BALLOT ISSUE WOULDN'T CHANGE STATE CHARGES

Denver Pot Vote Mostly Symbolic

There are grass-roots organizations and then there are grass-roots
organizations, like the one that wants Denver to allow adults to possess
less than an ounce of marijuana.

The November ballot initiative is mostly symbolic: If voters agree to get
rid of the city ordinance making possession a crime, police would charge
violators under state laws, which is what they do anyhow.

Members of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, which gathered
signatures to put the issue on the ballot, maintained at a news conference
Thursday that marijuana is much less of a societal problem than alcohol.

"We are not encouraging the use of marijuana," said Mason Tvert, the
group's executive director. "We are defending the right of every adult in
this city to make a rational choice about how they choose to relax and
recreate."

It still would be illegal to grow or distribute marijuana, or drive under
its influence, Tvert added.

Denver police denounced the measure, which comes on the heels of two
controversial citizen-initiated Denver ballot issues, one that would have
banned circuses featuring exotic animals and another that would have
required the city to promote peace and tranquility.

Both attracted international attention and failed.

"If it weren't for these initiatives, it might be kind of dry down here,"
Denver City Councilman Doug Linkhart said.

He predicted a "fun and interesting" debate - which Tvert said is part of
the goal.

"Our campaign, whether we win or lose in November, will engage the citizens
of Denver in a much-needed dialogue," Tvert said.

The 23-year-old Denver resident declined to say he if smoked pot, saying he
would follow President Bush's lead about remaining mum on questions
regarding the ingestion of illegal substances.

The City Council will discuss the initiative and take testimony at a public
hearing this month, Linkhart said, but can't stop the group. That's because
backers collected enough valid signatures to put it on the ballot.

At their news conference, some SAFER members held signs with statistics to
bolster their contention that alcohol, not marijuana, is the more dangerous.

Denver police later offered competing studies that show marijuana is a
bigger problem.

Attorney Rob Corry, who supports the measure and attended the news
conference, denounced laws making possession of less than an ounce of pot a
crime.

"It's pointless. It's a waste of money," said Corry, a defense attorney.
"And most cops and prosecutors - off the record - would agree."

Don't count Denver police Division Chief Dave Fisher in that group.

"We already have a problem with drug users coming from the suburbs to
purchase drugs in Denver, and it's ruining the fabric of our
neighborhoods," the officer said.

Fisher said he fears that if the measure passes, it will bring more people
to Denver who don't understand that police can still bust them for
possession of less than an ounce.