UPDATE: Lafayette City Council will hold a "workshop" on how it should increase its marijuana penalties -- if at all -- on April 3, 2007. SAFER is working with other organizations, officials and individuals to fight any and all penalty increases for private adult marijuana use and possession.

As we reported earlier, the Lafayette (CO) City Council had given its initial approval to a drastic and unncessary increase in penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. We are pleased to announce -- or should we say the City Council has announced -- that the measure has been withdrawn.

SAFER worked in conjunction with other Colorado organizations and individuals to put pressure on the council in the press and within the community. A large grassroots response was generated in conjunction with the ACLU of Boulder County and the ACLU of Colorado, as well as the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coaltion. The resignation of Lafayette Municipal Court Judge Leonard Frieling also led to a swarm of media coverage that drew some much-needed public attention to the measure.

Here is the full announcement from the Lafayette City Council. SAFER will certainly be organizing for the workshop in April to ensure a similar measure never sees the light of day.

City Withdraws Ordinance

Ordinance No. 06, 2007, which amended Section 75-41 and 75-42 of Lafayette’s Municipal Code regarding the maximum penalties for possession of cannabis (marijuana), has been withdrawn.  City staff and City Council have determined that more information and analysis are needed on this matter, and it will be the subject of a Council Workshop Meeting on April 3.  If and when the ordinance is brought forward after the workshop City Council’s process for voting on the ordinance will start from the beginning, with votes required at two separate Council Meetings.

 

The April 3 City Council Workshop will be held at City Hall, Council Chambers, 1290 South Public Road, at 5:30 PM.   The workshop meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live on Cable Channel 8.