FIGHT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA TARGETS COLORADO

Colorado Is in for a Drug War.

Sam Kamin, a professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of
Law, says Colorado will be the next battleground in the national
conflict over marijuana legalization. His statement comes following
local votes on medical-marijuana bans throughout Colorado and the
defeat of California Proposition 19, which would have legalized
marijuana for adults older than 21.

"California had its chance," said Kamin. "Colorado is the next obvious
choice."

The various local votes highlighted how divisive the issue is in
Colorado, with some municipalities enacting bans and others allowing
medical marijuana dispensaries to operate or continue operating.

Loveland voters overwhelmingly struck down a measure that would have
kept medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the city. Referred
Measure 2C failed, with just over 62 percent voting against it.
Broomfield County voters, too, banned the sale of medical marijuana.
In Douglas County, voters said no to dispensaries in unincorporated
areas. A number of smaller towns, including Ramah, Lone Tree, Castle
Pines and Jamestown, also voted against medical marijuana sales.

A proposal to ban dispensaries in unincorporated areas of El Paso
County failed by less than 1 percent, according to unofficial results.
Votes went weed's way in the counties of Alamosa, Costilla, Eagle,
Garfield and Park as well as the towns of Fraser and Minturn.

Brian Vicente, executive director of the drug policy advocacy group
Sensible Colorado, called the pro-marijuana votes "compassionate."

"With these votes, these communities have helped ensure that their
neighbors have safe, community-based access to the medicine they
need," said Vicente.

Pueblo took another option, enacting a 4.3 percent sales tax on
medical marijuana that is expected to generate $500,000 in revenue in
its first year.