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US: Amendment would legalize marijuana possession
Jennie Spillane The Tribune
Friday 03 Nov 2006 This November, voters will decide whether to rewrite Colorado statutes so it would be legal to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Amendment 44, which is not a constitutional amendment, is almost identical to the initiative passed by Denver voters in 2005. Even though Denver voters passed the initiative, marijuana remains illegal by state laws. "We don't think that the city of Denver should have its hands tied by state law," said Mason Tvert of the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative, an organization that's promoting Amendment 44 and defending the legalization initiative passed in Denver. Tvert said the organization tried to challenge Denver's enforcement of state law forbidding possession of marijuana twice since passing the initiative in 2005, but each time, the charges were dropped before going in front of a judge and jury. Tvert sees Amendment 44 as a way to sidestep the conflict between city and state laws, putting the decision in the hands of individual cities. If any city wants to keep marijuana illegal, it can pass its own anti-marijuana legislation, Tvert said. Weld County Sheriff John Cooke couldn't disagree with Tvert more. He says marijuana should remain illegal. "Ultimately, I think Amendment 44 is a bad amendment," said Cooke, who also said the growing potency of the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, increases the danger of using the drug. "Legalizing marijuana is going to affect law enforcement. There will be more people using the drug, and there will be more driving under the influence, which is going to cause more accidents. The law is going to be a lot busier." Even if Amendment 44 passes, there will still be a conflict between state and federal law, but Tvert isn't worried about that. Federal laws always supersede state laws, but still, almost 95 percent of people who face federal marijuana-related charges are involved in marijuana trafficking. The federal government won't be able to enforce simple possession charges, Tvert said. "This initiative will end the citations for individual possession of marijuana," Tvert said. Experts generally agree that marijuana's intoxicating properties might pale in comparison to LSD and PCP, but it is seen by many as a "gateway" drug, meaning its use will likely lead into the use of other, harder, more intoxicating drugs. "Legalizing marijuana is a sticky issue," University of Northern Colorado senior Allie Beecher said. "If it is legalized, even though it will only be for adults over 21, it is going to make it easier for minors to possess it, which I don't agree with." YOUNG VOTERS GUIDE: Journalism students from the University of Northern Colorado have compiled a series of election stories targeted toward young voters. This is the second in the series, which will run through Monday in the Tribune. AMENDMENT 44: «Makes it legal for people 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. « It is still illegal for individuals to possess more than one ounce of marijuana, transfer marijuana to any person under 21, grow marijuana, sell marijuana, use marijuana in public areas or drive under the influence of marijuana. http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20061103/NEWS/111030116 -- WebBooks Amazing Amazon Store: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/webbooks05
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