Pubdate: Sun, 17 Mar 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Ingold
Page: 9B

CITIZENS GROUP HIRES TWO LOBBYISTS IN PUSH TO RESTRICT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

A citizens group opposed to a large-scale recreational-marijuana 
industry in Colorado has hired two powerhouse lobbyists in 
preparation for the state legislature's coming pot fight.

Smart Colorado formed as a nonprofit group within the past several 
weeks, group leader Doug Robinson said. After collecting donations, 
Robinson said, the group has hired former congressional candidate 
Mike Feeley and longtime Capitol lobbyist Sandra Hagen Solin to 
represent it as legislators write the laws for the forthcoming 
recreational-marijuana industry.

It will be the first time in the past several years that a citizens 
group devoted to restricting marijuana will have such high-powered 
representation at the Capitol. While medical marijuana businesses 
have had lobbyists for a while, anti-marijuana lobbying has often 
been done by law-enforcement groups or advocates.

Robinson said members of Smart Colorado-whom he described as 
"basically, a bunch of moms"- decided they needed to be better 
organized and represented to make a difference. Though Smart Colorado 
shares a name with the campaign committee opposed to Amendment 64, 
the measure passed in November legalizing limited marijuana 
possession and sales, Robinson said the two groups are separate.

Robinson said the group respects that voters legalized marijuana, but 
he said it wants to keep the recreational-marijuana industry as small 
and contained as possible. Group members testifying before the 
legislative committee said they fear that greater availability of 
marijuana will lead to public health and safety problems, especially with kids.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom