The Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel approved a recommendation to city officials today that the Denver City Attorney's Office should adopt a formal policy to stop prosecuting cases of private adult marijuana possession.

The panel meeting and recommendation have already received coverage in the Rocky Mountain News, on Fox 31 news, and on NBC 9 news. 

The Libertarian Party held its  national convention in Denver over the weekend, and SAFER took part in the welcoming activities sponsored by the Marijuana Policy Project.  

(From left) MPP Development Director Troy Dayton, MPP Founder and Executive Director Rob Kampia, and Sensible Colorado Executive Director Brian Vicente joined SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert on a panel to the state of marijuana policy reform in Colorado and nationwide.

Mason briefly discussed the progress being made in Denver and throughout Colorado, but really focused his comments on the need to address the perception of harm surrounding marijuana. He explained how simply pointing out that marijuana prohibition is a waste of tax dollars and law enforcement resources is not a winning argument on its own because those people who think marijuana is dangerous and must be illegal do not think it's such a waste. A similar notion was the subject of the first SAFER Central column on HighTimes.com.

A big event is coming up at the end of the month, at which SAFER and ally organization Sensible Colorado will be announcing a new vision and plan for changing local and state marijuana laws in Colorado.

The party will be on Friday, May 30, 6p-9p, at the home of a prominent criminal defense attorney in Denver, and you can find all the details after the jump. 

A number of elected officials, organization leaders, activists and supporters have RSVP'd for the event, at which we will be presenting former Colorado State Rep. Gary Lindstrom (left) for his outspokenness on this issue. We will also be recognizing former municipal judge Leonard Frieling (right), who resigned from his judgeship in Lafayette, Colorado, in protest of a city council proposal to increase marijuana penalties (SAFER worked with Judge Frieling to defeat that proposal!).