Denverrecreational marijuanaregulate marijuana like alcohol420

Neill Franklin On Colorado's New Legal Marijuana Laws: 'They've Done A Wonderful Job, It's A Great Day'

Former Cop On New Pot Laws: 'They've Done A Wonderful Job, It's A Great Day'
Open Image Modal
By 

Former Senior Reporter, HuffPost

|

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Earlier this week, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed six marijuana bills establishing Colorado as the world's first legal, regulated and taxed marijuana market for adults.

Neill Franklin, executive director of marijuana reform advocacy group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, stopped by The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC to talk about Colorado's historic new marijuana laws.

"I think they've done a wonderful job," Franklin began. "The people of Colorado have done a wonderful job. The team that was put in place to craft these regulations has done a wonderful job. And now the governor has done a wonderful job moving this policy forward -- it's a great day."

Assuming the federal government does not interfere, Maddow asked Franklin how these new laws might affect crime and drug use in the state.

"This is going to be very similar to alcohol. You're going to see different policies in different communities and they have the option to do that. From a public safety perspective, this is really what's needed. We, the police, need to get back to focusing on violent crime. It's a great day that we're not out there chasing marijuana users in Colorado and the state of Washington. Thousands of fewer arrests and more focus on those people who are committing the robberies, the rapes, the murders, the burglaries -- and that's where we should be. This is a great opportunity for the police to get back in touch with the community."

Marijuana is often cited as a so-called "gateway drug," one that may be benign in and of itself, but leads people to other more harmful substances and Maddow asked Franklin what he makes of those kinds of assumptions about pot.

"There are no valid studies that indicate such," Franklin responded. "As a matter of fact, it's the environment that is the gateway into the things that cause us problems in society. So it's the environment of the drug dealer on the corner. Now, with these policies of legalization for marijuana that environment will go away for those who choose to use marijuana."

Maddow also asked if Franklin believes the federal government will allow these laws to move forward or if they will try to keep marijuana illegal, as is its current policy.

"Personally, I think they'll be allowed to go forward," Franklin said optimistically. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the Obama Administration, the Department of Justice. It's an opportunity for them to do what they said they're going to do -- they want more of a health-centered focus on our drug policies in this country, so this is a great opportunity. They've said that we can't arrest our way out of this problem and if you're not going to arrest your way out of this problem there's only one way to go and that's legalization. We have Colorado and Washington state, two states for experimentation to see how it's going to go, and if they follow the alcohol models that we have across the country, it's going to be a great success -- not that alcohol is, but it's better than prohibition."

Watch the full interview above.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

16 Facts About Marijuana And The U.S. Economy
$13.7 Billion Saved On Prohibition Enforcement Costs(01 of16)
Open Image Modal
The government would save an estimated $13.7 billion on prohibition enforcement costs and tax revenue by legalizing marijuana, according to a paper endorsed by 300 economists. (credit:AP)
Marijuana Inmates Cost Prisons $1 Billion A Year(02 of16)
Open Image Modal
Inmates incarcerated on marijuana-related charges cost U.S. prisons $1 billion annually, according to a 2007 study, AlterNet reports. (credit:AP)
Marijuana Prohibition Costs Taxpayers $41.8 Billion A Year(03 of16)
Open Image Modal
Including lost tax revenues, a 2007 study found that enforcing the marijuana prohibition costs tax payers $41.8 billion annually, Forbes reports. (credit:AP)
California Marijuana Crop Worth $14 Billion A Year(04 of16)
Open Image Modal
Marijuana growers account for $14 billion a year in sales in California, making it the state's most valuable cash crop, TIME reports. (credit:AP)
Illegal Marijuana A $36 Billion A Year Industry(05 of16)
Open Image Modal
It's estimated that illegal marijuana is a $36 billion industry in the U.S., MadameNoire reports. (credit:AP)
One-Third Of Americans Think Legalization Would Boost The Economy(06 of16)
Open Image Modal
About one-third of Americans say they think legalizing marijuana would boost the economy, according to a 2010 poll by Associated Press-CNBC. (credit:AP)
Dispensary Ads Boost Newspapers' Revenue(07 of16)
Open Image Modal
The Sacramento News and Review saw a big boost in ad revenue when it offered advertising space for more than 60 medical marijuana dispensaries, enabling the publication to hire three additional employees, according to News 10. (credit:AP)
Mendocino Zip Tie Program Raised $600,000(08 of16)
Open Image Modal
Mendocino County, California's zip tie program aimed at regulating medical marijuana growing by charging permits for each plant raised $600,000 in revenue in for the Sheriff's department in 2011. (credit:AP)
Oakland Raised More Than $1 Million In Marijuana Tax Revenue(09 of16)
Open Image Modal
The city of Oakland, California raised $1.3 million in tax revenue from medical marijuana dispensaries in 2011, 3 percent of the city's total business tax revenue, according to The New York Times. (credit:AP)
Colorado Pulls In $5 Million From Pot Sales Tax(10 of16)
Open Image Modal
In 2011, Colorado pulled in $5 milllion in sales taxes from medical marijuana businesses, The New York Times reports. (credit:AP)
Legal Marijuana Could Be $100 Billion Industry(11 of16)
Open Image Modal
Economist Stephen Easton estimated in 2010 that legal marijuana could be a $45 to $100 billion industry, Bloomberg Businessweek reports. (credit:AP)
Each weGrow Center Creates 75 Jobs(12 of16)
Open Image Modal
When hydroponic marijuana growing supply chain weGrow opens a new store it creates an estimated 75 jobs indirectly, according to AZBusiness Magazine. (credit:AP)
Majority Of States Support Taxing Marijuana(13 of16)
Open Image Modal
More than 60 percent of states agree with taxing marijuana, according to a poll by Associated Press-CNBC. (credit:AP)
Marijuana Affects Workplace Motivation(14 of16)
Open Image Modal
A Norwegian study 25 years in the making came to the shocking conclusion that frequent marijuana use lowers employees' motivation at work.
More Than 1,000 Dispensaries In California(15 of16)
Open Image Modal
There could be more than 1,000 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in California, Pasadena Weekly reported in 2009. (credit:AP)
Denver Counts More Dispensaries Than Starbucks(16 of16)
Open Image Modal
As of July 2011, the city of Denver counted more medical marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks franchises. (credit:AP)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip