Associated Press
11/02/05

Denver Voters OK Marijuana Possession
By JON SARCHE

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DENVER - Residents of the Mile High City have voted to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults. Authorities, though, said state possession laws will be applied instead.

Under the measure, residents over 21 years old could possess up to an ounce of marijuana.

Bruce Mirken of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project said he hoped the approval will launch a national trend toward legalizing a drug whose enforcement he said causes more problems than it cures.

The Denver proposal seemed to draw at least as much attention for supporters‘ campaign tactics as it did for the question of legalizing the drug.

The group criticized Mayor John Hickenlooper for opposing the proposal, noting his ownership of a popular brewpub. It also said recent violent crimes — including the shootings of four people last weekend — as a reason to legalize marijuana to steer people away from alcohol use.

The measure would not affect the medical marijuana law voters approved in 2000. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Supreme Court ruled that medical marijuana laws in Colorado and nine other states would not protect licensed users from federal prosecution.

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Relaxed pot law passes in Denver
With 97 percent of precincts reporting, 53 percent, of 55,035 voters, cast ballots for the measure, while 47 percent, or 47,929 voters, voted against it

DENVER — Capping a sometimes bitter campaign rife with allegations of misleading voters and exploiting their fears of violent crime, residents Tuesday legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, 53 percent, of 55,035 voters, cast ballots for the measure, while 47 percent, or 47,929 voters, voted against it.

Also Tuesday, voters in the ski resort town of Telluride rejected a proposal to make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by people 18 or older the town’s lowest law enforcement priority. The measure, rejected on a vote of 308-332, was placed on the ballot in August by the Town Council.

Some supporters hoped the Denver proposal would launch a national trend toward legalizing a drug whose enforcement they believe causes more problems than it cures.

“What this does say is reconsidering marijuana prohibition is absolutely a mainstream issue now,” said Bruce Mirken of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project.

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WCSH, OR
Denver Residents Vote To Make Limited Amounts Of Marijuana Legal

Denver officials say they'll sidestep a voter-approved city law that decriminalizes adult possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by prosecuting under state law.

DENVER (AP) -- City prosecutor Vince di Croce says the old city law prohibiting possession of small quantities of pot wasn't used much anyway.

He acknowledges officers have a choice in how to charge people in such cases, which is punishable by a 100-dollar fine. He says the fact voters erased the city prohibition in yesterday's municipal election will make little difference.

The ballot measure's chief organizer, Mason Tvert, says city officials are ignoring the same voters who put them in office. He says the city may have discretion whether to use state law, but should not turn its back on what voters made clear they want.
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