Pubdate: Sun, 11 Sep 2005
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Grand Junction, CO)
Copyright: 2005 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.gjsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2084
Author: Ron Bain
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

PETITION FORCES VOTE ON MARIJUANA IN TELLURIDE

TELLRUIDE A successful citizens' petition has forced a question onto this 
fall's municipal ballot asking voters in Telluride if they want enforcement 
of laws against adults possessing small amounts of marijuana to be made the 
lowest priority for the town marshal.

"Town Council was given this referendum, and they followed all of the 
rules," Mayor Pro Tem Roberta Peterson said. "We either could approve it 
right then and there or put it to the ballot. We had no other choice."

Town Council member Stu Fraser said he did not believe the pot question 
would pass.

"If it does, it will be challenged in court," Fraser said.

Administrative and judicial functions of the town government cannot be put 
to a democratic vote, he said.

"We're pleased that the council gave us pretty good confirmation of our 
petition drive," said Ernest Eich, one of the petition organizers.

"I think it's a mistake to make it that way. If you want a law changed, 
change the law. Don't tell the law enforcement how to do its job," said San 
Miguel Sheriff Bill Masters, a former Telluride town marshal.

"I am not in support of the initiative," Robertson said.

She said she thinks the petitioners would have gotten more support from the 
Town Council if they had made it a medical marijuana question. Robertson 
also said she thought the ballot question reinforced a wrong perception 
that Telluride was lax on drugs.

"I've lived here every day for 34 years, and I don't think we're lax on 
drugs at all," she said. "There's been many drug busts in this community. 
We don't want kids in our community doing drugs. I think we've got as many 
drug abusers as any community.

"We have a lot of festivals here, and maybe people are using drugs at these 
festivals, but go to any festival in the world and people are going to be 
using drugs," Robertson said. "We are not a drug culture up here by any means."
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