Pubdate: Tue, 17 Dec 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Kurtis Lee

A NOD TO 18-, 21-YEAR-OLDS

Possession of Up to an Ounce of Marijuana Would Net Only a Fine, Not Jail Time

As the sale of recreational marijuana becomes legal in Colorado on 
Jan. 1, the Denver City Council on Monday night voted on measures 
surrounding its criminalization and public display.

Council members gave initial approval to a measure decriminalizing 
the possession of an ounce of marijuana or less for people between 
the ages of 18 and 21. Penalties would include only fines and no jail time.

Currently those between 18 and 21 caught with an ounce of marijuana 
or less can face hefty fines or up to a year in jail.

For those under 18 in possession of less than an ounce of weed, jail 
is not an option; instead they're sent to the city's juvenile 
assessment center.

"This in no way is making it legal for these young people to possess 
or consume marijuana," said Councilman Albus Brooks, who championed 
the measure. "What it does do is make it so that these kids don't 
have to live into adulthood with mistakes theymight have made when 
they were 19."

The measure imposes fines that increase from$150 for the first 
offense to $500 for the second offense and $999 for the third and any 
subsequent offense. The fine structure is similar to what people over 
the age of 21 face when caught smoking or displaying marijuana in public.

"This evens the playing field," Brooks said.

Also Monday, council members gave initial approval to a measure that 
keeps marijuana away from public and private schools in the city. At 
its core, the bill prohibits the display, consumption and growing of 
marijuana on city-owned property within 1,000 feet of a school.

Both measures are slated for final votes next week.

This month, the City Council passed measures that allow people in 
Denver to grow 12 marijuana plants per household for recreational use 
and that allow weed to be smoked on private property, even if it's 
visible from a public street.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom