Pubdate: Tue, 10 Apr 2007
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2007, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Lou Kilzer, Rocky Mountain News
Cited: Denver police http://www.denvergov.org/police/
Cited: Lt. Tony Ryan 
http://leap.cc/Speakers/speakerbio.php?spkr=./Bios/ryan.inc&name=Tony%20Ryan
Cited: City Councilman Charlie Brown http://www.denvergov.org/CouncilDistrict6/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Mason+Tvert (Mason Tvert)

LEGAL POT ACTIVISTS ANGRY AT POLICE

Possession Busts Rise Despite City Voters' OK

Marijuana legalization advocates say they are furious with Denver 
police for arresting more people for misdemeanor possession after 
city residents voted to legalize the weed in 2005. Mason Tvert, who 
led the charge to get marijuana legalized, said the group will hold a 
noon news conference today at the steps of City Hall to decry the findings.

Arrests for most minor crimes rose in Denver last year, and rose 
faster than marijuana arrests, following a change in policing philosophy.

But Tvert said nothing can justify an 11 percent spike in marijuana 
possession arrests last year.

"If there's one, it's too many," Tvert said. "They (police) have the 
discretion not to arrest."

Although 54 percent of Denver voters approved legalizing possession 
of small amounts of marijuana by adults, it is still illegal under 
state law. Denver police have always said that they would continue to 
enforce state law.

By December of last year, Denver reported that arrests for all crimes 
were up 14 percent, more than the increase in marijuana arrests.

And misdemeanor arrests were up even more.

Tvert said that blacks make up 32 percent of those arrested for 
possession, while comprising 11 percent of the city's population.

Tvert plans to have retired Denver police Lt. Tony Ryan on hand to 
speak for retired law enforcement officers who favor legalization.

Ryan said that many lawmen have known for years that "marijuana is 
not the evil, demonic gateway drug that some want you to believe it is."

One person not sharing that idea is City Councilman Charlie Brown.

"It's still state law," Brown said. "We can't be selective about the 
laws we enforce."

[sidebar]

MISDEMEANOR POT BUSTS

. 2003 2,151

. 2004 1,912

. 2005 2,196

. 2006 2,446

Source - Denver Safety Office Of Policy Analysis
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake