The Gazette editorial board | Commentary, Denver Gazette
It’s both embarrassing and galling that an elected University of Colorado regent — who also happens to be the state’s most politically connected marijuana dealer — tried to squelch a public health campaign alerting parents to the perils her products pose to our youth.
Denver pot shop owner and first-term CU Regent Wanda James at first claimed, preposterously, the campaign was racist. Then, she denounced it as “recycled junk science” even if — oops — its author was no less an authority than the Colorado School of Public Health. Outrageously, she even tried to use her clout to crush the campaign.
It all backfired on James last week. The Board of Regents voted to censure her for her misuse of her public office in a shameless bid to defund the campaign. Read the details in today’s column by The Gazette’s Jimmy Sengenberger, who has covered the saga since Day 1.
No one — least of all, a public official — can afford any longer to be cavalier about the devastating impact of today’s high-potency THC on our youth. It’s not the pot of Cheech & Chong; it’s power packed and is permanently bending the minds of our kids. It’s infused into concentrates and loaded into disposable vape pens, ideal for curious, naive middle-schoolers to conceal in their backpacks and discreetly use on their lunch break.
Make no mistake; it is destroying young lives — as illustrated powerfully in a new documentary featured in a Gazette news report last week.
READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.