Civic Satisfaction -

In just 10 days, the nation's largest political event will be held right in SAFER's backyard. We need your help to take advantage of it.

About 15,000 members of the media from around the world are expected to descend on Denver next week for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. As the international spotlight is being cast on the Mile High City, SAFER will be doing everything possible to draw attention to its message, the vast progress we have made in the convention's host city, and the growing support for marijuana policy reform around the country.

Things got rolling last week with a column from SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert featured in the Denver Post, discussing the upcoming convention and the hypocrisy in how marijuana and alcohol are treated in this country. However, to implement the rest of our DNC plans...

We NEED Your Help!

Please click here or visit http://www.SAFERchoice.org/donate today and make a tax-deductible donation to help SAFER create the materials we need to get our message out during the DNC.

Would you give $5 to see a story in the New York Times that highlights how marijuana is SAFER than alcohol? An interview on MSNBC? A segment on the Daily Show?

For every $5 you donate, SAFER will be able to hand a member of the media a professional-appearing folder emblazoned with "How to Have a SAFER 2008 DNC." Each folder will include:

Tips on how to have a SAFER DNC, highlighting the host city's status as the first in the nation to remove all legal penalties for the private use and possession of marijuana by adults.

An envelope addressed to the City of Denver for those media members who get cited by police for making the SAFER choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol to enhance their convention experience. We hope to draw attention to the recent change in city policy that made citations for marijuana possession a simple mail-in fine (much like a traffic ticket) rather than a mandatory court appearance. Of course we will mention that this this a good start, but does not go nearly far enough.

A time-line, fact sheet and news clippings, detailing the progress of efforts to reform marijuana laws in Denver, across Colorado, at the federal level, and in other cities and states around the country.

Information regarding the relative safety of marijuana compared to alcohol, explaining why it makes absolutely no sense to punish adults for simply making the SAFER choice and push them toward using the more harmful of the two.

These folders will provide the media with everything they need to cover our issue during the convention, plus it will allow them to do so whenever is convenient for them, as there will be tons of other events and issues with whom we'll be competing for attention.

SAFER is powered by its supporters, and any amount you can donate will greatly increase our chances of generating some positive news coverage. So please visit our Web site today and make a tax-deductible donation of $5, $20, $50 or more, and be sure to forward this message on to others.

Volunteer in Denver During the DNC!

Along with needing help putting together the folders mentioned above, we need volunteers to represent SAFER at information booths at various demonstrations and events surrounding the DNC. If you can help us put together folders next week, or help distribute literature and Know-Your-Rights information and sign up new supporters during the convention, please contact SAFER Outreach Director Anne Catto at anne@saferchoice.org or 303-861-0033.

Other Marijuana Reform Events During the DNC
(These events are NOT sponsored by or affiliated with SAFER)

Thursday, Aug. 21 - THC National Convention
Conference: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Music/Comedy: 6 p.m.-Midnight
(Oriental Theater, Map)

Friday, Aug. 22 - March Against the Prohibition of Marijuana
Meet: 1:45 p.m. March Begins: 2 p.m.
(Meeting at Lincoln Park)

Thursday, Aug. 28 - Citizens for Safe Access Medical Marijuana Parade
Meet: 12:30 p.m. Parade Begins: 1:15 p.m.
(Staging at Lincoln Park, Map of parade route)