DECRIMINALIZATION OF POT NO CLOSER TO REALITY IN LEADVILLE

Rumors Persist, City Recorder Hasn't Seen A Petition To Put The Issue
On The November Ballot

LEADVILLE - Though it seems there's still public interest in putting
marijuana decriminalization on the November ballot, Leadville city
clerk Joe Swyers hasn't seen solid evidence.

"Until something shows up on my desk, there's nothing out there other
than rumors," Swyers said. "They have to have the petition signed off
by me before they start collecting signatures. I haven't seen such a
form."

Because Leadville's city council didn't approve putting marijuana
decriminalization on its November ballot in February, Leadville
residents must now create a petition to get the item placed on the
ballot.

Swyers added that no petition has been submitted to the city yet, but
there has been interest.

"Anybody who wants to get a ballot issues needs to get cracking," he
said.

That's because Swyers must have it certified and to the county clerk
and recorder by Sept. 3. To make that possible, city council needs to
act on the petition by the end of August. Therefore, the petition
would need to be into Swyers by mid-August.

Public interest in decriminalization for Leadville comes on the heels
of a similar action in Breckenridge - its decriminalization became
official Jan. 1. The Town of Breckenridge's 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.