LEADVILLE STANDS STILL ON ITS POT DECRIMINALIZATION

Locals Asked City Gov't To Consider Ballot Initiative In
January

LEADVILLE - Leadville's city council didn't approve putting marijuana
decriminalization on its November ballot last week despite public
interest in the initiative.

Leadville's council has been considering decriminalization since a
group of Leadville residents asked it to think about the matter at a
January city council meeting -they requested the measure go to a vote
of the people.

According to Leadville city clerk Joe Swyers, council members didn't
even vote on the matter last week because "there wasn't a second to
the motion." No decision was made.

"If city council wants to re-address the issue, it's up to them,"
Swyers added.

Leadville residents do have the ability to petition in order to get an
item placed on the ballot - Swyers said no petition has been submitted
to the city yet, but there has been interest.

Swyers said the deadline for anything going on the November ballot
must be turned into the county clerk by Sept. 3. So, the last chance
for Leadville's council to put the question on the ballot would at the
Aug. 17 city meeting. He also said council members do not seem to be
in support of decriminalization.

If an initiative is brought to Leadville with a petition bearing the
appropriate amount of signatures, it will go on the ballot "one way or
another," Swyers added.

Leadville's consideration of decriminalization comes on the heals of a
similar action in Breckenridge - its decriminalization became official
Jan. 1. Breck's town code no longer criminalizes adult personal
possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana for private use.

The Breckenridge Town Council voted to put marijuana decriminalization
on the ballot last year, and the final vote in November 2009 resulted
in more than 70 percent in favor of decriminalization. Breckenridge
was also the first Summit County town to draft a set of regulations
for medical marijuana dispensaries.