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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth