cannabisnews.com: CO Justice Commission Suggests Lighter Penalties
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CO Justice Commission Suggests Lighter Penalties
Posted by CN Staff on November 14, 2009 at 05:43:53 PT
By David Olinger, The Denver Post
Source: Denver Post
Denver, CO -- A commission of Colorado criminal justice leaders voted Friday to recommend reduced penalties for possessing marijuana and other illegal drugs.If Colorado legislators adopt the recommendations, possessing up to 4 ounces of marijuana would become a petty offense instead of a criminal misdemeanor, and possessing 8 to 16 ounces would become a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice also favored lower-level felony charges for possessing a few grams of cocaine or methamphetamine and reducing the charge for illegally possessing various prescription drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor. It excepted possession of "date-rape" drugs, which would remain a felony.The commission is weighing whether to recommend longer jail sentences for drunken drivers convicted of a second or third offense. Some commission members said a Denver Post series on the inconsistent sentencing of persistent drunken drivers led them to favor legislative changes, but no recommendation was made Friday.The commission was created two years ago to study criminal sentences in Colorado and recommend changes to a legislature struggling with the growing costs of incarceration.The proposal to reduce penalties for possessing marijuana drew broad support from a commission represented by top law enforcement officials as well as appointees from the legislature and the public defender's office. Of eighteen voting members, 13 supported the proposal, four said they could live with it, and one opposed it.Some worried that the proposed criminal changes would get intertwined with an anticipated legislative debate about the proliferation of medical-marijuana clinics across the state."Are we going to be blurring issues if this is addressed?" asked Department of Public Safety executive director Peter Weir."I think we should move forward," Attorney General John Suthers replied. "Marijuana penalties should be reduced, regardless of what happens" with the clinics. Snipped   Complete Article: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13785115Source: Denver Post (CO)Author: David Olinger, The Denver Post Published: November 14, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Denver Post CorpWebsite: http://www.denverpost.com/Contact: openforum denverpost.comCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on November 14, 2009 at 08:43:55 PT
this is big
I think this is a HUGE development. It's definitely tied to medical marijuana!! Colorado is right on the edge of "critical mass". Everyone knows how silly the cannabis laws are. Denial can only last so long. Look at this!!!"I think we should move forward," Attorney General John Suthers replied. "Marijuana penalties should be reduced, regardless of what happens" with the clinics.That's unbelievable, how many attorney generals in the US would make the statement "marijuana penalties should be reduced'. I'd guess one out of 50.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on November 14, 2009 at 07:08:30 PT
This is good news of a possible improvement.
This is the first time I've heard of an Attorney General saying something like this."Attorney General John Suthers replied. "Marijuana penalties should be reduced, regardless of what happens""
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 14, 2009 at 05:44:35 PT
Go Colorado!
I think this is really good news.
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