While most of us will be rolling joints and crafting gravity bongs out of household objects with our friends to celebrate my favorite holiday (4/20), the Colorado University chapter of NORML will be holding the largest organized annual 4/20 event in the world… and this year is extra special.

With the growing awareness of the importance of cannabis legalization comes increased participation and support from marijuana activists all over the world. NORML is encouraging college chapters of NORML and SSDP to hold marijuana discussions and gatherings next week to encourage a fresh perspective on cannabis laws and the much-needed reformation.

Next weekend at the University of Colorado at Boulder will consist of panels and speakers, doctors, lawyers, students, activists and professors as well as supporters of cannabis prohibition engaging in discussions, and anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend.

If you’re lucky enough to reside in the area, I highly recommend you consider making a stop and listen to some of the speakers; your voice and support is vital to the marijuana movement!

National Marijuana Forum
April 18-20, 2009
University of Colorado, Boulder

Click right here for a complete schedule.

In an effort to raise awareness of the drug’s dangers, all Colorado television stations will be airing “Childhelp Crystal Darkness,” an hour-long documentary about methamphetamine abuse.

Jeannine Truswell, United Way of Weld County’s executive director, said:

The hope is that many of these will be families and individuals seeking help with meth addiction. This is a night for families to block out everything else and watch this together. We believe it will make a difference in many, many lives. Meth is so destructive to our children, our families and our community. We have to come together to take a stand against this terrible drug.

The program and its showing are the results of a grassroots campaign started by the United Way. “Childhelp Crystal Darkness” will feature testimonials by recovering addicts from all over the state.

In Colorado, penalties for possessing pot in certain areas just got a little more affordable.

The city council in Federal Heights recently dropped the fine from $1,000 to $500. Most cities in Colorado only have a fine of $100, which was one of the reasons used to justify the reduction.

Mayor Joyce Thomas said it was an initiative to move city law closer to state law.

Since 2000, medical marijuana has been used in the state of Colorado with the passage of Amendment 20.

Noting a number of businesses struggling in the region with layoffs and cutbacks, Fort Collins article ‘The Dope on Dope‘ says that medical marijuana is one sector that continues to thrive.

Despite a recent $1.15 million-dollar raid, the largest in the area, growers, distributors and customers continue to do business completely unimpeded with almost no noticeable disruption in supply.

High Times senior editor David Bienenstock gave simple reasoning for the market’s resiliency:

For a lot of people who have lost a job, the idea of growing their own job is extremely attractive…

Depending on where they live there are various risks, but when people are forced out of the main economy, they will enter the gray economy.

He also posited that medical marijuana is likely to be one of the last things to go when people are asked to scale back their budgets. I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true.

Two Colorado folk are trying to get reimbursed somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 for 39 pot plants the local police illegally seized, and then returned a year later, completely ruined.

I’m not the resident hydroponics expert, but I’m sure sitting in a police basement with no light, can’t be good for plants. Some of the plants were so badly decomposed they had turned into a black, moldy liquid. No report on whether or not the couple tried to smoke the liquid.

Well, all the results are in and it’s time to get them out to the public. The conclusions from these mid-term elections are mixed. Seeing how close some of the major ballots came to being passed, it looks like we’re on the right track towards legalization.

Honorable mentions go to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Massachusetts for passing ordinances and low level resolutions aiding in the deprioritization of marijuana arrests.

Read below to see official sites and measure summaries:

California
Measure P (Santa Barbara) – Complete pot deprioritization
Measure K (Santa Cruz) – Complete pot deprioritization
Measure Y (Santa Monica) – Complete pot deprioritization

Colorado
Amendment 44 – Legalization of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for adults 21+ years old

Montana
Initiative 2 (Missoula) – Complete pot deprioritization

Nevada
Question 7 – Remove all civil penalties for the private possession, create state-wide system for taxation & distribution

South Dakota
Initiated Measure 4 – Allow the physician-authorized use of cannabis for medicinal purposes

[all data via NORML]

Looks like weed smokers won’t be converging on Colorado as the mecca of marijuana any time soon. SAFER Colorado was handed a defeat in their campaign to make up to one ounce of weed legal for the personal use of 21+ year olds.

Still, Mason Tvert – the SAFER’s campaign director – has taken it in stride and had this to say:

It’s quite clear that a number of people in Colorado are in agreement that marijuana prohibition is not working. We think this is the first step in a 5- to 10-year process.

He added that it’s going to be a tough battle to change 75 years of marijuana prohibition overnight, but SAFER is up to the challenge.

I agree with Mason in that I believe this is the beginning of a slow, uphill struggle. The bright side is that the ball has started to roll and is gaining size and speed with each day.

[via Denver Post]

TalkLeft has put together a nice, quick breakdown of the upcoming marijuana reform initiatives that are taking place in Colorado, Nevada and South Dakota. This years’ mid-term elections are not only important because of the obvious Democrat vs. Republican struggle, but also because these measures might be the first steps toward legalization.

Public opinion is starting to swing in many states. Organizations like LEAP and SAFER Colorado are doing their part to improve awareness and promote the benefits of herb rather than the demonization and scare tactics employed by the US government.

Overall, even if these measures don’t succeed (and I sure as hell hope they do), I still believe we are on the path towards a more intellectual approach to smoking. When you compare the benefits and drawbacks against many other legal substances in the US, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

[via TalkLeft]

In Colorado, the leading front for marijuana reform is developing. SAFER Colorado is making a strong push for publicity before the upcoming vote on Amendment 44.

So, what’s the best way to get the word out? The same way anyone who wants to successfully promote something does it – with a hot broad in a bikini. Damn smart move.

On a more serious note, this ad clearly points out the obvious benefits of marijuana over alcohol. When stated so clearly, it’s hard to ignore the evidence. Hopefully, a majority of the Colorado people feel the same way and start pushing the US one step closer to legalization.

[via Cannabis Culture]