Pubdate: Mon, 27 Feb 2012
Source: Summit Daily News (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Summit Daily News
Contact: http://apps.summitdaily.com/forms/letter/index.php
Website: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587
Author: John Ingold, The Denver Post

INITIATIVE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA MAKES BALLOT IN COLORADO 

Colorado voters in November will decide whether limited possession of 
marijuana for any purpose should be legalized.

If passed, the initiative would make Colorado the only state in the 
nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use. On Monday, the 
measure became the first to qualify for the state's November ballot 
when the Colorado Secretary of State's Office announced its supporters 
had turned in enough valid signatures.

Mason Tvert, one of the measure's chief proponents, said the campaign 
would use the next eight months to build a "broad base of support" 
across the state.

"Coloradans have a chance to make history this November, and we 
believe they are ready to do just that," Tvert said in a statement.

The initiative - to be called Amendment 64 - did not make the ballot easily.

Proponents came up short of the required 86,105 valid signatures in 
their first attempt at submitting petitions. Given the chance to 
collect more signatures, they handed in another 14,000 . Nearly 7,000 
of those were found valid, putting the initiative over the top.

The measure would legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana 
for those 21 and older. It also would allow for people to grow up to 
six marijuana plants in their home. Specially regulated stores would 
be allowed to sell marijuana, but communities would have the option of 
banning those businesses.
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.