Reader: Why is Carol Boigon belittling medical marijuana jobs (or any jobs) in this economy?

• The hysteria to which you refer has been very much overblown by the same media outlets that sought to foment it in the first place. I take a hard-nosed attitude towards the race for Mayor -- Boigon is an irrelevancy because 1) most voters in Denver want to re-legalize cannabis (as opposed to close dispensaries) and 2) the prohibitionist vote is split three ways between Romer, Hancock, and Boigon. I doubt very much that fear of cannabis will drive this campaign, but a sensible policy regarding it just might make the difference.

• I view your response as a prime example of the political naivete of the "movement" "lobby" "advocacy" or whatever else you want to call it. Boigon isn't playing on realities. She's playing on the suburban "THEY are ruining our neighborhoods!" hysteria. In reality, I've seen about one dispensary in every 10 square blocks of urban density. But in papers and on the news, you'd think there is one every block because when one dispensary is in the news, the MMJ "crowd" plays for the cameras. Fear is a powerful motivator and doesn't respond to the one rational voice in the crowd of hysteria. People are more fearful of economic loss than they are of the loss of a constitutional right (to MMJ) that they don't exercise. Shoot the messenger all you like. The message remains the same and it's what people vote on.

• I don't follow your logic -- there's no risk of dispensaries appearing on every corner (or hardly any more corners) while the moratorium is extended another year. Your representations as to some voters' fears seem without substance. The issue of medical cannabis in Denver was not "passed in a close vote back then"; Denver supported medical cannabis strongly in 2000, and voted to legalize possession by strong pluralities in 2005 (rescinding our municipal ordinance) and 2006 (voting to legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of cannabis statewide). You are free to characterize the protests of those of us who firmly reject the General Assembly's abrogation of the constitutional rights of caregivers and patients as "disruptive antics", but don't call us a "lobby" for the industry -- that's daft! The so-called "industry" is represented by people in suits who "welcome" and "applaud" each new unconstitutional imposition. Your last sentence bears on one of our most serious weaknesses -- all too many people who use cannabis think that if they have enough, there are no problems.

• You spurred me to visit her website. According to Boigon, the important issues of this campaign are "To Do LIST to create jobs for Denver" "Carol on Education", and "Women on the Rise". Boigon's main issue (or rather, plan of action as Mayor) would be to make a "To Do LIST"?!?

• Here's the logic, Ecodude. Boigon is targeting the Crestmoor, HIlltop, Park Hill money and fears over Denver's shift toward the Starbuck's-like proliferation of MMJ dispensaries on every corner. Many of those voters, who actually voted in favor of MMJ back when, have come to be dissatisfied with how the "lobby" and its followers have become deaf to the concerns of homeowners over declining property values, fears over what dispensaries bring to the neighborhood (justified or not), and generally the disruptive antics of (mostly few) that are plastered all over the news every other night. The issue was passed in a close vote back then and no one had a crystal ball. Now, after seeing what's become of it, the issue is even more divisive and many of the voters she is targeting are in the midst of voter regret. In this scenario, the "growth" of the industry is viewed as a bad thing. It's not a belittling strategy, it's a fear-mongering strategy. And fear wins elections. Content people don't care to vote.

• And has anyone read Carol Boigon's jobs plan? http://boigonfordenver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Boigon-Means-Business-Carol-Boigons-Jobs-Plan-for-Denver.pdf Yeah, she's an idiot.

• Marijuana is a hot topic, roughly 50% approval 50% disapproval across the State and the Country. Talking about marijuana in politics is huge, whether you're for it or against it, http://inhale.co or don't inhale, as long as you're a politician talking about weed, you're in the spot light, plain and simple....

• Ecodude, that's a great post. Thanks. With Boigon, my take is she's either clueless as to how much revenue the city could rake in or she's pandering to the alcohol and pharmaceutical lobbyists, earning their campaign contributions. Two options, both bad. Somebody that can't see a revenue windfall right in front of them has no business running a city. Someone that takes the side of the people lining her pockets over her constituents is too ethics compromised to be Mayor.

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