AT 9 a.m MT this morning, marijuana advocacy groups will be gathering in front of the Creswell Mansion Office Building at 1244 Grant St., Denver, in protest of a new federal lawsuit that the groups say intends to force Colorado marijuana production and sales back into the underground market. Representatives from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and the Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation, along with State Rep. Jonathan Singer, will then carry a "Regulation Works!" sign down the street to the State Capitol Building at 10 a.m., when details of the suit are expected to be announced.Â
Behind the suit is the Safe Streets Alliance, a group reportedly formed with the help of  John Walsh, host of "America's Most Wanted," that is dedicated to stopping crime before it happens–largely by keeping convicted violent criminals behind bars for their full sentences, and using "crime analysis techniques to concentrate on getting high rate offenders off of the streets," according to the group's website.
"Together with several of its members and others who have been injured by the commercial marijuana industry in Colorado, Safe Streets filed suit in federal court to vindicate the federal marijuana laws," SafeStreetsAlliance.org states. "The suit alleges that state and local officials in Colorado are violating federal law by promoting the commercialization of marijuana. Safe Streets is asking the federal courts to order Colorado officials to comply with federal law and stop issuing state licenses to deal illegal drugs."
“This lawsuit is misguided, and we’re doubtful it will succeed. Colorado has no obligation to punish adults for using marijuana and every right to take steps to control it," commented MPP Communications Director Mason Tvert in a statement released by the MPP.
“Hundreds of millions of dollars in marijuana sales that were previously taking place in a dangerous underground market are now being conducted safely in licensed stores. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would prefer marijuana be controlled by criminals instead of by tightly regulated businesses. If drug cartels relied on litigation instead of violence, this is the lawsuit they would file,"Â Tvert continued. "We fail to see how our streets will be safer if we go back to having unregulated marijuana sold in homes and back alleys. Ironically, Colorado’s streets will be less safe if the Safe Streets Alliance gets its way.”
Christian Sederberg, chair of the Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation, who served on Colorado's Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper, added, "Colorado has demonstrated that regulating marijuana works. Our state has enacted sensible and strict regulations, developed through an inclusive stakeholder process, to ensure quality-controlled marijuana is available through safe and secure businesses. These businesses are run by individuals who are active, contributing, and taxpaying members of the community."
Sederberg said the lawsuit is designed to undermine efforts to "make our communities safer."
"We are in the process of eliminating the underground marijuana market in this state. It’s disappointing to see outsiders coming into Colorado with the goal of reversing our progress,” said Sederberg.