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| Pot Measure Rolled Out at Capitol |
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Posted by CN Staff on December 28, 2005 at 15:26:59 PT By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News Source: Rocky Mountain News 
Colorado -- Marijuana advocates vowed today to put a statewide measure legalizing pot possession on the November ballot and mobilize an "army of new voters" to pass it. Mason Tvert, campaign director of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) said the campaign is fueled by frustration over Denver authorities' rejection of Initiative 100, which Denver voters passed Nov. 1, ostensibly making it legal for adults to possess up to one ounce of pot. Denver leaders and law enforcement officials are continuing to ticket small-time pot violators state law. The "Colorado Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative" would create an identical statewide adult exemption for pot possession up to one ounce, Tvert said, so Denver officials can no longer "ignore the will of the voters by hiding behind state law." Tvert said SAFER will stick to the controversial campaign that apparently helped them pass the Denver initiative: Arguing that adults should have the right to choose marijuana as a safer alternative to alcohol, which initiative backers blame for fueling violence and fatal car wrecks and alcoholism. To gather the nearly 68,000 signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot, Tvert said: "We plan on bringing out an army of new voters in this state and mobilizing students across the state to get involved, collecting signatures and passing this initiative," he said. Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO) Related Articles & Web Site: Safer Choice Pro-Got Group Aims at State Law in '06 Pro-Pot Group Seeks State Vote Speakout: Time Has Come To Legalize Marijuana Denver Is First City To Legalize Pot Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 28, 2005 at 16:14:29 PT |
| Marijuana Supporters Want Statewide Voters To Approve Private Use *** December 28, 2005 Denver -- An advocacy group said Wednesday it will ask voters statewide to make it legal for adults to use small amounts of marijuana at home, drawing swift opposition from some lawmakers and prosecutors. Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation said will take its campaign statewide because Denver officials are using state laws to prosecute marijuana users, even though city voters approved a measure last fall that eases Denver’s drug ordinance. “If the elected officials in this city don’t have the guts to stand up for the individuals they represent, we have no choice but to take up the fight on behalf of these individuals,” said Mason Tvert, the group’s executive director. “That is why today we are launching a campaign to make the private adult use and possession of up to one ounce of marijuana legal under state statutes,” he said. Attorney General John Suthers and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, said they would oppose the measure if it gets on the November 2006 ballot. “You would basically give people in Colorado a free pass,” Suthers said. “My personal opinion is that it’s not good public policy.” Tvert said there is no evidence marijuana use is harmful, but Suthers said it is not as safe as its advocates claim. “It’s not a benign drug,” Suthers said. Romanoff said Colorado already has one of the highest drug-use rates in the nation but ranks near the bottom for drug treatment. He said if the initiative passes, it could be tied up in courts for years. “This is a full employment act for lawyers,” Romanoff said. Tvert said he believes he can gather the 67,829 valid signatures to qualify for next year’s ballot and win voter approval. He said federal laws focus on distribution, not possession, and would not likely be used to prosecute personal marijuana consumption. Tvert also said he does not believe lawmakers would try to change the law back if voters agree to relax it. Home rule cities in Colorado, which represent about 90 percent of the population, could still pass their own laws regulating marijuana use, Tvert said. The other 10 percent would automatically be covered by the new state law. Complete Title: Marijuana Supporters Want Statewide Voters To Approve Private Use On the Net: SAFER Colorado: http://www.safercolorado.org/ Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.ondcp.gov/ Copyright: 2005 Associated Press [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on December 28, 2005 at 15:35:09 PT |
| I really hope they can gather enough signatures to do this. [ Post Comment ] |
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