006. But I disagree. 1) we just learned of it (unless we saw it in 2006, but don’t remember); 2) the majority of the public is very likely unaware of it; and 3) it has become particularly relevant in light of recent developments in the issue and the politics surrounding it. It’s no different than what happened to Van Jones or the recent situation surrounding Pat Caddell’s comments on a video published several months ago. Whether either of those examples or any of the many that occur so frequently are a “good thing,” I don’t know. I have a feeling it’s circumstantial depending on the audience.

      As for who I would rather see win. Personally, I’d rather see Hickenlooper win. But that doesn’t mean he has my vote, nor does it compel me to give him a free pass. Whether he truly believe we should keep arresting marijuana users, or that marijuana is relatively benign and should be made legal, that’s his position and he has to be accountable for it.

      There is a leadership void on this issue, so barring any major developments, any significant reform that occurs in the next five years will be driven entirely by the people – the electeds will be dragged along.

      Again, thanks for the supportive words. With regard to shooting myself in the foot, I think that advice is better directed toward the mayor. 😉  

      1. But Martinez is but one vote on the 9 member board, right? I know you’re trying to raise the profile of the issue more but I think you should make it more about Martinez and his actions, not Hickenlooper’s.

        As for a leadership void, who else did Hickenlooper appoint to the board? Surely there is at least one person you approve of? 🙂  

        1. Hick didn’t appoint me and the other reform advocates on there – the law specified that the proponents of the initiative could select two of the panel members.

          The point I was trying to make is that leaders like Hick are not even trying to follow their constituents’ directives, and are dragging their feet and obstructing progress. Along those lines, consider Mitch Morrissey, who flat-out refused to have someone from his office participate on the panel despite it being an effort to improve our city’s approach to marijuana and bring it more in line with the views of the population.

  2. This is the issue with law enforcement lying at every turn.  Let’s grow up and stop the fear mongering.  We all know Reefer Madness was nothing but fiction.

    We can engage in conversation about the good and bad of MMJ or legalization.  But the lying and 1960 fear tactics of law enforcement needs to stop.

    I love Hick, but I do believe EVERY elected official will have to answer to large population of MMJ and pot users.

    We are like AARP.  Our numbers are large (65,000 patients).  I am amazed about who is coming into the restaurant to talk about MMJ.  We have had more 65 year old wealthy patients than I could have expected.

    So, call us pot heads if you must.  But know that we are not 20 year kids fighting for our right to get high in the dorms.  We are lawyers, business owners and entrepreneurs.  We have money, lawyers and we have just decided it is time for America to deal with her failed drug policies and corrupt ways law enforcement has influenced history.

    Politicians and AG Suthers will answer to this.  It will be an interesting year.

  4. but it is not even close to being one of the top five important things for CO and not even in the top ten for the country. Hick knew his opinion would be unpopular with many, many people. I respect him for having a rational opinion and sharing it with us. I’ll continue to support Hick.

    1. Too many people have been harmed by our drug laws and the lies of law enforcement.

      “Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.”

      Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), U.S. President.

      Speech, 18 Dec. 1840, to Illinois House of Representatives

  5. When you were handing out pamphlets on how horrible John Edwards was on MMJ rights (and please keep in mind I am ideologically along the same lines as you):

    There are bigger issues at stake here, and trying to “get” Hickenlooper on this is only going to further alienate a wing of the Democratic Party and independents who are libertarian-minded when it comes to social issues.

    This is the exact reason that I’ve had problems with SAFER, and why I refuse to give it money or recognize it as a legitimate activist organization like NORML.

    1. Alienating the Dem Party is the least of the issues, they have done a good job of that themselves.

      Jailing young men and giving them felonies,  putting people in harm’s way with overloaded SWAT Officers, people in positions of authority abusing their power and lying about groups of people is a pretty big issue in my book.

      I saw LAPD do some horrendous things in the 90s.  It all began with lies and how they were here to keep the good people safe.

      1. You’re right that the Dems have done it to themselves–mostly on health care, and the larger issue of the Senate being completely F’d up–but that’s an affirmation of my original point.

        You know I respect you a great deal, but I feel very strongly that Mason Tvert’s tactics are bad for both Democrats and MMJ advocates.

        I don’t know if Mason is affiliated with a party, but I do know that he typically attacks Democrats more than Republicans on this issue–probably because he can find the most disaffected MMJ and legalization advocates there. This election is going to be close enough without MMJ voters staying home because they won’t vote for Hick over this.

        That being said, I do respect that Mason Tvert outed himself as ColoRabble in the interest of full disclosure, knowing full well he would receive the kind of criticism that I am dishing out.

        1. I just typed out an admittedly excessively long response on this and lost it by accident.

          Rather than try to redo it, I’ll simply say:

          1) I appreciate the respect and the criticism. 😉

          2) I am a nonpartisan. In the past I have worked for Democrats, for Republicans, against Republicans and against Democrats (in primaries…). I consider myself a progressive.

          3) SAFER is entirely an equal opportunity offender. After all we launched a campaign dedicated exclusively to highlighting Cindy McCain’s role as a drug dealer. We also: placed newspaper ads ripping on Bush and Cheney that became the “most e-mailed image” on Yahoo for an entire day; developed billboards poking fun at former Rep. Mark Foley and Focus on the Family; and engaged repeatedly in highly vocal and publicized battles with John Suthers and Bill Owens.

          4) Democrats have done FAR more to hurt — or attempt to hurt — the marijuana reform movement than SAFER has done that might hurt Democrats. Romanoff and the legislative council sabotaged the blue book in 2006 (which the Rocky Mtn. News used an entire editorial to highlight and protest, even though it vehemently opposed our campaign); Hick, Michael Hancock, Charlie Brown, and other council members went out of their way to oppose our efforts and continue to obstruct progress; Mitch Morrissey has worked to ensure Denver continues prosecuting pot cases; and the list goes on.

          5) As for medical marijuana, the fact is that SAFER and I have great working relationships with virtually all of the medical marijuana organizations, all of the patients, and all of the dispensaries, and they know as well as I do that SAFER’s work is in their best interest.  

    2. You might have different priorities, but that does not negate the fact that others prioritize this issue. Quite frankly, I can’t bring myself to vote for someone who either:

      1: Is so ignorant and ideological that they think we should continue arresting and prosecuting adults who use a safer substance than alcohol.

      2: Agrees marijuana prohibition is ridiculous, but is too cowardly to simply say what they truly believe.

      NORML’s a great organization and has been around a long time. But it has not been the organization that has passed two citywide initiatives in Denver, run a statewide in Colorado, and served as a catalyst for Denver becoming the so-called “marijuana capitol of the U.S.”

      Seeing as the top questions asked of President Obama in his first on-line town hall — with more than 3.5 million Americans voting — were about marijuana, as were more than 30 of the top 100, I’d say this IS in fact an issue that is a priority for many.

      With upwards of 900,000 Americans being made criminals for marijuana – and losing jobs, losing public housing, losing college financial aid, going back to prison for violating parole/probation, etc. – this is a very big issue.

      Feel free to contradict your values (thinking marijuana prohibition should end) in order to continue electing people who will continue to work against them. Just don’t tell me I should have to do the same thing.

      1. So I guess he must be a coward too, right?

        Whenever you want to join the real world, I think you’ll be a great face for marijuana legalization in Colorado. I only have a problem with your tactics, don’t mistake that for a personal attack.

        1. RSB, I have to go with Mason on this.  Mason may not be the “do it the professional way” activist.  But to be honest how many of those spokespeople can you quote or name in Denver?  

          Matt Brown with CMMR is one the best spokespeople for MMJ around, but Dr. Reefer is better known at the Denver Post and the public.

          I am not comparing Mason to Dr. Reefer, Mason is smarter and his attacks are well thought out and sometimes gimmicky, but he gets attention from the press, something most groups cannot get.  And most of all, he is right on his facts. And the guy is an expert and published author.

          The pot (drug) laws have caused so much pain in this country and serve only to keep the liquor and drug companies competition free and private prisons full.

          Yes, the race will be tight.  And if the pot advocates threaten to stay home, I would say good for them.  Force the politicans to walk their talk on all issues that are important to you. And BTW, there over 65,000 patients in Colorado.  I would suggest to the Hickenlooper staffers, they get their guy right.  Fire the mouthy police Lt and move on.

          Would you say the same to the AARP members if Hick was weak on medicare?

        2. Yes, on this issue, Obama is a coward. Aside from backpedaling on ending the war(s) and repealing “don’t ask don’t tell”, marijuana/drug policy has been the clearest example of an elected official putting politics ahead of his values. And in all three of those cases, a irrational and wasteful injustice is being carried out at the expense of other people’s rights, freedoms, and in some cases livelihoods.

          If the “real world” entails electing and standing quietly by political representatives who openly defy not just your core values but their own, then, no, I’d rather not join the “real world.” I’d prefer to keep living in whatever “fake world” I’m apparently living in, and continue fighting to make it better.  

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