Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
Organizers of an initiative that would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in Colorado turned in more than 110,000 signatures to the secretary of state Monday afternoon. The initiative needs 67,829 valid signatures to make the November ballot.
If the measure makes the ballot, Colorado will join Nevada as states where voters will have a chance to decide on removing all criminal penalties for the possession of personal amounts of marijuana by adults. Currently, Alaska is the only state to allow adults to legally possess marijuana -- up to one ounce in the privacy of their homes.
Organized by SAFER Colorado, the initiative is an effort to replicate the success the group had in Denver last year, where residents voted to legalize the possession of up to an ounce under city ordinance. Denver police and prosecutors, however, have ignored that vote and continue to ticket and arrest people under state law.
"This past November, the people of the city of Denver voted to make the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana legal for adults under city ordinances," said SAFER campaign director Mason Tvert. "Yet our cowardly city officials blatantly ignored the will of the people and have continued arresting and prosecuting Denver residents under state law for making the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol. We think that is wrong, and it appears more than 110,000 people in the great state of Colorado agree with us."
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Comments
fought for democracy but am unable to enjoy one.
"I use marijuana to help heal the wounds from ptsd I have from the war in Iraq."
age: 20
location: colorado springs co.
country: us
occupation: U.S. Army
I am trying to get out of the army right now.I have tattoo'd my face so that I can get out. I think that it is wrong that I went to war and fought for a democracy but am unable to live in one. I got a tattoo of a coy fish on my face so that I can be released from the army to enjoy my freedom. I call the fish my freedom fish. I believe that this fish is the key to my freedom. I just got back from Iraq Aug. 28 2009. I smoke pot to heal the wounds from Iraq. Upon my release from the army I plan to publish a book that will reveal many things about the u.s army that I believe society needs to hear. I also plan to push to legalize pot. I believe that it is the perfect antidote for combat wounds weather they be physical and/or mental. I believe that pot can and must be legalized. Every day I dream of the day that I can sit on my front porch and smoke a bowl without any worries of imprisonment. I know that this day will come and I will rejoice in the pure essence of this moment, and as I exhale the beautiful hydroponic pot I will hold my head high and know that I am free.
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