denver rulers say F*CK the people - we will get arround that law that decriminalizes pot Original Article Denver Residents Vote To Make Limited Amounts Of Marijuana Legal Denver officials say they'll sidestep a voter-approved city law that decriminalizes adult possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by prosecuting under state law. DENVER (AP) -- City prosecutor Vince di Croce says the old city law prohibiting possession of small quantities of pot wasn't used much anyway. He acknowledges officers have a choice in how to charge people in such cases, which is punishable by a 100-dollar fine. He says the fact voters erased the city prohibition in yesterday's municipal election will make little difference. The ballot measure's chief organizer, Mason Tvert, says city officials are ignoring the same voters who put them in office. He says the city may have discretion whether to use state law, but should not turn its back on what voters made clear they want. http://www.aversion.com/news/news_article.cfm?news_id=5347 Denver voters approved to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana by a narrow margin in the Tuesday (Nov. 1) election. Denver voters approved a measure, Initiative 100, that makes it legal for anyone older than 21 to possess less than an ounce of marijuana in the City and County of Denver. The now even more aptly named Mile High City becomes the second major city, following Oaklands similar measure last year, to make pot legal. Before you stoners pick up and move to Denver, the measure isnt without its loopholes, primarily marijuana is still a controlled substance under Colorado state statues. Denver Attorney General John Suthers told The Denver Post that his office will still prosecute pot heads under state law, and Denver cops wont ignore the superceding legislation. http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_307081440.html Nov 3, 2005 6:12 am US/Mountain Pot Users Say Initiative 100 Is Just The Start Raj Chohan Reporting Save It Email It Print It (CBS4) DENVER Pot users were celebrating the passage of Denver's Initiative 100 Wednesday by lighting up a joint. The initiative allows adults to possess small amounts of marijuana in the city. It passed Tuesday 54% to 46%. Local authorities said the passage really means nothing. Marijuana is still illegal in Denver and all of Colorado under state law. Denver police said they will still ticket pot users and dealers under that state law. Bob Malamede is a Colorado professional who admits he likes to smoke pot. He's a biology professor at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. "I started smoking marijuana when I was 16-years-old, which is when I went to college," Malamede said. Malamede was a big fan of Initiative 100. "You know marijuana tends to open up your mind and allow you to see things in a different light," Malamede said. Malamede is also registered to use marijuana for medical reasons. Initiative 100 made carrying less than one ounce or marijuana in Denver is legal. State law considers carrying less than an ounce a petty offense. Prosecutors in Denver plan to file charges under the state law. "They'll still be subject to citation under state law, maximum possible penalty of $100 as we've traditionally done," David Broadwell, Denver's assistant city attorney said. The supporters of Initiative 100 said even if drug enforcement doesn't change, Denver is an important first step in a bigger campaign. "Well it's becoming quite obvious what our next goal is, to change state laws so these officials can't hide behind it anymore when they don't have to," Mason Tvert, a leading Initiative 100 supporter said Wednesday. Initiative 100 made carrying less than an ounce of marijuana legal under Denver city law. It is still a crime to smoke pot in public, sell it or for people under 21 to carry any amount under city code. "The most important thing to come out of it is that people voiced their opinion, and a majority of people in a major city in this country say these laws are stupid and I want something different," Tvert added. (Copyright MMV CBS Television Stations, Inc.)