Pubdate: Mon, 10 Dec 2012
Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Gazette
Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/
Website: http://www.gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165
Author: Audrey Hatfield

WHY IS THIS BEING IGNORED?

Back in 2000, the people voted for qualifying patients to receive 
safe access to medical cannabis. There are rules and regulations as 
to law enforcements handling of such. The problem is that our 
district attorney has chosen to waste hundreds of thousands of your 
taxpayer dollars prosecuting sick patients and law-abiding businesses 
that are following "the rules," for his own agenda - attorney 
general. Cannabis patients and businesses make easy targets and make 
easy wins when they are scared or misinformed into taking less then 
desirable plea deals.

It's no secret that Dan May has been against safe access since taking 
office. He seems to be content interpreting the law based on his 
personal views. Our organization, Coloradans for Cannabis Patient 
Rights (C4CPR), and its supporters, have protested numerous times in 
front of the courthouse and Dan's office. I have written letters to 
Dan, Barbara Miller, the chief of police, VNI, City Council and our 
mayor. The only response I received was from VNI and one person from 
city council (informing me it was not of their place.)

Public knowledge of the amount of taxpayer dollars that have been 
spent prosecuting those patients and businesses is now a big secret. 
None of the above persons will answer questions. Our city and county 
officials claimed they needed funds (added fees to businesses) for 
the "extra" police force needed and half the time the police don't 
show up or show up hours late. Why has this corruption been allowed 
to take place? And continue? Why is this being swept under the carpet 
and being ignored?

The mayor cares an awful lot about the spending of Colorado Springs 
Utilities but will not respond to a citizen inquiry about wasteful 
spending through our police department and district attorney? Our DA 
does not get to interpret the law, he needs to follow it. Out of 
250,000 voters that went to the polls here, 50,000 did not vote for 
Dan; that should say something. As a taxpaying citizen and native, 
I'm appalled this continues. Dan May, read and follow the laws 
regarding medical cannabis, train your department and stop wasting 
money and ruining lives!

Audrey Hatfield, President C4CPR Colorado Springs
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom