Pubdate: Wed, 27 Aug 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Mitchell Byars, The Daily Camera
Page: 2A

SCHOOLS FEAR BIG CAGE SENDS WRONG MESSAGE

Boulder - The city of Boulder has decided to hold off on 
participating in the statewide "Don't Be a Lab Rat" campaign after 
the Boulder Valley School District said it opposed the use of a giant 
metal cage to educate teens about the effects of marijuana on the 
developing brain.

The 12-foot-wide, 8-foot-high cage, complete with a scale version of 
the kind of water bottle hamsters drink from, was scheduled to be 
installed at the corner of 13th Street and Arapahoe Avenue as part of 
the state Department of Public Health's campaign.

Boulder officials said after the school district opposed the 
installation, the city is putting the cage on hold.

"We're trying to determine whether there is enough support now based 
on BVSD's concerns about the installment," said Karen Rahn, director 
of human services for the city.

"We're taking a step back and trying to address that."

The "Lab Rat" display, targeted at 12- to 15year-olds, is part of the 
state's public education campaign about pot's potential to harm a 
developing brain.

Schools Superintendent BruceMessinger emailed principals informing 
them that the administration would oppose "Don't Be a Lab Rat" 
because "a human scale 'rat cage' " may not be the most effective 
prop for the campaign's message.

Messinger also raised concerns about the campaign posters possibly 
stigmatizing people who have been diagnosed with mental illness.

"Schizophrenia. Permanent IQ loss. Stunted brain growth," the 
campaign's website reads. "Still, some people question this research. 
Claiming the studies need to go deeper. Look further. But who will be 
their guinea pigs? Who's going to risk their brains to find out once 
and for all what marijuana really does?"

The campaign already has made two stops in Denver at the public 
library and the downtown skate park.

Rahn said the city also initially had some concerns about the message 
but worked with the advertising agency in charge of the campaign to 
make some changes.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom