COUNCIL HOLDS NOSE, PUTS POT ON NOV. BALLOT

Plan Would Make Small Amounts the 'Lowest' Priority

Voters will decide this fall on a ballot initiative that would make
possession of small amounts of marijuana the "lowest law enforcement
priority" of Denver police, the City Council decided Monday night.

Most council members oppose the measure, but a pro-marijuana group
forced their hand after gathering enough signatures to put it to a vote.

"A number of us will be voting to put something on the ballot we
won't be supporting ourselves," said Councilwoman Jeanne Robb.

Earlier this month the council considered enacting the ordinance,
rather than referring it to voters, as part of a legal maneuver to
get it thrown out by the courts. Council members decided not to do
that, but they say the initiative, if approved by voters, still could
be overturned by a judge.

The group SAFER, sponsors of the ballot initiative, also authored a
successful 2005 ballot initiative that legalized the possession of
small amounts of marijuana by adults in Denver. State law, however,
still prohibits marijuana use, and Denver police continue to arrest
people for possession.

SAFER, which turned in thousands of signatures to get a spot on the
November ballot, hopes the proposed ordinance will change that.

"We're pleased it's going to the voters," said Mason Tvert, director of SAFER.

City officials were stunned by the success of the 2005 initiative and
they've vowed to fight SAFER's latest effort. Mayor John Hickenlooper
and most other elected officials are expected to campaign against the proposal.

"I want to issue a challenge to those pushing this initiative," said
council President Michael Hancock. "I hope you'll go and spend time
with the children abandoned and left behind by drug-addicted parents.
I guarantee you'll find marijuana is a gateway drug to harsher addictions."

That brought a sharp response from Tvert, who spoke to reporters
outside council chambers. He accused council members and Hickenlooper
of hypocrisy, since most of them drink.

"Alcohol contributes more to death and destruction than any other
substance," said Tvert. "They are alcohol users opposed to people
using a different drug."

SAFER is sponsoring the initiative out of frustration, Tvert said.
The group says that arrests for marijuana possession have risen in
Denver since 2005, even though voters changed local law.

"Why are we issuing citations to adults using a drug less harmful
than alcohol?" asked Tvert. "We're forced to run this initiative
because they don't respect the will of the people."

Several council members said they doubted the initiative would be
upheld by the courts, even if it is approved by voters. Since
Colorado marijuana law hasn't changed, Denver would still have to
enforce the state prohibition, they said.

"We don't want to subvert the will of the voters, but there are
questionable legal grounds for this initiative," said Councilman Doug Linkhart.

What's Next for the Pot Initiative?

Denver City Council will hold a public hearing on the measure at 5:30
p.m. Monday.

Denver voters will consider the proposal in November.