SAFERchoice Denver - Press Articles

Rocky Mountain News
2/16/06

Drug treatment advocate lauds Denver's pot vote

By Bianca Prieto

(Return to Press Section)
An advocate for more treatment for drug offenders told the Colorado Bar Association this morning that last year's passage of Denver's Initiative 100 marijuana measure put Colorado "on the cutting edge" of changing drug laws.

The initiative eliminated the city ordinance prohibiting marijuana possession but did not affect the state law most pot suspects are prosecuted under. A measure to undo the state law may appear on the ballot statewide this year.

Roger Goodman, the director of the King County Bar Association in Seattle, Wash., talked with the group of Colorado Bar members, legislators and judges at the conference today about the "War on Drugs."

In Seattle, non-violent drug offenders are sent into treatment programs instead of jail, Goodman said. The money that was being spent to house and feed the offenders supports treatment programs, and no new money is needed, he said.

"The sky hasn't fallen and people are getting help," Goodman said.

Sensible Colorado, a group that has backed changing marijuana enforcement, brought Goodman to Colorado.

"It's easy to be tough on crime and be re-elected," Goodman said about legislator's who don't want to see as being soft on crime. "Let's get smart."
(Return to Press Section)


	Rocky Mountain News 2/16/06 Drug treatment advocate lauds Denver's pot vote By Bianca Prieto (Return to Press Section) An advocate for more treatment for drug offenders told the Colorado Bar Association this morning that last year's passage of Denver's Initiative 100 marijuana measure put Colorado "on the cutting edge" of changing drug laws. The initiative eliminated the city ordinance prohibiting marijuana possession but did not affect the state law most pot suspects are prosecuted under. A measure to undo the state law may appear on the ballot statewide this year. Roger Goodman, the director of the King County Bar Association in Seattle, Wash., talked with the group of Colorado Bar members, legislators and judges at the conference today about the "War on Drugs." In Seattle, non-violent drug offenders are sent into treatment programs instead of jail, Goodman said. The money that was being spent to house and feed the offenders supports treatment programs, and no new money is needed, he said. "The sky hasn't fallen and people are getting help," Goodman said. Sensible Colorado, a group that has backed changing marijuana enforcement, brought Goodman to Colorado. "It's easy to be tough on crime and be re-elected," Goodman said about legislator's who don't want to see as being soft on crime. "Let's get smart." (Return to Press Section)