Pubdate: Tue, 10 May 2005 Source: Colorado Daily (UC Edu, CO) Copyright: 2005 Colorado Daily Contact: http://www.coloradodaily.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1557 Author: Stephanie Olsen, Colorado Daily Staff Writer Cited: SAFER (www.saferchoice.org) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives) SAFER HITS THE ROAD The group that successfully passed a marijuana referendum at CU-Boulder is taking its views on marijuana policies on the road to Denver. "We're beginning the petition process for a citywide ballot initiative in Denver," said Mason Tvert, the executive director of SAFER, for "Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation." SAFER wants to amend the municipal ordinance in Denver and change the city's code to make possession of up to an ounce of marijuana legal for people 21 years of age and older. In April, the group successfully passed a non-binding measure asking the CU-Boulder administration to ensure that campus punishments for students for marijuana-use were no harsher than those for alcohol use. CU-Boulder administrators have met with SAFER leaders but have not announced a decision on amending the penalties. On Tuesday, SAFER held a press conference in Denver to hand over election documents to the election commission to get the petition process into "full swing," according to Tvert. Up until now, Tvert said SAFER has been doing "the behind-the-scenes stuff," such as getting the language of the initiative approved. The election commission now has three days to review SAFER's submission and either approve or not approve documents that include the Petitioners' Affidavit, ballot title and petition sample. If the documents are not approved, SAFER can resubmit the materials for another three-day review by the election commission. "We have no reason to believe they would not approve of it," said Tvert, "and at that point we will be able to start collecting signatures." According to Allan McBeth, director of communications for the Denver Election Commission, SAFER must obtain 5,383 valid signatures, which means signatures of registered voters in the City of Denver. As it stands now, the city ordinance maintains it is illegal for any person to possess one ounce or less of marijuana. "We are trying to add just five words to it that say 'under the age of 21'," said Tvert. "The idea being, people who are 21 years of age are able to legally use a substance that's far more harmful (alcohol), so we don't see why we should be wasting limited resources in the city on something that is clearly less harmful (marijuana)." John Poley, assistant director of prosecution and code enforcement for the City of Denver, said the City cannot override state criminal charges. "You can't allow at the municipal level what the state prohibits," said Poley. He said "it would be a waste of everybody's time and energy" to push the initiative. Tvert said SAFER feels if the initiative is successful, it would set a tone for the city and the state, and other cities might model policies after the capital. "The is that this would demonstrate the people's opinion and it would also send a message to the city and its police force and its legal body saying that they don't think this is how their money should be spent (on marijuana enforcement for people 21 years and older)," said Tvert. Denver City Council President Elbra Wedgeworth said if the group obtains the required amount of valid signatures, then Council is obligated to put it on the ballot, but that does not imply that Council members actually support the initiative. "I think it would be a very difficult sell," said Wedgeworth, who mentioned that Denver has problems with drugs and alcohol abuse in various communities. Tvert said the initiative does not advocate marijuana use among those under 21 years of age. "We think it makes sense to discourage the use of marijuana for people under the age of 21," said Tvert. "So clearly this is not trying to promote the use of marijuana." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth