Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Pot smokers may be free to light up in the streets of Denver next week if a voter-required panel endorses a moratorium on marijuana citations during the Democratic National Convention.
Protesters heading into the convention have wanted to recreate the vibe of 1960s America. Well, Denver could resemble San Francisco during the Summer of Love if the Marijuana Policy Review Panel today recommends a moratorium on pot citations for adults during the convention.
Denver voters in 2005 approved the adult possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, an initiative spearheaded by Denver-based Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation. But the Denver Police Department continued to arrest people under state law.
Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said police intend to enforce state law during the Democratic National Convention as well.
“We’ve always enforced the state statute,” he said. “That was the law before the initiative and it’s nothing new. I don’t know why we’d relax any law.”
Reflecting will of voters?
Pot proponent Mason Tvert, executive director of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, said the moratorium is necessary to reflect the will of Denver voters. He also said the issue is about safety, arguing that marijuana is a less harmful drug than alcohol.
“The DNC will be safer if the city gives convention-goers, demonstrators and Denver citizens the option of using marijuana instead of alcohol,” he said. “After all, it’s alcohol — not marijuana — that fuels riots, violence and property damage.”
The Marijuana Policy Review Panel was assembled last year after voters approved a second initiative by SAFER to make marijuana enforcement the police department’s lowest priority. The initiative required Mayor John Hickenlooper to appoint the policy review panel, which consists of city officials, attorneys and community leaders. Tvert is expected today to ask the panel to adopt his proposal for a moratorium.
The police department could choose to ignore the recommendation.
Tvert also is expected today to release statistics that indicate despite the two voter-approved pot initiatives, marijuana citations are sill on the rise. There were 1,600 marijuana citations issued in Denver in 2007.
The city is currently on-track to reach at least 1,800 marijuana citations this year, said Tvert, who added that there were 927 citations issued through June.
In that same period, there were only 64 cases of drunk and disorderly conduct, said Tvert.
“Cops only cited people for being drunk and disorderly 64 times, yet they cited 927 (adults) for simply possessing a little pot,” he said. “Just goes to show where their priorities are.”
Not a priority?
City Councilman Doug Linkhart, who sits on the marijuana enforcement panel, said he does not believe marijuana enforcement will be a priority during the convention.
“The ordinance says lowest priority, it doesn’t say stop prosecuting,” he said. “I’m not concerned police will get carried away.”
Tvert, however, said all police officials have to do is promise not to enforce marijuana laws, and then citizens are guaranteed no problem.
“It’s time we allow adults to make the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol, if that’s what they prefer,” he said.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Denver Daily News
Copyright: 2008 Denver Daily News
Contact: Denver Daily - Contact Us
Website: Denver Daily - Will the DNC go to pot?
Protesters heading into the convention have wanted to recreate the vibe of 1960s America. Well, Denver could resemble San Francisco during the Summer of Love if the Marijuana Policy Review Panel today recommends a moratorium on pot citations for adults during the convention.
Denver voters in 2005 approved the adult possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, an initiative spearheaded by Denver-based Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation. But the Denver Police Department continued to arrest people under state law.
Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said police intend to enforce state law during the Democratic National Convention as well.
“We’ve always enforced the state statute,” he said. “That was the law before the initiative and it’s nothing new. I don’t know why we’d relax any law.”
Reflecting will of voters?
Pot proponent Mason Tvert, executive director of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, said the moratorium is necessary to reflect the will of Denver voters. He also said the issue is about safety, arguing that marijuana is a less harmful drug than alcohol.
“The DNC will be safer if the city gives convention-goers, demonstrators and Denver citizens the option of using marijuana instead of alcohol,” he said. “After all, it’s alcohol — not marijuana — that fuels riots, violence and property damage.”
The Marijuana Policy Review Panel was assembled last year after voters approved a second initiative by SAFER to make marijuana enforcement the police department’s lowest priority. The initiative required Mayor John Hickenlooper to appoint the policy review panel, which consists of city officials, attorneys and community leaders. Tvert is expected today to ask the panel to adopt his proposal for a moratorium.
The police department could choose to ignore the recommendation.
Tvert also is expected today to release statistics that indicate despite the two voter-approved pot initiatives, marijuana citations are sill on the rise. There were 1,600 marijuana citations issued in Denver in 2007.
The city is currently on-track to reach at least 1,800 marijuana citations this year, said Tvert, who added that there were 927 citations issued through June.
In that same period, there were only 64 cases of drunk and disorderly conduct, said Tvert.
“Cops only cited people for being drunk and disorderly 64 times, yet they cited 927 (adults) for simply possessing a little pot,” he said. “Just goes to show where their priorities are.”
Not a priority?
City Councilman Doug Linkhart, who sits on the marijuana enforcement panel, said he does not believe marijuana enforcement will be a priority during the convention.
“The ordinance says lowest priority, it doesn’t say stop prosecuting,” he said. “I’m not concerned police will get carried away.”
Tvert, however, said all police officials have to do is promise not to enforce marijuana laws, and then citizens are guaranteed no problem.
“It’s time we allow adults to make the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol, if that’s what they prefer,” he said.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Denver Daily News
Copyright: 2008 Denver Daily News
Contact: Denver Daily - Contact Us
Website: Denver Daily - Will the DNC go to pot?
