From The Denver Post, "Denver voters are deciding on an initiative that says marijuana should be the city's 'lowest law-enforcement priority.' To find out how the law works, Denver can look to Seattle, where an 11- member panel began reviewing marijuana incidents in 2003 to see whether police and prosecutors were pursuing cases against adults who possessed small amounts of marijuana...
"Although the committee cannot agree on why the numbers of marijuana arrests and prosecutions are down in Seattle, city officials have sent a letter to Denver endorsing the law as safe, effective and inexpensive. The Seattle group also found no evidence of an increase in marijuana use among young people, crime or adverse effects on public health...
"In 2004, Seattle police officers were told during roll call that marijuana incidents would be their lowest priority. But Denver police Sgt. Ernie Martinez says he's not going to direct officers to stop arresting drug users. 'Our official response is to continue to enforce marijuana laws,' Martinez said. 'It's still illegal in the state statues and federal statutes.' That philosophy is the reason why marijuana proponents felt the need to draft an initiative in Denver."
Category: Denver November 2007 Election
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