Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jan 2006
Source: Vail Daily (CO)
Copyright: 2006 Vail Daily
Contact: http://www.vaildaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/misc/letter/index.pbs
Website: http://www.vaildaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3233
Author: Scott N. Miller
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IS NO BIG DEAL TO SOME

VAIL - If a small sampling in Vail is any indication, a group trying 
to legalize marijuana possession in Colorado might have some local 
support. The Denver-based group, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable 
Recreation, last week announced it will try to get a measure on the 
2006 fall ballot that would legalize possession of small amounts of 
marijuana by adults in the state. The petition drive to get on the 
ballot will start next month. Local resident Fletcher Groff thinks 
that's a fine idea. "I'm 100 percent for it," Groff said. "You don't 
hear about people getting high and getting in accidents, or getting 
into domestic violence. People get high and get mellow." Denver 
resident Rick Weber has a live-and-let-live attitude toward marijuana 
use. "I'm not against (legalization), and I'm not for it," Weber 
said. "Whatever people want to do is fine with me."

Jim Reed's thinking about marijuana laws has changed over the years. 
Reed is from Dallas, where possession of any amount of marijuana is 
still a felony.

"I used to be against legalization," Reed said. "But there are so 
many people in jail for what ought to be a minor offense. But I still 
think pot is one of the worst things for young people, especially if 
they're in school." Texas and Colorado treat marijuana possession 
differently, though. In Colorado, having 1 ounce or less is a "petty 
offense," which carries just a $100 fine. And that's fine with Vail 
Police Chief Dwight Henninger. "I wouldn't understand wanting to 
reduce the penalties," Henninger said. "From my experience with 
hardcore drug users, not many of them started with hardcore drugs. 
There's a lot of questions in my mind about it." Local Emily Anderson 
has some questions, too. "I agree with legalizing it for medical 
purposes," Anderson said. "I guess I don't have a problem with 
(legalization) if it's used right."

But the local district attorney said he has one serious problem with 
possibly legalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. 
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said his office doesn't spend much 
time prosecuting possession of small amounts of marijuana now, 
although it does see some felony cases.

"I really don't have strong feelings about it," Hurlbert said. "My 
bigger concern is there's no test to see if someone's driving under 
the influence of marijuana. It's not like alcohol, where you can 
determine that."

If the legalization issue does get on the state ballot, Hurlbert 
questioned how much support it might get.

"I don't know how well it would do in a lot of areas," he said. "But 
whatever the voters decide is what we'll do."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom