Pubdate: Fri, 22 Aug 2008
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2008 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Tom McGhee, The Denver Post
Cited: Denver police http://www.denvergov.org/police/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?246 (Policing - United States)

PANEL RECOMMENDS NO ARRESTS FOR POT POSSESSION NEXT WEEK

A panel set up to review Denver's marijuana policies has recommended 
that police refrain from arresting adults who fire up during the 
Democratic National Convention.

Police will have to deal with numerous security issues next week when 
thousands of people -- from protesters to delegates -- descend on 
Denver, said Mason Tvert, leader of a group that sponsored a law 
mandating that marijuana be a low-enforcement priority.

"It is absolutely absurd for the police to be spending any of their 
time worrying about adults using a drug that is less harmful than 
alcohol," he said today.

Tvert, who also sits on the Marijuana Policy Review Panel, said he 
would deliver the recommendation to Mayor John Hickenlooper, Police 
Chief Gerald Whitman and Denver City Council president Jeanne Robb.

The panel was formed to gather statistics on marijuana arrests and 
has no legal authority, said David Broadwell, Denver assistant 
district attorney. "Any citizen can make a recommendation," he said, 
adding that police have no obligation to follow it.

Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said officers will continue to 
enforce a state statute barring possession and use of marijuana 
despite the voter-approved city ordinance making small amounts of 
marijuana the "lowest law-enforcement priority."

"We can't relax the laws; we have to enforce the laws on the books. 
If an officer witnesses a wrongdoing, he is responsible to take 
action," Jackson said.

Police and the mayor's office weren't immediately available for comment today.

The panel recommended that police not arrest, detain or issue a 
citation to anyone over 21 who possesses up to one ounce of pot for 
private use during the convention.

In 2005, city voters approved a referendum that mirrors the panel's 
recommendation, but arrests continued as police continued to enforce state law.

In 2007, voters approved making marijuana the city's lowest 
law-enforcement priority.

But in the first six months of this year, Tvert said, 927 adults were 
prosecuted for possession.

"The people of Denver have made it clear they do not want adults in 
this city punished for simply possessing a drug less harmful than 
alcohol," said Tvert. "Now a panel appointed by the mayor of Denver 
has echoed that call, and we hope police will not defy the people of 
this city or its mayor when the international spotlight hits the Mile 
High City next week." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake