Pubdate: Thu, 29 Nov 2012
Source: Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Pueblo Chieftain
Contact:  http://www.chieftain.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1613
Author: Matt Hildner

Amendment 64

ALAMOSA DA BACKS OFF POT PROSECUTIONS

Legalization by State Voters Means Prospects of Conviction Dim

ALAMOSA - District Attorney David Mahonee said Wednesday he had 
informed law enforcement in his six-county jurisdiction that his 
office will not prosecute new arrests for possession of marijuana 
under an ounce.

"I don't think I could get a jury to convict someone," he said.

Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 in November, making it legal for 
people over 21 to possess up to an ounce of pot.

The law will not take effect until Gov. John Hickenlooper signs a 
proclamation. He has 30 days from the certification of the state's 
election results.

A spokesman for Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler said 
certification must take place by Dec. 6.

But Mahonee, the top prosecutor for the San Luis Valley's six 
counties, reminded residents that the decision to not prosecute new 
possession cases did not apply to arrests for underage possession or 
driving under the influence of the drug, acts which were not 
legalized by the amendment.

Pending possession cases won't be automatically dismissed but will be 
handled on a case-by-case basis, looking at the totality of the 
circumstances, he said.

Mahonee did not have an estimate of how many pending cases remained 
in the judicial system but said it was not many.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom