HERE COMES THE 4/20 TRAIN - VIDEO
Here is the 20 minute clip from this afternoon. See previous post for details. Chief White start at about 8:15.
Monday, January 13, 2014
HERE COMES THE 4/20 TRAIN - Jan 13, 2014
Opinion by Gerald Trumbule
Denver City Council's Special Issues Committee - Amendment 64 Marijuana, just adjourned. It was a doozy of a meeting and I'll be putting select clips from the Ch 8 coverage up here. In the meantime, here are some details.
After they took a recess for a swearing-in, Council reconvened to consider the upcoming annual 4/20 celebration, you know, the Civic Center Park get together where everyone lights up a joint at 4:20 to celebrate...that they can.
Theories abound as to the significance of the number 420, but the real purpose of the event has always been for the stoners to demonstrate to the world ...that they can. Yes, despite the irrational laws prohibiting this minor intoxicant, we are going to ingest it right in front of you! THIS IS A FORM OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. When pot was illegal, but at the same time becoming more tolerated and the 4/20 Celebration grew to thousands, the cops had the sense to do nothing.
At this meeting, DPD Chief White seemed, as he usually does, to be the only adult in the room. He has a certain demeanor, not exactly a sly smile, but one that confirms that "we all know what we are talking about here folks: 100 cops are not going to do anything when 60,000 people light up, but our intent is to write citations when the law is broken". And you know what we mean by intent - we'd like to, but for public safety reasons, we can't. Jeanne Fats didn't seem satisfied with that and Jeanne Rob fixated on "the transfer" of pot to kids at the celebration - what?. Robin Kneich repeated made it clear that she trusts White to do the right thing.
Chris Nevitt, ever the realist, suggested that a permit be granted for pot smoking on that day and place. You know, like is done with alcohol? Duh! Seems like an obvious solution, but no! Charlie Brown says that if we do that then we'll have to start granting licenses "on Saint Patty's Day and Cinco de Mayo and..." Gee, that would be "like alcohol" wouldn't it.
I don't want to give everything away - you'll be able to see for your self here soon.
Senator Irene Aguilar, MD P.O. Box 27424, Denver, CO 80227 (303) 601-0955 ireneaguilar.md@gmail.com
Please join
Senator Irene Aguilar
for
A Town Hall Meeting
On Recreational Marijuana –
What you need to know
Tuesday, January 14, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Harvey Park Rec Center
2120 South Tennyson Street, Denver
Senator Aguilar will be joined by special guests:
Representative Jonathan Singer
District 4 Police Representative
Marijuana Enforcement Division Representative
Marijuana Dispensary Representative
Bring your questions and concerns
Friday, January 10, 2014
FOR FEDERAL WORKERS (FOREST SERVICE) RE: POT
Subject: Clarification to Drug Testing Policy for Recreational Marijuana Use
To: Rocky Mountain Regional Employees
As you are aware, the State of Colorado has a new state law enacted this month legalizing recreational use of marijuana. With the passage of these state laws in Colorado and Washington State, the Washington Office distributed a memorandum reminding Forest Service employees that marijuana use is still illegal under federal law. It is my intent that all Rocky Mountain Region employees read and understand the memorandum’s direction and our responsibilities as federal employees.
The WO memo entitled “Clarification to Drug Testing Policy for Recreational Marijuana Use” is enclosed. Additionally, the Colorado Federal Executive Board recently sent out an all employee announcement (enclosed) reminding employees of the drug free workplace requirements. I am requesting all supervisors provide copies of these enclosures to their employees within the Rocky Mountain Region.
It is imperative that employees understand a key part of the enclosed WO memo, “All Forest Service employees are expected to remain drug free and refrain from illegal drug use during duty and off-duty hours. Doing so preserves the integrity and safety of our workplace, as well as allows us to properly serve the public."
For the safety of our customers and fellow employees, I expect all Rocky Mountain Region employees to abide by federal law and the enclosed direction. As a reminder to our visiting public, possession and use of marijuana remains illegal on federal lands and federal buildings within Colorado.
If you have questions about the enclosed direction, please contact your supervisor.
Subject: Clarification to Drug Testing Policy for Recreational Marijuana Use
To: Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director, Deputy Chiefs and WO Directors
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide agency clarification as a result of recently passed state laws which permit the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. All Forest Service employees are advised that the Federal Drug Free Workplace Program (DFWP), as established by Executive Order 12564, Public Law 100-71, has not been modified to reflect any change to the panel of drugs contained in Schedule I under the Controlled Substance Act. As such, the DFWP will continue to operate in accordance with Federal law, which identifies marijuana as a Schedule I illegal drug.
Employees are reminded state laws which allow recreational marijuana use have no bearing on Federal laws which govern the DFWP and its applicable rules and regulations. Federal employees within the executive branch covered under test designated positions will continue to be tested for marijuana. Any employee having a positive drug test result for marijuana will be subject to the standards outlined in the USDA Table of Penalties.
All Forest Service employees are expected to remain drug free and refrain from illegal drug use during duty and off-duty hours. Doing so preserves the integrity and safety of our workplace, as well as allows us to properly serve the public.
If you have any questions or require additional information concerning the DFWP, please contact John Freeman, Supervisor, Drug Testing at (505) 563-9302 or email: johnfreeman@fs.fed.us.
/s/ J. Lenise Lago
J. LENISE LAGO
Deputy Chief for Business Operations
REMINDER OF FEDERAL DRUG FREE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS
In light of Colorado’s legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana, the following information is provided as a reminder that Federal employees are covered by the requirements of Executive Order 12564, Drug-free Federal Workplace.
Executive Order 12564 (Drug-Free Federal Workplace) specifically states, in part:
Section 1. Drug-Free Workplace.
a) Federal employees are required to refrain from the use of illegal drugs.
b) The use of illegal drugs by Federal employees, whether on duty or off duty, is contrary to the efficiency of the service.
c) Persons who use illegal drugs are not suitable for Federal employment.
The Executive Order further states in Section 7:
c) For purposes of this Order, the term "illegal drugs" means a controlled substance included in Schedule I or II, as defined by section 802(6) of Title 21 of the United States Code, the possession of which is unlawful under chapter 13 of that Title.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Guidance Regarding Marijuana Enforcement makes it clear that marijuana remains an illegal drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
The Department of Interior Business Center Drug & Alcohol Testing Branch states that, "Marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, and marijuana use is not an acceptable medical explanation for a positive drug test result. A prescription or written recommendation for marijuana from a licensed physician or medical professional does not exempt the employee or applicant from this rule."
Finally, an employer can prohibit employees from being impaired/intoxicated by illegal drugs, alcohol or even prescription drugs in the workplace where there is a nexus to their job. The applicable laws for reasonable workplace accommodation for federal employees with disabilities does not require an employer to accommodate the illegal use of drugs.
Executive Order 12564--Drug-free Federal workplace - http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12564.html
PARKS AND REC INSULTING TO DONOHUE (Part 2)
Read Part 1
Only a fool would get into a debate with liars. It is time to end a game with no winners. I would, however, like to reiterate a few points.
by email from Cathy Donohue
Only a fool would get into a debate with liars. It is time to end a game with no winners. I would, however, like to reiterate a few points.
Why would Fred Weiss, who chaired the meeting, find it necessary to make a very pointed lecture to the committee members about why I was asked to leave. He did not say that I "chose" to leave.
He warned them that these meetings are "private".
Councilwoman Robb did bring a guest who was not a committee member. He asked questions. Why was he allowed to stay and participate in the discussion. Is he some kind of special citizen?
Why did the Parks Dept. fail to make any mention in the formal minutes of my presence, my comments or my removal; nor is there any record that I was told I could stay but not comment. My presence has been redacted as if I didn't exist. Later, the Parks Dept. published a fabricated version of what happened, but chose to leave an accurate portrayal out of the official minutes.
No matter what Doty Anderson says, she did receive an e-mail from a stakeholder who is also a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. This e-mail is critical of how I was treated and objects to my being asked to leave. This e-mail has disappeared. Most likely, Ms. Anderson is fully aware of the consequences of letting anyone see this message.
Lauri Dannemiller's version of what was said to me is based entirely on what her staff supposedly told her. I was not told to leave by a member of her staff; but by the facilitator hired by the Parks Dept. I am absolutely certain of what he told me. It is now my understanding that all the while she was busy writing denials, she never spoke to the facilitator, Mr. Collins, who is the only person who spoke to me about leaving. I would be perfectly willing to take a lie detector test if he should deny what he said to me.
Unless Concilwoman Robb has Superman's ears, she could not possibly have heard the verbal exchange between Mr. Collins and me as she was on the other side of the room, returning to her seat with her beverage in her hand. Most of the verbal exchange was made at the opposite end of the meeting room, with some of it being held in the foyer. There were no other persons in the foyer.
I have been deeply involved politically in the city for more than 40 years. I am not going to throw my reputation down the drain trying to make points to a person (Ms. Dannemiller) who has not done due diligence in seeking the truth or is easily bamboozled by her staff.
My reputation may suffer a bit of a blow, but ultimately the truth will come into the light.
I hope that no citizen ever has to be ejected from a city-sponsored meeting about such a vital subject. It is a lousy form of democracy. Most citizens who love our parks know that we will need to find new ways to keep them the treasures that they are. Why does the Hancock Administration think these meetings have to be "private"? What do they have to hide? I am pleased to learn that the secret meetings have been cancelled and that future meetings will be open for public participation.
Cathy Donohue
Denver’s Neighborhood Voice in the Wilderness
by Larry Ambrose - Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation "INConnection" Newsletter
Cynicism runs deep in American politics these days. It wouldn’t be so bad that politicians mislead, misjudge, misconstrue and misstep, but, the problem is, they run our government! Although most of our elected City government representatives have come to office through the highest calling of civic service, many seem to fall prey to a dominant political culture, whereby citizens are patronized rather than respected. Somehow we are often made to feel like the teenager asking to borrow the car on Saturday night, rather than the taxpayers who put them in office.
Assuming that term limits were supposed to reduce the probability that bad elected representatives would continue on in office, they have had the opposite effect. In many cases, they have assured that mediocre representation will be perpetuated through a guarantee of 12 years of incumbent election funding. Investigative journalism at the local, state and national level which informs most voters, has gone the way of the trolley cars. At the local level where citizens have the best chance of effecting outcomes and change in government so much money is needed for Council and Mayor races that lobbyists and, developers have joined forces to run their own candidates who answer first to them.
Denver government presents a perfect example of where the public processes for citizen involvement have become a sham. Agency bureaucrats, often consider themselves to be experts and know best what citizens want and need. Most of the time planning is done with predetermined outcomes. Committees in which the public is allowed to participate, shadow “internal” work groups where policies are developed and are then presented for consideration as limited options. Requests for cost-benefit analyses go unheeded. Final plans are submitted to the public only for “tweaking”. Stakeholder committees, have now become confidential in nature with citizen participants being asked to pledge to keep proceedings and the discussions to themselves and from members of the press and public. Even a former Councilperson, was recently ordered to leave a stakeholder Special Events and Planning meeting as “ it was deemed a “private” not “public” meeting and she was not on the invitation” list.
When there is a valid public process the published outcomes are often subverted, altered by the agency experts or even totally ignored at a later date. Outcomes, written vaguely or with the addition of ambiguous terms, makes possible almost any interpretation that is needed to support questionable government decisions. City Council committees hear from City agency experts and lobbyists and make decisions without the benefit of public comment. “Courtesy Zoning”, whereby City Council follows an unspoken rule that approves site specific zoning matters according to the District Councilperson’s wishes, has morphed into “Courtesy Parks” and actually, “Courtesy Anything”.
City Attorneys mold interpretations of the law to satisfy the Mayor’s whims. City Council, the legislative branch of municipal government has no legal counsel of its own and has blindly followed the legal opinions of the Mayor’s appointee. Only since the Mayor and Council became “term limited” has the legislative branch of City government so eagerly followed the Mayor’s wishes. Historically, Councils have often hired their own outside legal counsel. Denver now, at least in theory, has only two branches of government--Executive and Judicial. The legislative branch has abandoned its oversight role as the legitimate third branch of our government. One big, happy family rules the city.
Trees are falling in the forest. We hear them fall. Be it resolved that we must work to stop this madness in 2014.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Central Denver Recreation Center Press Conference
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Tuesday, January 7, 2014
A WAKE-UP CALL FOR GOVERNOR HICKENLOOPER
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| Not many people coming to Colorado for medical beer. |
Hickenlooper's Pot Hypocrisy
"Is Governor Hickenlooper really going to marginalize all pot-legalization advocates in one fell swoop as stereotypical slacker-stoners who spark up and then go stock up on munches at 7-11? Really, governor -- after you made your fortune and launched your political career by selling booze? Doesn't Hickenlooper see the hypocrisy in his sweeping generalization of all pro-pot types as not-quite-members-of-adult-society Cheetos eaters, when the alcohol he sold in his establishment is far more damaging, more expensive, and more lethal to Coloradans than pot will ever be?"
Watch this video for the story of Charlotte's Web (cannabis strain) and pediatric epilepsy.
Monday, January 6, 2014
LIST OF CURRENTLY ACTIVE DENVER POT SHOPS
Stores now fully licensed in Denver, Colorado:
3D Cannabis Center, 4305 Brighton Boulevard
Citi-Med, 1640 East Evans Avenue
The Clinic Colorado, 3888 East Mexico Avenue
Dank Colorado, 3835 Elm Street
Denco, 3460 Park Avenue West
Denver Kush Club, 2615 Welton Street
Evergreen Apothecary, 1568 South Broadway
The Green Solution, 2601 West Alameda Avenue
The Green Solution, 4400 Grape Street
The Grove, 74 Federal Boulevard
The Haven, 777 Canosa Court
The Healing House Denver, 2383 South Downing Street
The Health Center, 1736 Downing Street
Kindman, 4125 Elati Street
LoDo Wellness, 1617 Wazee Street
Medicine Man Denver, 4750 Nome Street
Mile High Medical Cannabis, 1705 Federal Boulevard
The Shelter, 4095 Jackson Street
Sunday, January 5, 2014
City Park West Neighborhood Meeting This Wednesday
When: 1/8/2014 at 6:30 PM
Where: Longs Peak Conference Room at Exempla Saint Joseph HospitalAddress: 1960 N Ogden St., Denver CO 80218
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