A second group looking to legalize marijuana in the state of Colorado stepped forward this week and have announced they are close to finalizing their initiative’s language and will submit it to the Secretary of State of Colorado in the next few business days. They are organizing now for a petition and signature drive for their initiative starting in February.
The activists behind both initiatives and the larger question of legalization are the similar for both groups, where they differ is the details. The “Like Alcohol” group is seeking a well-regulated industry for cannabis, and the “Legalize 2012″ group fears over-regulation of a legal cannabis industry.
In the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol initiative, the Legalize 2012 group points out that you can posses as much alcohol as you want without committing a crime. The initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol would make possession of up to an ounce of marijuana legal for adults. More than that would constitute a criminal penalty.
The Legalize 2012 group says it is none of the states concern how much marijuana any one person has. The Legalize 2012 initiative would still limit legal marijuana possession to adults.
They have a large task in front of them, without any major legal backers, the group is counting on a strong grass-roots movement to collect at least 100,000 signatures in February, something the group says they are confident they can produce. You need about 80,000 signatures to get on the ballot, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol turned in 160,000 signatures last week, twice as many as they needed, ensuring themselves a spot on the ballot, although we are still waiting for the Secretary of State to confirm at least 80,000 of those valid. We will undoubtedly be reporting on the efforts of both these groups this year as they work towards the November election.
External Links:
http://coloradoindependent.com/109860/second-colorado-marijuana-legalization-initiative-moving-forward
