MARIJUANA-FINE PROCESS EASED FOR ADULTS

Adults cited for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana in Denver
will no longer have to appear in court under a rule adopted by the
city attorney.

Now citations may be paid through the mail, Denver Assistant City
Attorney Vincent DiCroce announced during the Denver Marijuana Policy
Review Panel meeting Wednesday.

Also, the panel voted 5-4 to recommend in its first report to the City
Council that the city attorney stop prosecuting the simple adult
marijuana-possession cases altogether.

The panel was created when Denver voters approved a measure to make
adult marijuana possession the city's "lowest law-enforcement
priority." It is made of up representatives from law enforcement, city
officials, marijuana proponents and members of the legal community.

Denver panelist Mason Tvert said the move to allow mailing the fines
was a step in the right direction but does not go far enough.

"Denver voters have made it clear on multiple occasions that they do
not want adults to be cited, fined or punished in any way for using a
less harmful drug than alcohol," Tvert said.