Pubdate: Tue, 11 Aug 2015
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2015 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Jon Murray

POT USE BALLOT BACKERS TURN IN SIGNATURES

Whether Denver voters in November will face a choice about allowing 
patrons to use marijuana in bars and some other businesses wasn't in 
dispute Monday, though ballot certification still could be weeks away.

Instead, the city attorney's office and initiative backers, who said 
they turned in more than 10,700 petition signatures Monday - double 
what's needed - aired a long-standing debate.

It centers on state law's prohibition on using marijuana "openly and 
publicly" and if that law would trump a local decision to allow 
vaping or edibles inside publicly accessible bars or other 
establishments that opt in. Smoking could occur only outside, at 
least 25 feet from public property.

"The adoption of the initiated ordinance in Denver will create a 
serious conflict with state law, and may prompt the General Assembly 
to address the subject," assistant city attorney David Broadwell 
wrote in a memo to the City Council.

But Christian Sederberg, an attorney helping to lead the Campaign for 
Limited Social Use, said state lawmakers' lack of action has 
purposely left the door open for local decision-making. Denver has 
defined "public" too broadly, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom