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Safety at Heart of Pot Debate
Amendment 44 would let people possess less than an ounce
Sara Reed | Coloradoan | 10/23/2006

Among the many things voters have to consider Nov. 7 is a measure that, if passed, would make Colorado the first state in the nation to allow adults to possess small amounts of marijuana.

Amendment 44, which is similar to a law passed by Denver residents last year, would make it legal for adults over the age of 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Opponents say it will lead to increased marijuana use among children.

Possession of less than one ounce of marijuana is a petty offense that carries a $100 fine.

"We feel it can only harm society by making it more accessible," said David Evans of the Drug Free Schools Coalition of Colorado. "If it's more accessible to adults, it's more accessible to children."

The proposal does not target children nor do supporters want to make marijuana more accessible to children, said Mason Tvert, campaign director for Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, or SAFER, which is campaigning for Amendment 44.

Marijuana is a safer alternative to alcohol, Tvert said, and proponents want adults to be able to enjoy that alternative. Unlike alcohol, marijuana use alone has never killed anyone, Tvert said, and alcohol contributes to many problems such as violence and sexual assault.

"We punish adults who

make a rational and safe choice to use marijuana," he said. "What is wrong with simply making the choice to use marijuana instead?"

If this measure is passed, an increase in emergency room visits, crime and possibly car accidents will increase, Evans said. Marijuana is not a safe drug and there are no provisions in the proposed law that would require responsible use, he said.

"If you legalize marijuana, the rate of use will increase and we'll have more problems," Evans said. "I just don't think we need to legalize another problem."

If the measure is passed, possessing less than an ounce of marijuana would be legal, but growing and selling it will remain illegal, as will driving under the influence of the drug, Tvert said. It would also still be illegal to give marijuana to anyone under 21, and possession of marijuana by anyone under the age of 21 would still be illegal, he said.

If an adult were to give marijuana to a minor, that adult could be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Contributing to the delinquency of a minor - which Colorado law defines as encouraging or inducing a minor to break a law - is a felony that carries a penalty of up to six years in prison.

"We want it to be a felony to give marijuana to a minor," Tvert said.

 

Buzzby

Marijuana is a safer drug than already-legal alcohol. As for "responsible use", why should the law contain provisions? It is already illegal to drive under the influence of drugs. It is already illegal to disturb the peace or be intoxicated in public. Are there any laws beyond that to insure the responsible use of alcohol?

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nerphroll

Buzzby, didn't you spend some time in Colorado recently supporting Amendment 44? What is your sense about the chances of this actually being passed?

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HELP ME IVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 13 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!
PURIFY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Buzzby

I am currently in the Denver area actively working on the Amendment 44 campaign. From the people I've been talking with every day as I talk up the amendment and pass out leaflets, window stickers, and lawn signs, I am very encouraged. Coloradans seem to be a very independent lot who prefer that government stay out of their living rooms. They are uniformly unhappy about the interference of the agents of the federal government in what is purely a Colorado voters' initiative.