Gazette editorial board: AG Weiser defends censure-shamed CU regent over public health warning

By The Gazette Editorial Board | Commentary, The Gazette

For a politician with his eyes on a higher prize, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser sure seemed shortsighted the other day when he took to social media in defense of the indefensible — a University of Colorado regent rightly rebuked by her peers for her abuse of office.

Readers might recall the CU Board of Regents recently voted 7-1 to censure first-term board member Wanda James, a Democrat who represents Denver’s 1st Congressional District. James, arguably the state’s most politically ambitious pot dealer, has behaved at times as if she represents the marijuana industry rather than her district — and it finally backfired on her.

The owner of a Denver marijuana retail outlet, James unconscionably attempted this year to squelch a public health campaign alerting parents to the perils her products pose to youth.

She publicly claimed, preposterously, the campaign was racist and denounced it as “recycled junk science” — never mind its author was no less than the Colorado School of Public Health. She even tried to use her political connections to defund the campaign.

Fed up, her fellow regents in both parties censured her for misuse of her public office in her bid to undermine the highly regarded campaign. She had groundlessly smeared the best science on the subject — authored by her institution, the state’s flagship of higher learning.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE 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.