Pubdate: Sat, 07 Nov 2009
Source: Durango Herald, The (CO)
Copyright: 2009 The Durango Herald
Contact: http://durangoherald.com/write_the_editor/
Website: http://durangoherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/866
Author: Shane Benjamin

MAN HOPES TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN DURANGO

Sensible Durango Collecting Signatures For 2010 Ballot

A group called Sensible Durango wants voters to decide in November 
2010 whether to decriminalize marijuana - at least when it comes to 
the City Code.

Sensible Durango is gathering signatures from city voters in an 
effort to force a ballot question that asks: Should the city of 
Durango adopt "An Ordinance to Establish a Sensible Marijuana Policy 
in Durango" that would remove criminal penalties from the City Code 
for the private possession and use of marijuana by those 21 or older?

"People from all walks of life have experience with it and use it 
regularly." - Corey Chavez, Sensible Durango

The possession limit would be 1 ounce.

The proposed ballot question is similar to one that passed earlier 
this week in Breckenridge, with 71 percent of the votes in favor. 
Denver approved a similar measure in 2007.

But they are largely symbolic measures, because the use or possession 
of marijuana remains illegal under state law unless individuals have 
medical approval.

Brian Vicente, executive director of Denver-based Sensible Colorado, 
said decriminalizing marijuana gives police discretion to decide 
whether to cite residents for marijuana.

"We're hoping (Breckenridge police) will choose not to use their 
discretion, to reflect the overall will of the voters," he said.

Efforts to reach a Durango Police Department spokeswoman for comment 
Friday afternoon were unsuccessful. City employees were on a furlough 
day Friday.

In order to trigger a vote in Durango, a certain percentage of 
registered voters must sign a petition.

Corey Chavez, 24, director of Sensible Durango, estimates about 1,200 
city voters must sign the petition to force a vote. But he plans to 
collect about 4,000 signatures.

"I think Durango will be the next city to pass an initiative," Chavez 
said Friday.

Fifty-four percent of La Plata County voters approved Amendment 44 in 
2007, which would have amended Colorado state law to remove all 
penalties for possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana by adults 21 
or older. The measure failed statewide.

By decriminalizing marijuana in Durango, Chavez hopes to start a 
discussion that will eventually lead to the legalization of marijuana 
statewide.

As communities across the state begin to legalize marijuana, voters 
will be better educated and more willing to approve a statewide 
measure next time it is presented, Vicente said.

"It's local communities like Durango that lead the way," Vicente 
said. "We can't sit back and wait for the state to take action. We 
have to take local action."

Chavez said he supports the legalization of marijuana because it is 
safer than alcohol and should be treated accordingly. Legalizing 
marijuana would take it out of the hands of the "black market" and 
allow the government to regulate it, he said. And that could generate 
tax revenue for the state.

"It's widely used and a very popular recreational substance," Chavez 
said. "People from all walks of life have experience with it and use 
it regularly."

When contacted Friday, City Manager Ron LeBlanc said he was unaware 
of the group's petition effort.

But he said it will be important to evaluate the initiative from a 
"community perspective" - possibly even creating a task force to 
evaluate various viewpoints and concerns on the part of residents.

When residents bypass the governing body by going to the voters, some 
details are overlooked, LeBlanc said. For example, it is possible the 
new law will conflict with existing laws.

If such a ballot measure were to pass, LeBlanc said he'd like to be 
ready to enact any new ordinance that may be necessary to prevent 
discrepancies or address other concerns.

If there is overwhelming support for the ballot measure, it may not 
be necessary to put it to a vote, LeBlanc said, because the governing 
body may wish to change the code itself.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom