MARIJUANA POSSESSION

Denver voters faced another question of national interest on Tuesday:
Should possession of small amounts of marijuana be legal for those
age 21 and older?

Many Americans have become weary of the extremes of the nation's drug
war, which fills jails and prisons with nonviolent offenders at a huge
cost to taxpayers. Voters have shown an increasing tolerance for
marijuana, approving of its medicinal uses in Nevada and other states
and ordering municipal police forces in Seattle, Oakland and some
college towns to make possession of the drug their lowest law-
enforcement priority. Advertisement

Residents of the Mile High City continued this trend, with 54 percent
of voters supporting the legalization of marijuana possession and 46
percent opposing it. They endorsed the idea that recreational pot
smokers do not pose a threat to public safety.

Colorado authorities promptly announced their intention to ignore the
collective will of the state's largest city. Because the ballot
question creates only a city ordinance, Attorney General John Suthers
said Denver police would still go after pot smokers by bringing
charges under state law. Mr. Suthers labeled the vote "unconstructive"
and was backed up by Denver's mayor and city attorney.

When did majority votes that limit the power of the government cease
to count in this country? But perhaps Mr. Suthers was correct in his
assessment. It would be much more constructive for voters to bounce
Mr. Suthers and Denver leaders from office at the earliest
opportunity.