[420 Girl]

Colorado - I am writing to express my gratitude to the voters of the town of Breckenridge for passing the sensible reform of removing criminal penalties for less than an ounce of marijuana last month. It was an overwhelming victory for common sense amidst the typical hysteria of those who fear a substance that is less harmful than alcohol.

Despite this victory, the road to full legalization in Colorado remains extremely challenging. Voters need to hold their elected officials accountable for their positions on marijuana. That means the Breckenridge Town Council, State Sen. Gibbs and State Rep. Scanlan, and our U.S. Rep. Polis need to hear from you on changing state and federal laws. I intend to monitor the actions of the town and county police and inform the public if their actions are contrary to the clear will of the voters.

Just as important as continued activism is a heightened sense of personal responsibility. Marijuana should not be used publicly, should not be used when driving or at work, should not be shared with teens, and should not be abused. This county's youth should not take the wrong message away from this election: Marijuana is something that responsible adults should be able to enjoy in moderation without fear of criminalization, but it is potentially harmful to young, developing minds. There are many things that teens are not ready for yet, like drinking alcohol, voting, getting married, and marijuana.

I agree with those who say there are more important issues facing our country like unwinnable wars, a broken economy, a miserable health care system, and environmental neglect. However, marijuana reform is a low hanging fruit that should be done sooner than later. I confess to not understanding the forces of the status quo. Why don't facts matter: 20 million Americans criminalized for pot possession since 1965 while use has remained the same, 60,000 people in U.S. prisons today for marijuana violations only, $25 billion in annual enforcement costs, and forgoing billions in tax revenue on a substance less harmful than alcohol. Someday soon, these facts will prevail. Thank you Breckenridge for moving our justice system a little closer to logic and compassion.


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