cannabisnews.com: PitCo High on Pot Initiative










  PitCo High on Pot Initiative

Posted by CN Staff on September 28, 2006 at 08:01:48 PT
By Catherine Lutz, Managing Editor 
Source: Aspen Daily News 

Colorado -- The hot-button issues of legalizing marijuana and recognizing the rights of same-sex partners drew the unanimous support of Pitkin County commissioners on Wednesday. With virtually no comments during its regular meeting, the commissioners unanimously passed resolutions on six state ballot issues coming before voters Nov. 7, including Amendment 44, which legalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults.
The commissioners had debated the question at length at a work session earlier this month, said chair Mick Ireland. At that time there was some hesitation about what kind of message the board's endorsement would send to kids."But we're not convinced that legalizing something for adults necessarily means that children will follow," said Ireland. The commissioners' resolution supporting Amendment 44 says "it strikes an appropriate balance between public safety and individual choice that persons 21 years of age or older who can legally possess and consume alcohol should be able to choose to legally possess and consume small quantities of marijuana in non-public places." That's basically the argument of the group that successfully petitioned to put the initiative on the ballot. Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, or SAFER, argues that marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol, and that booze is actually much more harmful than pot. But the "overriding issue" for the commissioners, said Ireland, "is the massive diversion of resources" used in enforcing existing drug laws. He and the other commissioners are concerned that the state's prison system -- which houses many petty drug offenders -- severely taxes the prison system. "The consequences (of keeping pot completely illegal) are worse than the benefits," said Commissioner Jack Hatfield. Commissioner Patti Clapper, who said she is neither condoning drug use nor smoking, said that she supported the resolution because having pot use on one's record can be such a hassle later in life. Denver voters passed a similar initiative last year, and decriminalization efforts are or have been on ballots in 11 states. Even if Amendment 44 passes, however, adult possession of marijuana would be illegal under federal law. Complete Article: http://www.aspendailynews.com/article_16136Newshawk: Paul Armentano Source: Aspen Daily News (CO)Author: Catherine Lutz, Managing EditorPublished: September 27, 2006Copyright: 2006 Aspen Daily NewsContact: http://tinyurl.com/g5z62Website: http://www.aspendailynews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Safer Choicehttp://www.saferchoice.org/Safer Coloradohttp://www.safercolorado.org/CSU: Pro-Pot Flyer Flap Overblownhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22209.shtmlTop Lawman Debates Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22208.shtmlPot Initiative Booster Tvert: Reach for Your Beerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22207.shtml

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Comment #16 posted by FoM on September 30, 2006 at 06:38:07 PT
Thanks The GCW
Keep up the good work.
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Comment #15 posted by The GCW on September 30, 2006 at 06:21:58 PT
US CO: LTE: Be thankful for your pot 
Pubdate: Fri. 29 Sept. 2006Source: Aspen Daily News (CO) US CO: LTE: Be thankful for your pot
 Editor: A majority of high-country citizens agree with The Aspen Daily News endorsement (PitCo High On Pot Initiative, Sept. 28, 2006) of Amendment 44. Another reason to re-legalize cannabis (kaneh bosm/marijuana) that doesn't get mentioned is because it is Biblically correct since Christ God Our Father, indicates He created all the seed-bearing plants saying they are all good, on literally the very first page (see Genesis 1:11-12, 29-30). The only Biblical restriction place on cannabis is that it be accepted with thankfulness (see 1 Timothy 4:1-5). It's time to stop caging humans for using what God says is good. Stan White Dillon Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1302/a03.html?266176 Viewed at: http://www.aspendailynews.com/article_16168
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on September 29, 2006 at 21:28:11 PT
Comment 13
Wow!
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 29, 2006 at 20:58:36 PT
LTE By Mason Tvert
Thanks for Marijuana ArticleSeptember 29, 2006Editor: Thank you for covering the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners endorsement of Amendment 44, an initiative which would make the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana legal for adults in Colorado. It is great that your readers were informed about this important development. Assuming this will not be the last time you cover this issue, I just wanted to clarify one point you made in the article. You said, "Even if Amendment 44 passes, however, adult possession of marijuana would be illegal under federal law." While it is true that marijuana possession would technically remain illegal under federal law if Amendment 44 passes, the federal government does not arrest people for marijuana possession. According to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, who was formerly a U.S. Attorney, the federal government does not handle marijuana cases involving less than 100 plants. It is simply not worth investing federal resources in marijuana possession cases, which would have to be brought to federal court. I hope you appreciate the importance of this distinction. When people in favor of changing marijuana laws see a statement like, "Marijuana possession will still be illegal under federal law," they may conclude voting for Amendment 44 is useless. In fact, passage of Amendment 44 would eliminate any chance of arrest on the state or federal level. Mason Tvert
 Denver Copyright: 2006 Aspen Daily Newshttp://www.aspendailynews.com/article_16169
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Comment #12 posted by mayan on September 29, 2006 at 03:49:08 PT
jeremy
Jesse Ventura said he just might run for President if Kinky wins. I really,really hope Kinky wins. I hope you consider supporting him!Friedman, Ventura seek support at Perry's alma mater:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15623885.htm
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Comment #11 posted by The GCW on September 28, 2006 at 19:34:08 PT
jeremy
Another thing You can do is write letters to the Editors of Colorado newspapers...Get it off Your chest and help the movement.The Media Awareness Project is another good place to find Colorado newspaper articles to comment on.FoM, has posted many Colorado articles lately and there will more to come.They make it pretty easy; You find a story and at the top is an area to click, "contact" and send Your letter...http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/They also have a good search engine where You can bring up Colorado articles only...Good luck; the movement needs everyones help.Also, remember Nevada has a similar ballot question...Keep in mind, some people have more money than time and can send $ or do both... helping organizations that are working hard for credible drug law reform.Don't forget to thank God for cannabis / hemp / kaneh bosm / the tree of life.The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #10 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 28, 2006 at 18:58:42 PT
What Can Be Done
Jeremy, there is a pro-legalization independent candidate running for governor of Texas in the upcoming election. Perhaps you've heard of Kinky Friedman? http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/And here's a great article about LEAP: http://wapurl.co.uk/?6MOGANPI found that article on Fark - there's a lively discussion going about it, for those of you who like reading that sort of thing: http://wapurl.co.uk/?RS8A25P
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on September 28, 2006 at 18:26:41 PT
Mayan
That Coast Guard article is so scary. When will it stop?
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Comment #8 posted by mayan on September 28, 2006 at 18:17:25 PT
Unrelated
Great Lakes machine guns raise ire in Canada: U.S. Coast Guard conducting live-ammunition training drills:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060928.wlakes28/BNStory/National/homeHmmm, to keep the "terrorists" out, or keep the fleeing citizens in? Can't let potential soldiers escape! How would we be able to invade Iran?THE WAY OUT...Extended version of interview w/ Controlled Demo Expert Danny Jowenko confirming that Building 7 was brought down on purpose (video):
http://911blogger.com/node/323125 Reasons Why "White Collar Terrorists" Are To Blame for 9-11, "America's New War," and the Impending World War III:
http://www.tetrahedron.org/articles/apocalypse/25_reasons.html
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 28, 2006 at 15:51:04 PT
Jeremy
I removed the extra comment. I wanted to mention you don't have to use your email address. It was only needed for registration. 
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Comment #6 posted by freewillks on September 28, 2006 at 15:45:02 PT

Jeremy
You must also be 18 years of age or older and live in the state of Colorado to vote on Ammendment 44. to learn more follow the link
http://www.safercolorado.org
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Comment #4 posted by jeremy on September 28, 2006 at 15:27:07 PT:

Amendment 44
what is it exactly
if it is, what i think it is, then that is the best news i have ever heard. me myself am from Co. But now i live in Texas. Can i vote for these Amendment from where i live now.If not, what can i do to make a differance here? I've been arrested 2 times for possossion of these natural herb.
while people are drinking there selfs retarted legaly. I don't. think its right. please give me some feed back.
http://www.norml.com
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Comment #3 posted by Wayne on September 28, 2006 at 14:21:52 PT

Cory Maye gets new trial
I don't know how many of you have seen this yet, this is the first I've seen of it. Cory Maye's death sentence was thrown out and now he's getting a retrial. I would LOVE to see some real media coverage of this, this was nothing but a pure tragedy from start to finish.See more at Drug WarRant...
Cory Maye off death row
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Comment #2 posted by Universer on September 28, 2006 at 11:42:52 PT:

Enough of the clever headlines.
First, this is great. Congrats to Pitkin County, its commissioners and its voters.But I have reached my tipping point regarding all these clever (but surreptitiously demonizing) headlines that incorporate "high" or "up in smoke" or "goes to pot," et cetera."PitCo High On Marijuana...Initiative""Denver: The Mile-High City""Pot Measure Up In Smoke"And so on.Golly, that's clever.It's also insulting. It gives the casual reader, which most people are, by necessity or by intellectual deficiency, the immediate idea that the person(s) being referred to is/are just a bunch of wacky giggly potheads, and insert Cheech & Chong / Dave Chappelle-inspired stereotype here.Sick of it.Intellectual cannabists, unite!
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Comment #1 posted by mayan on September 28, 2006 at 08:21:05 PT

WASTE
But the "overriding issue" for the commissioners, said Ireland, "is the massive diversion of resources" used in enforcing existing drug laws. He and the other commissioners are concerned that the state's prison system -- which houses many petty drug offenders -- severely taxes the prison system.There you have it! I imagine almost all of those petty drug offenders have been caged for CANNABIS! The citizenry is finally realizing that cannabis prohibition is responsible for a huge waste of resources, and boy are they pissed! WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK!!! Cannabis prohibition is dead. Now we just have to go throught the formalities.OCTOBER 5th,2006 - MASS DAY OF RESISTANCE: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=200609271420523009/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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