cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Measure Raises Stink





Marijuana Measure Raises Stink
Posted by CN Staff on September 12, 2006 at 13:14:28 PT
By John Fryar, The Daily Reporter-Herald 
Source: Daily Reporter-Herald
Denver -- Amendment 44 would make it legal to give up to 1 ounce of marijuana to anyone ages 15 through 20, as long as no money changes hands or other compensation is involved, according to a ballot-information booklet the Legislature has prepared for Colorado voters. “This was not our intention,” Amendment 44 proponent Mason Tvert insisted to members of the Legislative Council last week.It’s also untrue, Tvert said Monday, because anyone giving marijuana to anyone under age 18 could still be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Tvert, a spokesman for Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, announced Monday that SAFER intends to go to court to try to postpone production of the voters’ guides because of the inaccurate analysis his organization contends the booklet gives for Amendment 44.Amendment 44 seeks to make it legal under state drug laws for anyone age 21 and older to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana. Under current Colorado law, anyone of any age caught possessing an ounce or less of marijuana can be charged with a Class 2 petty offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100.However, the Legislature’s staff has told lawmakers that Amendment 44 would also void another aspect of the state’s current drug law against possessing small amounts of marijuana: a prohibition that also makes it a “possession” offense to transfer up to 1 ounce to another person.That’s a petty offense now, also punishable by a $100 fine, as long as there is no payment or other compensation for that marijuana transfer.“This initiative was only intended to address the possession of marijuana by adults,” Tvert told state lawmakers on the Legislative Council last week.“We do not believe that the use or possession of marijuana by minors, especially by individuals under the age of 18, should be legal,” Tvert said at a Thursday hearing on language legislative staffers had drafted for the Amendment 44 section of the voters’ guide.Tvert said SAFER would propose that next year’s Legislature adopt a bill “to cure this matter” if voters approve Amendment 44 in November.Tvert said last week that SAFER is asking lawmakers to make it a $100 fine for the noncompensated transfer of less than an ounce of marijuana to 18- 19- or 20-year-olds, and a $200 fine to give marijuana to 15-, 16- or 17-year-olds.Tvert said Monday that initiative proponents discovered after last week’s Legislative Council meeting that another section of Colorado law makes it a Class 4 felony — punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 — to aid or encourage a child under age 18 to violate any federal or state law.At the very least, Tvert suggested, the voters’ guide language should be rewritten to say that Amendment 44 would make it legal to transfer, without compensation, small amounts of marijuana to individuals “18 years of age or older,” Tvert said Monday.Giving any amount of marijuana to an individual under age 15 is now — and under Amendment 44, would continue to be — a Class 4 felony crime.Tvert noted that the measure also would keep it a petty offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100, for anyone under age 21 to possess marijuana, if Amendment 44 passes. Note: Amendment 44 proponent disputes bluebook analysis. Newshawk: Global_WarmingSource: Daily Reporter-Herald (CO)Author: John Fryar, The Daily Reporter-Herald Published: September 12, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Daily Reporter-HeraldContact: news reporter-herald.comWebsite: http://www.reporterherald.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Safer Coloradohttp://www.safercolorado.org/DEA Should Butt Out of State Ballot Debate http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22122.shtmlState By State Legalization Destined for Chaoshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22112.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by Had Enough on September 13, 2006 at 05:21:55 PT
OverwhelmSam #2
Good post.Thanks for the efforts. We need more info just like that.Voters need to get out and register and vote. This will help inspire some, reinforce others.Let’s get off our ass and jam!!!
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Comment #4 posted by global_warming on September 13, 2006 at 00:51:08 PT
some more news from Colorada
http://tinyurl.com/fe433Supporters of pot initiative say voter guide misleadingBy The Associated PressDENVER | Supporters of an initiative that would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana said Sept. 12 they will ask a judge to block the state from distributing a voters guide, claiming it is misleading.Mason Tvert, campaign director for Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, said the voter guide incorrectly claims the initiative would allow people to transfer up to one ounce of marijuana to juveniles 15 and older as long as there is no compensation. The voter guide notes that possession for people under 21 would still be illegal.andhttp://www.informationliberation.com/?id=15633DEA Criticized For Financing Opposition To Colorado Marijuana InitiativeDenver, CO: Colorado media outlets are roundly criticizing an effort by federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials to spend taxpayers' dollars and use paid staff time to campaign against Amendment 44, "the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative."Correspondences from DEA officials seeking to hire a professional campaign manager to organize opposition to the initiative were cited by several Colorado media sources, including the Boulder Daily Camera and the Associated Press, on Monday.Sponsored by Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), Amendment 44 would revise state statutes to make the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis legal in Colorado for anyone age 21 or older. Last year, voters in Denver passed a similar municipal initiative by 54 percent.Several Colorado papers, including the Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News, and the Aurora Daily Sun and Sentinel, immediately opined against the DEA's tactics, warning that taxpayers' funds should not be used to influence local elections. "Federal agencies ... have no business using their muscle to influence state ballot races," opined the Rocky Mountain News. "That's why we hope the DEA will abandon this campaign ­ and that next year, Congress will enact legislation that would prevent any federal agency from pursuing this sort of mischief."While federal law prohibits using public resources to influence local partisan activities, US government officials are not forbidden from campaigning on non-partisan political issues. By contrast, Colorado law forbids state employees from using state resources to advocate for or against any political activity.For more information, please visit: saferchoice.org.
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on September 12, 2006 at 18:18:00 PT
Don't Mess With Mason!
Tvert, a spokesman for Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, announced Monday that SAFER intends to go to court to try to postpone production of the voters’ guides because of the inaccurate analysis his organization contends the booklet gives for Amendment 44.Why does the Legislature's "ballot-information booklet" say that it would be legal to give cannabis to anyone ages 15-20? Exactly who inserted that language? Is this just another tactic to scare voters and get SAFER to have to spend more money in court? If so it will backfire because Mason Tvert is a master at playing the media and exposing liars and hypocrites. The battle is on!THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Association Of Professors Defending BYU's Jones:
http://kutv.com/local/local_story_255101109.htmlTheory that U.S. orchestrated Sept. 11 attacks 'not absurd': Venezuela:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/WarOnTerrorism/2006/09/12/1830169-ap.htmlLetter from Ground Zero: Emotional Intelligence and 9/11 Truth:
http://mujca.com/9/11 whistleblowers ignored, retaliated against:
http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/09/11/911-whistleblowers-ignored-retaliated-against/With 9/11 Film, Kean Finds Tough Critic in Hamilton:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/11/AR2006091101084.htmlIf you liked this 9-11; you’ll Love the next:
http://www.uruknet.com/?p=m26590&hd=0&size=1&l=eThe Logical Reconstruction of Reality: A Reply to Time: 
http://mujca.com/logical.htm
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on September 12, 2006 at 15:08:28 PT
A Guide To Voter Registration by State
Times running out to register. Think your vote doesn't count? Read this:http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4806.html
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 12, 2006 at 13:23:12 PT
News Article About Ed Rosenthal
Ed Rosenthal and Richard Watts to Hold Sept. 13th Press Conference*** September 12, 2006 Federal Government Attempting to Re-Indict Medical Cannabis Providers Ed Rosenthal and Richard Watts will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, September 13th at 12pm outside of 450 Golden Gate Ave. in San Francisco, following their 10:00am status hearing inside of the Federal Building. The U.S. Attorney's office, represented by Asst. U.S. Attorney George Bevan Jr., is attempting to re-indict medical cannabis guru Ed Rosenthal and Richard Watts, son of noted philosopher Alan Watts, for growing and providing medicinal marijuana. Two people were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury related to this case last month, and they both invoked their constitutional rights and refused to testify. (ASA's previous coverage of the new grand jury) Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan reportedly ordered them to appear again on September 14th at 10am, at which time the government may charge them with civil contempt or seek indictments against them. Complete Article: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/09/12/18308422.php
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