Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jan 2006
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2006, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

LAWMAKERS PASS, KILL, POT MEASURE

Here's what happens when lawmakers don't pay attention: An amendment
making it easier for Denver pot smokers to escape prosecution slips
into a bill.

That's what happened Friday in the Colorado House.

Lawmakers later killed the amendment but the event did provide for
some hilarity as well as pointed comments about what is perceived to
be Denver's hypocrisy when its come to following state laws.

Denver voters last November invalidated a city law that made it
illegal for adults to privately possess less than 1 ounce of
marijuana. Denver police, calling the vote mostly symbolic, said they
would still make arrests and charge offenders under state law.

Lawmakers on Friday were debating a bill about police officer
certification when Rep. Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, amended it to
keep authorities in cities where drug exemptions have been passed from
prosecuting under state law.

"If their citizens say its legal, then the state ought to back off,"
he said.

His amendment passed, in part, because the bill was so routine
lawmakers were paying attention to other matters.

The House later voted 59-6 to remove the provision.

Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, supported the amendment because she is
frustrated that Denver went to court to overturn her 2004 measure
outlawing cities from banning certain breeds of dogs. Denver resumed
its pit bull ban after a judge upheld the city's home-rule authority
to set its own animal-control policies.

She said Denver routinely snubs its nose at state measures by claiming
it's a home-rule city.

"They want their cake and they want to eat it too," she
said.

Rep. Richard Decker, R-Fountain, got a big laugh when he facetiously
asked whether Coloradans would be able to toke up at restaurants, bars
and casinos if the amendment passed and a separate smoking ban bill
passed.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake