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DENVER 4/20 RALLY
Largest 4/20 Cannabis Rally in the US: Over 80,000 people expected.
Saturday (4/20) and Sunday (4/21)
9am to 5pm Daily
Civic Center Park, Downtown Denver
Music, speakers, information tables, FUN!!!
Free and Open to the Public!
http://420rally.org/

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STOP THC/DUI BILL - HEARING AND PROTEST ON MONDAY (4/22)

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON HB1114
DATE: Mon., April 22, 2013
PROTEST: 1:00pm
West Steps of State Capitol Building, 200 E. Colfax, Denver, CO
HEARING: 1:30pm (The hearing may start later as there are two bills scheduled before it.)
Old Supreme Court Chambers, 2nd floor, state Capitol Building

HB1114, the THC/DUI bill, would allow convictions of citizens for merely showing the presence of 5ng/mL of THC in their whole blood, regardless of whether the citizen was actually impaired or not. Bill would also require forced blood draws.

ATTIRE: Dress to Impress
PROVISIONS: Bring food and water, as the hearing may last a while.
CALL FIRST: Capitol Bill Room (for last minute time and place changes): (303) 866-3055

LISTEN LIVE ONLINE
You listen online to the Senate Judiciary committee hearing:
http://www.coloradochannel.net/
***You can email the Senators during the hearing on any issues they are discussing. Most of the Senators monitor their email during the hearing, so you can have a great impact countering false testimony as you hear it.***

SAMPLE LETTER TO SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Dear Senator:

Please vote no on HB1114 and do more research on the bill to set a nanogram limit on cannabis. There is NO evidence showing a link between THC blood concentration and impairment. Other drugs that impair people, like oxycontin, do not have nanogram limits. This bill is unfair to medical marijuana patients, who will almost always be above 5 ng due to constant use, yet suffer no impairment in driving skills.

Since it is already illegal to drive under the influence of any substance that impairs your ability to drive in the state of Colorado, we simply do not need this new law. The only thing this bill does is reduce the ability
of the defendant to defend themselves and make convictions easier for the government.

In addition, a US Supreme Court Decision on April 17, 2013 (Missouri v. McNeely), outlaws forced blood draws of citizens without a warrant:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-1425_cb8e.pdf

Please vote NO on HB1114.

Sincerely,

<YOUR NAME>

*EMAIL SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE*
COPY AND PASTE EMAILS:
lucia.guzman.senate@state.co.us, jessie.ulibarri.senate@state.co.us,
irene.aguilar.senate@state.co.us, steve.king.senate@state.co.us,
kevin@kevinlundberg.com, info@cannabistherapyinstitute.com

Make sure you cc: info@cannabistherapyinstitute.com on any letters you
send.

*PHONE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE *
Special attention should be made to the Democrats, as the two Republicans
will likely vote in favor of HB-1114 regardless of the facts.

Senator Guzman, Chairman (D-Denver)
Phone: 303-866-4862
E-mail: lucia.guzman.senate@state.co.us

Senator Ulibarri, Vice-Chairman (D-Adams)
Phone: 303-866-4857
E-mail: jessie.ulibarri.senate@state.co.us

Senator Irene Aguilar (D-Denver)
Phone: 303-866-4852
E-mail: irene.aguilar.senate@state.co.us

Senator Steve King (R-Mesa)
Phone: 303-866-3077
E-mail: steve.king.senate@state.co.us

Senator Kevin Lundberg (R-Larimer)
Phone: 303-866-4853
E-mail: kevin@kevinlundberg.com

*BACKGROUND*
Read HB-1114 and committee reports here:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/

HB1114 would declare that the presence of 5 nanogram/milliliters or more of THC in the bloodstream of a driver would create a "permissible inference" that the person is guilty of DUI. Under this proposed law, the mere presence of 5 nanograms/mL of THC is enough to prove guilt, regardless of any evidence that the person was not actually impaired.

HB1114 will require a "forced blood draw", forcing anyone suspected of driving under the influence of THC to submit to a blood draw forced by the state. Currently, alcohol levels can be tested through urine, breath or
blood. But under the THC/DUI bill, the nanogram count can only come from a forced blood draw.

April 2, 2013: Please copy and repost this announcement.

Action Alert: No on HB 1114 (THC/DUI)

STOP THC/DUI - CALL AND EMAIL COLORADO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HB 1114 passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee on 2/26/13, and passed the House Appropriations Committee on 4/1/13.

*** Your calls and emails are needed NOW! The next step will be two votes of the full Colorado House of Representatives, called Second Reading and Third Reading. These votes will probably take place this week, so send your emails NOW.***

BACKGROUND
HB1114 would declare that the presence of 5 nanogram/milliliters or more of THC in the bloodstream of a driver would create a "permissible inference" that the person is guilty of DUI. Under this proposed law, the mere presence of 5 nanograms/mL of THC is enough to prove guilt, regardless of any evidence that the person was not actually impaired.

HB1114 will require a "forced blood draw", forcing anyone suspected of driving under the influence of THC to submit to a blood draw forced by the state. Currently, alcohol levels can be tested through urine, breath or blood. But under the THC/DUI bill, the nanogram count can only come from a forced blood draw.

CALL AND EMAIL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Sample letter to House Representatives

Dear Representatives:

Please vote no on HB1114 and do more research on the bill to set a nanogram limit on cannabis. There is NO evidence showing a link between THC blood concentration and impairment. Other drugs that impair people, like oxycontin, do not have nanogram limits. This bill is unfair to medical marijuana patients, who will almost always be above 5 ng due to constant use, yet suffer no impairment in driving skills.

Medical cannabis patients in Colorado are SICK of being treated like second class citizens! If you want to give them forced blood draws, you will have to show some evidence that there is actually a problem. Please at least include an exemption for medical marijuana patients in this bill.

Sincerely,
<Your Name Here>

Click here to find phone numbers and more information on Colorado's House
of Representatives:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/

LISTEN ONLINE TO FLOOR DEBATE
No more public comment will be taken when the House debates the bill, but
you can listen to the floor debate online.
Check here for the House Calendar to see when HB-1114 is scheduled to be
debated on Second Reading:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/
You listen online to the House debate when it is scheduled:
http://www.coloradochannel.net/

***You can email the Representatives during the floor debate on any issues they are discussing. Even though there is no opportunity for public comment, most of the Reps. do monitor their email while the floor debate is going on, so your emails during the debate will have an impact.***

NOTE TO A64 SUPPORTERS:
This bill is required by A64, which states "Driving under the influence of marijuana shall remain illegal." The groups that promoted A64 are also -in favor- of the 5 ng limit. They spent over $2 million promoting A64, but haven't spent a dime to prevent this THC/DUI bill. IF YOU VOTED FOR A64, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO WRITE AND SEND LETTERS, and to have 10 OF YOUR FRIENDS SEND PROTEST LETTERS, TOO! This bill is a direct consequence of your vote
for A64, and shows clearly why many long-time activists were against the language of A64 from the beginning.

Sign up on CTI's email list for updates:

March 5, 2013: Activists from C4CPR say they spent a few hours at El Paso County District Attorney Dan May's office in Colorado Springs last week. Dan May refused to see them, and refused to make an appointment to see them in the future. Afterwards, C4CPR found out that Dan May tried to have the medical marijuana activists arrested, and but the Colordao Springs Police Department refused. Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiyRf8EVlcE&feature=youtu.be

PRESS CONTACT:
Audrey Hatfield, President C4CPR: 719-271-8430
www.c4cpr.org

ACTIVISM PROJECT:
Ask Dan May to Stop Prosecuting Cancer Patients!

District Attorney Dan May
Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties)
Phone: (719) 520-6174
Email (DA's spokesperson): LeeRichards@elpasoco.com

Extra Credit
Send your letter to the DA as a Letter to the Editor of the local newspapers:
Colorado Springs Gazette: opinion@gazette.com
Colorado Springs Independent: letters@csindy.com

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