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.