cannabisnews.com: Breckenridge Voters OK Marijuana Decriminalization
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Breckenridge Voters OK Marijuana Decriminalization
Posted by CN Staff on November 03, 2009 at 19:28:03 PT
By Robert Allen
Source: Summit Daily News
Colorado -- Breckenridge residents voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia Tuesday under town law. In early returns, some 72 percent of voters approved the measure.The vote means that, effective Jan. 1, people 21 and up in Breckenridge will be able to legally possess one ounce or less of the drug. Possession remains illegal under state law, but Breckenridge Police Chief Rick Holman said his department will “still have the ability to exercise discretion.”
“It's never been something that we've spent a lot of time on, so I don't expect this to be a big change in how we really do business,” he said. Currently, the petty, non-jailable offense under town code carries a maximum $100 fine. In 2008, Breckenridge Police Department ticketed 10 people under the town marijuana possession law, according to BPD ticket statistics. For drug paraphernalia — which carries the same penalty — four were ticketed in 2008. Under the state law, BPD issued three tickets for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Holman said that after Jan. 1, issuance of tickets under state law will “vary dependent on the situation.”“We'll still have tools at our disposal,” he said.The decriminalization won't change laws prohibiting smoking in public, use by minors or driving under the influence.In 2006, 72 percent of Breckenridge voters supported the unsuccessful Amendment 44, which had language similar to the town initiative but applied to the entire state.Arguments for decriminalization included the impact of possession on one's criminal record, which can affect job opportunities and student loans.In 2005, Denver became the first major city to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana after voters approved legislation similar to that in Breckenridge. And like many other towns in the state, Breckenridge could soon be home to a medical marijuana dispensary. The town passed a set of regulations for such businesses in October, and the dispensaries already exist in Frisco and Silverthorne. Holman said that while his department may still ticket people for possessing marijuana, people who want to smoke it legally can obtain a state-issued medical marijuana card without much difficulty. This story will be updated.Newshawk: MikeCSource: Summit Daily News (CO)Author: Robert AllenPublished: November 3, 2009Copyright: 2009 Summit Daily NewsURL: http://drugsense.org/url/BZp4F8QyContact: http://drugsense.org/url/OMaKBrUPWebsite: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.phpCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by Sam Adams on November 04, 2009 at 12:18:13 PT
Texas
Hope, I know there are nice mountains down there, I fear the Colorado skiers are a wee bit snobby and probably don't consider anything under 10,000 feet to be a "real" mountain!I doubt that many ski bums in Colorado have ever been to Texas at all.
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on November 04, 2009 at 11:43:27 PT
Sam Adams
We have mountains... they're just pretty hellacious to ski on... except boot heel dirt skiing, but that's usually hellacious anyway. There's nothing like sliding uncontrollably through those prickly pear patches either. Your mama will be pulling cactus spines out of you until July. Or 'skiing' through the snakes or other venomous, deadly, poison, bristly, thorny, stabbing, biting thing to slide through on your way down the slopes.http://www.texasmountains.com/
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Comment #15 posted by Sam Adams on November 04, 2009 at 10:14:11 PT
bumper sticker
"If God wanted Texans to ski he would have given them mountains"classic bumper sticker from Colorado.
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Comment #14 posted by runruff on November 04, 2009 at 08:52:34 PT
They don't smoke pot in Longview!
They don't ski there either!Anne and her ilk should hang out with all the "Lone Star Beer", long bottle neck, affectionados. They can shoot 'em up and yell "hell yea", eat road apples and howl at the moon together if they want too!You can reach me in Breck!
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Comment #13 posted by schmeff on November 04, 2009 at 08:24:41 PT
Postscript
Anne Hoffman should just stay home and ski in Texas.
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Comment #12 posted by schmeff on November 04, 2009 at 08:18:15 PT
Breckenridge Police Chief Rick Holman
...said his department will “still have the ability to exercise discretion.” Not too sure what Piece of Chelliff Holman means by that. Do you think he feels he has the right to ignore a law passed with a 72% majority? Does he think he has the 'discretion' to arrest someone for what is now a legal activity? Isn't he cashing paychecks from the city of Breckenridge?And if he does something so foolish as to arrest people for legal activities, won't those cases be immediately thrown out of municipal court, costing the city of Breckenridge time and scarce tax dollars? Wouldn't too much of this type of discretion cost Holman his job? I think Holman should light up a phatty and try to get his head straight!As for the letter in comment #11, I'm guessing that the 'Breckenridge boycott' of one uptight republican from Texass will be more than compensated-for by the flood of skiers from around the world who flock to Breckenridge to enjoy what is perhaps the ONLY cannabis-friendly world-class ski resort on the planet.Let's face it...skiers have been enjoying the combination of cannabis, deep powder and spectacular scenery for decades (albeit clandestinely). Now they can relax, enjoy and get a load on.My kind of town, Breckenridge is.
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Comment #11 posted by The GCW on November 04, 2009 at 05:25:57 PT
Letter:
US CO: LTE: Done with "pot-head" Breck
Webpage: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20091104/LETTER/911039995/1078&ParentProfile=1055Pubdate: 4 Nov 2009Source: Summit Daily News (CO)Author: Anne HoffmanReferred: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n964/a09.html?1086
Done with "pot-head" Breck
I found it interesting that the issues highlighted in two articles recently have direct bearing on each other, but it appears Breck town council is clueless about the connection. One article discusses a need for a tax hike for marketing. The Oct. 21 editorial supports legalizing marijuana. So, you want the “family friendly resort of Breckenridge” to legalize pot. Do you think we are bringing our kids to Breckenridge if it is going to attract a bunch of potheads on skis? And you want to increase marketing through taxes … but it will REALLY be an uphill battle when people like us — families with money to spend who would normally go to Breck — go elsewhere. And, buy a house or condo in Breck? No thanks — we can buy elsewhere. Tax residents to the poorhouse to support marketing for a group that drives out tourists with a “pot-head” reputation! Good thinking. And goodbye from us … we'll be skiing elsewhere. Anne HoffmanWest University, Texas
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 04, 2009 at 05:13:57 PT
charmed quark
Why do they have a serious vote for Governor in an off Presidential voting year? I feel so bad for you and your state. You were so close and then a Republican gets voted in.
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Comment #9 posted by charmed quark on November 04, 2009 at 05:10:13 PT
NJ - UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
We hope to have our medical cannabis law in place and signed into law by the end of the year. Corzine will still be governor until the end of January 2010. So Christie can't veto it if the Assembly passes it this November as we hope.If we don't have it in place by then, we have to restart the whole process and Christie could certainly hurt that.I'm more worried about implementing the law once it is passed, even if it is passed this year. It will be regulated by the Department of Health and Senior Services and the governor appoints some of them.Christie HAS said he would support such a bill IF it had sufficient safeguards in palce. The NJ bill should satisfy him, I just don't know if he has ever actually read it.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 04, 2009 at 04:23:38 PT
Vincent
I am really sorry about New Jersey. If Republicans get more power we will be in trouble. We better hurry and get everything done while we have a good President.
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Comment #7 posted by runruff on November 04, 2009 at 03:39:51 PT
No mon no fun, huh guys?
"Question 5 was opposed by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maine Office of Substance Abuse, the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Maine Prosecutors Association."These are all Nazified orgs expecting to be payed for keeping their spit shinned Wing Tips on the necks of the populace! From now on it will be Sears instead of Brooks Bros. Ahh!
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Comment #6 posted by Vincent on November 03, 2009 at 21:32:33 PT:
Breckinridge
Well, that is good news. However, other races tonight turned out badly. Corzine lost in New Jersey and you know that the new Republican governor will veto the Med Marijuana bill. Well, at least that religious extremist Hoffman lost in upstate New York, despite all the campaigning by Sarah "I don't believe in dinosaurs" Palin.Hmmm...Breckinridge...never heard of it. I heard of Myra Breckinridge--starring a 30-year-old Raquel Welch and a...ugh!...70-year-old Mae West. I mean, a 70-year-old Sophia Loren--Yeah!!!--but Mae West?!!!
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Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on November 03, 2009 at 20:11:13 PT
Maine
great news from Breckinridge! btw they LEGALIZED, not decriminalized.The Maine referendum was up 62 to 37 earlier......22% of the vote tallied....http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/128046.html
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Comment #4 posted by MikeC on November 03, 2009 at 19:42:57 PT
Breckenridge....
It's a beautiful place. I have vacationed there twice in the last three years. I really look forward to going back!72% approved? Wow. Nice job Breck!!!
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on November 03, 2009 at 19:32:23 PT
The chief says:
Breckenridge Police Chief Rick Holman said,people who want to smoke it legally can obtain a state-issued medical marijuana card without much difficulty.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on November 03, 2009 at 19:31:17 PT
Good news!
Way to go!
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on November 03, 2009 at 19:30:12 PT
Breckenridge
Yeah baby!
[ Post Comment ]
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