Pubdate: Thu, 04 Aug 2005
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2005, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Lynn Bartels
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Cited: SAFER (www.saferchoice.org)

BALLOT ISSUE WOULDN'T CHANGE STATE CHARGES

Denver Pot Vote Mostly Symbolic

There are grass-roots organizations and then there are grass-roots 
organizations, like the one that wants Denver to allow adults to possess 
less than an ounce of marijuana.

The November ballot initiative is mostly symbolic: If voters agree to get 
rid of the city ordinance making possession a crime, police would charge 
violators under state laws, which is what they do anyhow.

Members of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, which gathered 
signatures to put the issue on the ballot, maintained at a news conference 
Thursday that marijuana is much less of a societal problem than alcohol.

"We are not encouraging the use of marijuana," said Mason Tvert, the 
group's executive director. "We are defending the right of every adult in 
this city to make a rational choice about how they choose to relax and 
recreate."

It still would be illegal to grow or distribute marijuana, or drive under 
its influence, Tvert added.

Denver police denounced the measure, which comes on the heels of two 
controversial citizen-initiated Denver ballot issues, one that would have 
banned circuses featuring exotic animals and another that would have 
required the city to promote peace and tranquility.

Both attracted international attention and failed.

"If it weren't for these initiatives, it might be kind of dry down here," 
Denver City Councilman Doug Linkhart said.

He predicted a "fun and interesting" debate - which Tvert said is part of 
the goal.

"Our campaign, whether we win or lose in November, will engage the citizens 
of Denver in a much-needed dialogue," Tvert said.

The 23-year-old Denver resident declined to say he if smoked pot, saying he 
would follow President Bush's lead about remaining mum on questions 
regarding the ingestion of illegal substances.

The City Council will discuss the initiative and take testimony at a public 
hearing this month, Linkhart said, but can't stop the group. That's because 
backers collected enough valid signatures to put it on the ballot.

At their news conference, some SAFER members held signs with statistics to 
bolster their contention that alcohol, not marijuana, is the more dangerous.

Denver police later offered competing studies that show marijuana is a 
bigger problem.

Attorney Rob Corry, who supports the measure and attended the news 
conference, denounced laws making possession of less than an ounce of pot a 
crime.

"It's pointless. It's a waste of money," said Corry, a defense attorney. 
"And most cops and prosecutors - off the record - would agree."

Don't count Denver police Division Chief Dave Fisher in that group.

"We already have a problem with drug users coming from the suburbs to 
purchase drugs in Denver, and it's ruining the fabric of our 
neighborhoods," the officer said.

Fisher said he fears that if the measure passes, it will bring more people 
to Denver who don't understand that police can still bust them for 
possession of less than an ounce. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth