MARIJUANA ARGUMENT WAS ALL SMOKE

Denver is safer this week. Now that the city's voters have made it
"legal" for adults each to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, Denver
is a "safer" city, according to proponents of the change.

Domestic violence is on the way out. The edge has been taken off of
road rage. Folks of all stripes are more pleasant. Heck, people have
quit spitting on the sidewalks.

Not.

First, the new city ordinance didn't change an ounce of state law, so
what was illegal before remains illegal, regardless of which side of
the road you're on.

And second, even if Denver voters could supercede state law, the
thought that marijuana is the medicine for a better society is
ridiculous. Granted, alcoholism takes an enormous toll, but touting
THC as a relative cure for societal ills is the wrong argument for
legalization.

Legal does not equal good, whether it's marijuana, alcohol or fatty
foods.

The war on the war on drugs is a different matter, and the state has
addressed the medical marijuana issue, but that's not what ballot
issue I-100 supported.

So, Denver is as it was before, save for voters making a public
statement about marijuana.

But you still can't advance your tokin' to Colfax Avenue.