First, it was medical marijuana. Now, pot advocates are trying to legalize marijuana use in Colorado for adults, with or without a doctor’s recommendation.

Supporters of a ballot measure to legalize marijuana plan to start gathering signatures in Denver on Thursday.

They’re calling it the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012. 

Read the entire story: http://www.kwgn.com/news/kdvr-petition-drive-starts-thursday-to-fully-legalize-marijuana-in-colo-20110706,0,5780053.story

Marijuana advocates are slowly but steadily moving toward the November 2012 ballot. And they want nothing less than full legalization.

Two weeks ago, the state set a title for eight different possible ballot measures that would allow Colorado citizens over 21 to possess an ounce or less of marijuana. The authors of the ballot measure—Mason Tvert, of SAFER, and attorney Brian Vicente — said they’ll soon select one of the eight measures to pursue. The eight have small technical differences, but otherwise are identical, said Tvert.

More and more NYC moms are using pot to unwind from the parenthood grind

...“There are an awful lot of moms I know of who smoke,” says Via. “I would never personally advocate that someone smoke in front of their young children, but I definitely think there are so many pluses, as far as stress [relief].”

One of the group’s platforms is that marijuana is highly preferable to booze — the mommy’s traditional go-to — because, they say, it doesn’t come with the negative behavioral side effects. A similar group, the Colorado-based Women’s Marijuana Movement, outlines these points on its Web site, citing studies from American Scientist and the US Centers for Disease Control: “Marijuana is far less toxic than alcohol. Long-term marijuana use is far less harmful than long-term alcohol use.”...

In general, the Internet is a marijuana-friendly place -- but that doesn't mean every door is open to weed, as pot advocate Mason Tvert learned firsthand.

His publisher wanted to use Facebook to tout a special deal on his book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? only to discover that the social-media giant wouldn't allow ads to support it...

Read the entire story at: http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/06/marijuana_mason_tvert_facebook_ad.php

Sensible Colorado's Brian Vicente has been talking about a 2012 ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for adult use here since at least this November 2009 post.

But his effort to accomplish this feat is one step closer to reality now that he's submitted eight variations on a legalization measure to the state's title-setting review board. Read them below.

"They all have the same basic framework," says Vicente about the documents, which were filed last week. "Essentially, what we're looking to do is regulate marijuana sales in a similar way that alcohol is regulated statewide. That way, adults 21 and over can purchase marijuana in regulated, state-licensed businesses where they have to show an ID before it can be purchased."

Among the main selling points, he continues, is that "it would free up law enforcement resources for far more important purposes -- and it would also produce a fair amount of tax revenue for the state."

Read the entire story at: http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/05/marijuana_legalization_initiatives_2012_colorado_ballot.php