Tvert pushes pot smoking at DIA
'Alcohol-related air rage' threatens travelers, he says
By James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Would you support a pot lounge at DIA?
Mason Tvert: "Will they be laughing when a fight breaks out?"
Attention: You are now free to float about the cabin.
Well, not yet, but maybe someday - that is, if Mason Tvert has anything to say about.
Tvert, a crusader for legalizing marijuana, has called for pot-smoking lounges in the nation's airports. His reason for doing goes beyond his cannabis liberation mission: He wants to help make flying safer.
"There's been this growing trend of alcohol-related air rage," he said Tuesday, alluding to episodes of drunken passengers creating in-flight disturbances.
Just last week, Christina E. Szele, 35, a New York woman, was accused of drunkenly disrupting a JetBlue flight, punching a flight attendant and screaming curses and racial slurs after she was prevented from smoking. A cigarette, that is.
Szele's outbursts wouldn't have happened if she'd been inhaling instead of imbibing, said Tvert, whose two pro-pot ballot measures have won voter approval in Denver.
"The studies I've seen say that alcohol . . . contributes to violent and aggressive behavior," he said. "The simple thing is to let people make the safer choice to use marijuana, which doesn't contribute to violent behavior."
Leaving that issue aside for the moment, there is still the sticky problem that marijuana is illegal - federally speaking, anyway. Chances are slim that Denver International Airport passengers will be high on the ground before they're high in the sky.
"I can safely say we have no plans to open any marijuana lounges at DIA," airport spokesman Jeff Green said. "We're not paying attention to this."
While he is aware that many folks are dubious about doobies in the airport, Tvert insisted, "This idea is completely serious."
"The people at DIA are laughing now," he said. "Will they be laughing when a fight breaks out on an airplane and leads to a serious incident?
As proof he isn't blowing smoke, Tvert points to airport smoking lounges - despite the fact that smoking is banned in most public places.
"The last time I checked, cigarettes aren't illegal," said Green, equal parts weary and skeptical.
Then again, he probably hasn't heard one of the ancillary benefits of Tvert's idea.
"You've got struggling airlines, right?" he said. "From what I understand, marijuana tends to lead to the munchies."
So, "If more passengers smoked marijuana before they flew and had the munchies, airlines could, you know, charge for snacks instead of for baggage."
Airline profits and free baggage for passengers? Sounds like an idea with joint benefits.
meadowj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2606
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June 25, 2008
6:52 a.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
"So, "If more passengers smoked marijuana before they flew and had the munchies, airlines could, you know, charge for snacks instead of for baggage."
Like you need another sneak there, big guy!!!
But, there are folks I have flown with who could have used a huge joint and passed the hell out.
June 25, 2008
7:29 a.m.
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PMSXpress writes:
The subhead says: 'Alcohol-related air rage' threatens travelers, he says...
The last thing pax on a flight needs is loopy people. Any sort of partying threatens travelers in my opinion. We just returned from Phoenix on US Airways last week and there was a drunk woman on the plane that was out of control as that New Yorker on Jet Blue. She literally tried to get out of the plane and the pax next to her had to physically hold her down while she screamed, and cried that she was getting out. Scared the crap out of those around her, for sure.
I can toke it up with the best of them, but having a bunch of stoned folks on a flight is NOT is the best interests of everyone around them, particularly in an emergency.
I'll go with Gene though, Mason definitely seems to show the affects of many munchie bouts.
June 25, 2008
7:30 a.m.
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Buckwheat writes:
"You are now free to float about the cabin"... OK, now you did it...Just pee'd my pants... Good one.
June 25, 2008
7:35 a.m.
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gr8fuldude writes:
Allright, I will agree that the idea is far fetched, but Tvert is trying to make a point, specifically taht smoking weed IS safer than booze. No way to really argue that one. Nobody smokes then tries to throttle their wife, wind up in a bar fight, etc.
On a related note, several years ago, my Dad had to have some major dental work done, and he has both a hate for dentists AND a really bad gagging reflex. I helped him to "self-medicate" and it worked like a charm. I plan to do the same if it is ever me.
June 25, 2008
7:46 a.m.
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VVVV writes:
I see one problem. It may be legal in Denver, but you are in the airport, thus likely flying somewhere where it isn't legal. Just what we need to make it easier for them to continue the flood over our prison system.
June 25, 2008
7:56 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Might as well put the DEA at the security checkpoint. All of them would go through claiming, "the drugs aren't mine bro!"
June 25, 2008
8:32 a.m.
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nicktaste writes:
In a struggling economy, many people are faced with a heightened level of stress, as well as the added stress of flying.
Many of those people turn to alcohol for relief, ending up an inebriated aggressive state.
Proposed is an alternative solution, that would without a doubt increase revenue in that industry as well as reducing the overall stress level of passengers
pot smoking should be legal, here is a good place to start
---------------------------------------------------------
"unemployment in the Netherlands is at only 2.9% (where pot smoking is tolerated) - the lowest rate of all European Union member states"
unemployment in the USA is 5.5%
hmmm
June 25, 2008
8:38 a.m.
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OrionWitch writes:
It would make flights less full. I'd imagine a lot of these losers would just sit in the lounge smoking, while not caring that they missed their flight. I like that idea. I don't care for the idea security lines would be bogged down by bleary-eyed stoners distracting the TSA agents, saying "nah, man. I don't need to go through again... it's allll goood. Just mellow out, brah."
June 25, 2008
9:10 a.m.
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Cowboy63 writes:
Like I want to sit next to some Hippie reeking of weed. That's really going to lower the tolerance level on a flight.
If you feel "stressed", then DEAL with the problem and stop trying to hide from it.
Get a job, Tvert. 8th Grade is over.
June 25, 2008
9:13 a.m.
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GILPINMAN writes:
I FOR ONE ALWAYS SMOKE A FATTY BEFORE ANY FLIGHT. ONCE ON THE PLANE I JUST GO TO SLEEP AND ENJOY THE RIDE. THE TIMES I DIDN'T I WAS PARANOID AND UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE FLIGHT. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET HIGH THEY CAN STILL DO IT BEFORE THEY ARIVE OR BRING SOME BROWNIES.
June 25, 2008
9:38 a.m.
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lencho_elias writes:
I'd rather fly with some pot heads then boozers anyday.
June 25, 2008
10 a.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
If we as a society allow drinking which has harmful and deadly side effects, then why aren't we reasonable and rational enough to allow less harmfull behaviors.
One more thing...less people are smoking than they did 10-20 years ago. This is a direct result of education and cigerette companys comming clean and being honest. So there was a decrease because of education not prohibition. We know that prohibition does not deter someone from using and we know it causes secondary issues such as crime. So if the goverment wants people to stop smoking marijuana why don't they just educate and legalize it? Oh thats right, the goverment would rather use millions-billions of dollars incarcerating people, using resources to catch people, and watch as the secondary effects of prohibition destroy lives and communities.
June 25, 2008
10:21 a.m.
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Shaggy writes:
Does this guy even have a job?
Does Glenn Spagnuolo have a job?
Or these fools just full time activists and professional protesters?
June 25, 2008
10:23 a.m.
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M2 writes:
I park in the economy lot and always smoke on the walk to the terminal. By the time I get on the plane I am ready to sleep or read. If every passenger did this flights would be much more relaxing.
June 25, 2008
10:26 a.m.
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TheDenverB writes:
just burn one in the car in the parking lot before the flight like everyone else and shut the hell up, mason.
June 25, 2008
10:28 a.m.
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eagleye writes:
I'm confused. Why is Frank Azar advocating marijuana use?
June 25, 2008
10:29 a.m.
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eagleye writes:
And when did he shave his mustache off?
June 25, 2008
10:29 a.m.
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Monica030 writes:
He has a better and more meaningful job than that idiot Kristi Burton.
June 25, 2008
10:35 a.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
MASON-keep up the good work!!!
To all those against the legalization of marijuana...your opposition is only harming America more than allowing people to make their own choices. Keep up the defeating work!!!!
June 25, 2008
10:46 a.m.
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sawzallartist writes:
Gene said:
"Lets say I had a stupid idea that was illegal"
You have been a strong advocate of the bush administration......
June 25, 2008
10:47 a.m.
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binaryman3 writes:
FYI for anyone who hasnt figured this out yet but DIA is under federal jurisdiction because its a public aviation facility and posession or smoking of pot on DIA property is illegal. Denver laws can not negate federal laws. Plus if Denver tried to adopt pot smoking at DIA the feds would probably stop it from becoming a reality due to federal security issues.
So why is Mr Tvert wasting time talking to the City when he should be talking to the feds? Or Congress? Is it because its more fun to rebel against the law than to change the law?
June 25, 2008
11:43 a.m.
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MeAgainstMachine writes:
I fly at least once a month and I always preflight with a fat bowl. I get on the plane, pop on the Ipod and then wake up when I land. If that were the case for everyone on board the skies would be a lot more friendly.
June 25, 2008
11:54 a.m.
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Camille writes:
I think that the point of this publicity stunt was for the comparison of the illegal drug (which is stressed as non-violent) to the legal drug, alcohol (which is the cause of the recent violent outbursts on airplanes), not to criticize the messenger...
I think that changing the face of marijuana that is presented to the public is important, marijuana is not the cause of violence, at home or on airplanes.
June 25, 2008
2:16 p.m.
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RickyLee writes:
Shaggy....
Spagnuolo's a close buddy of Ward Churchill(Sitting Bullsh!t)
That should explain all you need to know about that clown.