Denver Residents Legalize Marijuana Possession

[Skizm]

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

DENVER — Residents of the Mile High City have voted to allow adults to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Authorities, though, said state possession laws will be applied instead.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, 54 percent, or 56,001 voters, cast ballots for the ordinance, while 46 percent, or 48,632 voters, voted against it.

Under the measure, residents over 21 years old could possess up to an ounce of marijuana.

"We educated voters about the facts that marijuana is less harmful to the user and society than alcohol," said Mason Tvert, campaign organizer for SAFER, or Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation "To prohibit adults from making the rational, safer choice to use marijuana is bad public policy."

Bruce Mirken of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project said he hoped the approval will launch a national trend toward legalizing a drug whose enforcement he said causes more problems than it cures.

Seattle, Oakland, Calif., and a few college towns already have laws making possession the lowest law enforcement priority.

The Denver proposal seemed to draw at least as much attention for supporters' campaign tactics as it did for the question of legalizing the drug.

Tvert argued that legalizing marijuana would reduce consumption of alcohol, which he said leads to higher rates of car accidents, domestic and street violence and crime.

The group criticized Mayor John Hickenlooper for opposing the proposal, noting his ownership of a popular brewpub. It also said recent violent crimes -- including the shootings of four people last weekend -- as a reason to legalize marijuana to steer people away from alcohol use.

Those tactics angered local officials and some voters. Opponents also said it made no sense to prevent prosecution by Denver authorities while marijuana charges are most often filed under state and federal law.

The measure would not affect the medical marijuana law voters approved in 2000. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that medical marijuana laws in Colorado and nine other states would not protect licensed users from federal prosecution.

Also Tuesday, voters in the ski resort town of Telluride rejected a proposal to make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by people 18 or older the town's lowest law enforcement priority. The measure was rejected on a vote of 308-332.

[artworx]

I'm packing my bags right now!

[NorthlandRaveAlum]

yeah, instead of having a city charge, you'd have a county charge...

[JFortune]

~~the county would prolly be worse too. although a thing like this may make it LESS of a priority for cops, so they would be less likely to arrest you for a little bit

[Skizm]

the only crime would be funyun theft lol.

[NorthlandRaveAlum]

less of a priority? I doubt it... this will mean big bucks for the county... you'll start seeing more and more county officers on the streets...

[Offtrack]

ok..really blaming alcohol for car accidents is so silly. Blame the driver who drove drunk.

[Skizm]

Have you been to Denver lately?
seriously doubt you will see more officers.
Their parties go 48 hours full blown with out problems.
I doubt a bit o weed will change things that much if they don't freak out on other things.

[Cyrus Ramsey]

actually if in the city limits of Denver the chances of you getting picked up and charged by county or state police is pretty rare. Generally the county sherrifs and state police leave the inner city police work to the city police departments. in most cases where charges are filed by the county or state for a crime in the city limits, those charges come from state highway patrol when pulling over a speeder or drunk driver. Its not to say that if pulled over or stopped by a county sherrif or state police officer that they wont bring oyu up on charges for possesion, but when your actually in the city limits and not on a county, state or federal highway, you wont get stopped by anything higher then city law enforcement.

The dealers on the other hand will be the ones being targeted. County, state, and federal officers will be cracking down on the dealers in the denver area now.

[r0t8]

ok..really blaming alcohol for car accidents is so silly. Blame the driver who drove drunk.
marijuana is also much healthier than alcohol (worried about your lungs? use a vaporizer), not addictive and doesn't promote violence.

alcoholism isn't just an addiction, it's a DISEASE

"The major health risks of alcoholism include liver disease, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, pancreatitis, and nervous system disorders."

[Skizm]

marijuana is also much healthier than alcohol (worried about your lungs? use a vaporizer), not addictive and doesn't promote violence.
yeah no shit I never saw a tobacco exec say "Hey let's make this safer to smoke by inventing a device that excretes vapor and not carcenogenic smoke!" Those props go to the pot heads.
They care. lol

[Cthabeerman]

In reality, this doesn't change anything immediately. Denver police have and will continue to charge people under state law. The city attourney will continue to prosecute under state law.

It does, however, open up some possibilities for the relatively near future. More cities in Colorado are likely to pass similar laws, which may open it up for a vote across the state.

Additionally, those in power who find themselves going against the will of the people may find themselves without their job come next election. Obviously, the 54 percent that voted for the new law won't be happy with the continued prosecution, and there will be more that don't agree with their citizens' wishes being subverted.

Either way, a win is a win, and the momentum is definitely now in pro-marijuana's direction.

-C

[always420]

roll it up, light it up, smoke it up. inhale, exhale.

[Cyrus Ramsey]

can city officials charge under state law?

i thought that in cases like that they had to turn the case over to state officials. If that is the deal then 9 times out of 10 the state wont take the cases, because its pretty rare for state officials to stoop down to that level where they all of a sudden have to become the enforcers of low grade laws that were once handled by the city.

[Offtrack]

marijuana is also much healthier than alcohol (worried about your lungs? use a vaporizer), not addictive and doesn't promote violence.

alcoholism isn't just an addiction, it's a DISEASE

"The major health risks of alcoholism include liver disease, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, pancreatitis, and nervous system disorders."

who the fuck was talking about alcoholism or alcohol vs. pot for that matter? I could care elss what people get fucked up on as long as they are responsible. People who are too stoned and just as dumb as too drunk people.. People who are high behind the wheel should be held responsible too..

[always420]

can city officials charge under state law?

i thought that in cases like that they had to turn the case over to state officials. If that is the deal then 9 times out of 10 the state wont take the cases, because its pretty rare for state officials to stoop down to that level where they all of a sudden have to become the enforcers of low grade laws that were once handled by the city.


more than likely the da will still press charges under the state law.

[Cthabeerman]

Yeah, they can, and they've said they will. Of course, this was said prior to the law passing, so they may have just been covering their ass in the event that it didn't pass.

I'm not huge on the government/political front, but it seems to me that taking such a stance in the face of a law voted on and approved of by its citizens is playing with fire.

I'm not sure that city attourney is an elected position or not, but mayor, police chief, county sheriff, city council and county board positions certainly are. They could all lose their jobs lickety-split if they aren't careful...

Also, let us not forget that Denver city and county officers can pretty much do as they please now...they don't HAVE to enforce the state law over their municipal ordinances, and from many of the officers I see at raves (using off-duty officers as security is pretty standard out there), I would guess they won't.

It's also important to note that the city and county of Denver itself isn't very large...there's 10-12 other nearby communities and a few other counties that make up the metropolitan area that don't have the same legislation in their favor.

I doubt there will be an increase in the number of state/federal enforcement officers around. Possession of one ounce or less is currently only a $100 fine and no possible jail sentence (it's considered a petty offense, like a traffic ticket) in all of Colorado, anyway.

So basically, it's all the same, for now...some policemen may choose not to enforce state law over the new city and county law, but overall you're in the same boat.

-C

[Cthabeerman]

Here's a place where you can find a lot of information about Initiative Question 100 (the new law passed) and its proponents' stance.

http://www.saferchoice.org/

-C

[r0t8]

who the fuck was talking about alcoholism or alcohol vs. pot for that matter?
i am!

[Offtrack]

^^ <kramer>why dont you just tell me what your talking about</kramer>

[Skizm]

WHEREAS, according to the National Institutes of Health, an average of 317 Americans die annually as the result of alcohol overdoses; and

WHEREAS, there has never been even a single fatal marijuana overdose recorded in the medical literature, as noted by the British Medical Journal in September 2003; and

WHEREAS, according to U.S. Department of Justice, “About 3 million crimes occur each year in which victims perceive the offender to have been drinking at the time of the offense. Among those victims who provided information about the offender’s use of alcohol, about 35% of the victimizations involved an offender who had been drinking”; and

WHEREAS, extensive research, documented in official reports by the British government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, among others, shows that -- unlike alcohol -- marijuana use is not generally a cause of violence or aggressive behavior and in fact tends to reduce violence and aggression;

WHEREAS, it is the intent of this ordinance to have the private adult use and possession of marijuana treated in the same manner as the private adult use and possession of alcohol;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER

[Skizm]

in fact tends to reduce violence and aggression;


ahhhh, and there it is.

[Offtrack]

all you hippies are driving me to drink..;) but not actually driving..i would take a cab or hop an el train..

[Skizm]

all you hippies are driving me to drink..;) but not actually driving..i would take a cab or hop an el train..

its okay offtrack we still need the alcoholics to be our entertainment lol.

[Offtrack]

i blame marijuana for bad drum n bass, deep house and most of all TRANCE..

[Randy J.]

can city officials charge under state law?

i thought that in cases like that they had to turn the case over to state officials. If that is the deal then 9 times out of 10 the state wont take the cases, because its pretty rare for state officials to stoop down to that level where they all of a sudden have to become the enforcers of low grade laws that were once handled by the city.

Yes, state law supercedes city law and federal law supercedes state law. Until the federal government says its legal, its not legal. Federal officials can and will continue to bust for pot just to make a point. When they passed a similiar in California the Federal Government sent agents into the area and started arresting people for possession just to make a point. That point is that they are the authority and they can pass all the laws they want but their laws still rule.

The positive thing about this is that it opens eyes. It shows that people do want this to be legal and that can lead to votes in state and federal law.

[Aldrin The Great]

I'm moving there

[auralassassin]

Feds will only be busting those selling drugs, though, that is the point.

[kidnexus]

Columbia, MO already has this type of law in effect
This initiatve eliminates the possibility of any jail time for marijuana possession and reduces the maximum fine from $1,000 to $250 for up to 1.25 ounces. It also forbids the police from arresting adults on marijuana possession charges, and requires a summons to city court (not county or state prosecutors) instead. Drug convictions in municipal court do not bar students from receiving federal aid under the Higher Education Act.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/11_04_04municipal.cfm

[Randy J.]

^^^Maybe not. In California about 3 years ago a couple of cities past a law similiar to this and they sent FBI agents in and busted people with amounts as small as a joint just to show that the federal law still stands and pot is illegal. They may do that again. The federal government does not want pot legal, they have made that clear and I think they will do anything to keep it that way.

[Randy J.]

Columbia, MO already has this type of law in effect
This initiatve eliminates the possibility of any jail time for marijuana possession and reduces the maximum fine from $1,000 to $250 for up to 1.25 ounces. It also forbids the police from arresting adults on marijuana possession charges, and requires a summons to city court (not county or state prosecutors) instead. Drug convictions in municipal court do not bar students from receiving federal aid under the Higher Education Act.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/11_04_04municipal.cfm

A few months ago Columbia police went door to door trying to get people to sign a petition to get rid of this law. They were not successful. I just find it pathetic that the city government would waste resources to do such a thing.

[Cthabeerman]

The Denver law does more, and less. First, there is no fine, period (in theory, if filed under the city ordinance). Nor would theire be confiscation of property. That's the more.

The less is the second part involving summons to city court and such. Unfortunately, that part is the crucial one that forces officers in missouri to file it under the proper jurisdiction.

The Columbia, Mo. is decriminalization of marijuana (no possible jail time), which Colorado already has. The Denver law is legalization of marijuana, but it currently lacks that much-needed aformentioned clause that forces the law to be used as it was intended.

Either way, the existing Colorado law is still better than the Columbia, Mo. law because it's only a $100 fine and considered a petty offense, which also prevents the student federal aid exclusion provision.

-C

[Scottie Smalls]

It's never about what is good or bad or what is safe or what will drive you insane. It's only about what is legal, and if something doesn't infringe upon another citizens rights, then it should be legal. Controlling substances that people want such as pot, E, shrooms, meth, coke, heroin, opium, and even psychiatric drugs such as Xanaz, Valium, Prozac etc. is all fucked up. The worst part about the drugs is the crime element that arises when laws are passed banning their posession. We need to legalize everything and educate everyone. We need people to educate us, but we don't need people to tell us what we can and cannot do when it comes to what we put into our own bodies on our own time. As far as pot goes, we all need to focus on setting up shop. See www.overgrow.com for inspiration.

[JustJohn]

Yes, state law supercedes city law and federal law supercedes state law. Until the federal government says its legal, its not legal. Federal officials can and will continue to bust for pot just to make a point. When they passed a similiar in California the Federal Government sent agents into the area and started arresting people for possession just to make a point. That point is that they are the authority and they can pass all the laws they want but their laws still rule.

The positive thing about this is that it opens eyes. It shows that people do want this to be legal and that can lead to votes in state and federal law.


A State however can declare any federal law null and void if it really wants to, however the federal government has gotten pretty powerful and can pretty much do what they want. I think eventually some of the state governments will stand up to the feds and things may change, however score one for the denver potheads!

[DavidMX]

I'm packing my bags right now!

you know how WE do!
and if you didnt, NOW you do!

:)

[Cthabeerman]

you know how WE do!
and if you didnt, NOW you do!

:)

Saw part of your set at Bizzounce last weekend...f'n ace. Should've stayed and talked w/ you and DJ, but I went upstairs for a bit and when I came back down, Jazzmin was on and I couldn't find you or DJ.

-C

[DavidMX]

Saw part of your set at Bizzounce last weekend...f'n ace. Should've stayed and talked w/ you and DJ, but I went upstairs for a bit and when I came back down, Jazzmin was on and I couldn't find you or DJ.

-C

yeah, ya shoulda hit me up cuz I had a brand new shiny copy of HOLIDAZED 2 for ya!

so I guess this will have to do....DOWNLOAD THE WICKEDNESS !!!!!

http://hothouseproductions.net/HTMLobj-2216/holidazed_2.mp3

ENJOY A HOLIDAZED TREAT FROM DJ's KEVIN SEITZ and DMX!!!

[Cthabeerman]

Right on, thanks yo!!

I'm trying to think if I have anything of you and kevin together...don't think I do as of yet.

-C

[DavidMX]

Right on, thanks yo!!

I'm trying to think if I have anything of you and kevin together...don't think I do as of yet.

-C
you DON'T, until NOW...:)

Ill post a new thread, reviews welcome! holla at ya boy!

[Cthabeerman]

Will certainly do.

-C

[tribalzendancer]

you guys dont need to travel that far... Im surprised you guys havnt heard that possession under an ounce in Lawrence will only get you a $15 dollar fine now for first offence. it passed a couple months ago.

[DjNyx]

man, another thing to look forward to for when i move out there!

to bad i don't smoke anymore :( mb i should start again so i can build a tollerence for when i move! ;)

[Electric Soul Patrol]

one more reason to move to colorado

[freedom4all]

The federal government does not want pot legal, they have made that clear and I think they will do anything to keep it that way.

True, true!

Interesting that after more than half a century of Federal prohibition, cities and states are taking a stand. In less than a decade, we now have 11 states and over 100 cities who have relaxed their laws. It will only be a matter of time before ONLY the Feds, and a few state and local govts are enforcing prohibition.

[DavidMX]

man, another thing to look forward to for when i move out there!

to bad i don't smoke anymore :( mb i should start again so i can build a tollerence for when i move! ;)

you still moving here?

[DavidMX]

one more reason to move to colorado


OWNS YOU!!!!!!!!!! :)