MyFox Colorado | Group Wants Pot Allowed in Airport Smoking Lounges
DENVER (MyFOXColorado.com) - One pro-marijuana group is calling on the government to allow marijuana in smoking lounges at airports across the country.

Cigarette smoking at Denver International Airport and other airports across the country is restricted to smoking lounges.

Members of the Denver-based organization Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) will ask the government Tuesday to allow pot in airport smoking lounges.

The group says in a press release that the idea will address the growing number of in-flight problems involving drunk and disorderly passengers. Members claim marijuana is a better alternative to alcohol to help more fliers relax and deal with the anxiety of air travel.

Denver voters approved a measure that made possession of one ounce or less of marijuana in the city legal. That happened almost three years ago. It was the first city in the nation to pass such a law.

Possession of marijuana remains illegal under Colorado state law as well as federal law. Denver city attorneys can still use state and federal law to prosecute marijuana possession cases in the city.

Would a marijuana smoking lounge at the airport help me be more comfortable cramming my super-size body into those gymnast-sized seats?

MyFox Colorado | Denver’s Marijuana Policy Under Review
DENVER — Three times since 2005 Denver voters have said they don’t want people arrested or prosecuted for carrying less than an ounce of marijuana.

Wednesday, we learned police and prosecutors have not changed their policies. But that might be changing.

The Marijuana Policy Review Panel is charged with implementing the city’s latest marijuna ordinance. On Wednesday, it introduced a resolution recommending the city attorney’s office no longer seek conviction for petty marijuana cases.

The panel met at the Denver City and County building trying to find out why hundreds have been arrested since voters passed the three laws starting in 2005.

Since 2004 through last year, arrests have continually climbed. This, even though voters said starting in 2005, then again in 2006 and 2007, they wanted them to drop completely.

Denver modeled its lowest law enforcement policy after Seattle–which had 125 arrests in 2006. That compares to Denver’s which is estimated to be about 1,400 arrests.

The panel will vote on the resolution at its next meeting.

It’s tough for the drug warriors to give up, even when the people want them to. They’re addicted to Drug War. Let’s hope our allies are successful in forcing Denver to obey the will of the people.

And stay tuned next week; we’ll be speaking with Mason Tvert of SAFER in Denver, who spearheaded the three initiatives and sits on the Marijuana Policy Review Panel.