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The hot-button issues of legalizing marijuana and recognizing the rights of same-sex partners drew the unanimous support of Pitkin County commissioners on Wednesday.
With virtually no comments during its regular meeting, the commissioners unanimously passed resolutions on six state ballot issues coming before voters Nov. 7, including Amendment 44, which legalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults. The commissioners had debated the question at length at a work session earlier this month, said chair Mick Ireland. At that time there was some hesitation about what kind of message the board's endorsement would send to kids.
"But we're not convinced that legalizing something for adults necessarily means that children will follow," said Ireland.
The commissioners' resolution supporting Amendment 44 says "it strikes an appropriate balance between public safety and individual choice that persons 21 years of age or older who can legally possess and consume alcohol should be able to choose to legally possess and consume small quantities of marijuana in non-public places."
That's basically the argument of the group that successfully petitioned to put the initiative on the ballot. Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, or SAFER, argues that marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol, and that booze is actually much more harmful than pot.
But the "overriding issue" for the commissioners, said Ireland, "is the massive diversion of resources" used in enforcing existing drug laws. He and the other commissioners are concerned that the state's prison system -- which houses many petty drug offenders -- severely taxes the prison system.
"The consequences ( of keeping pot completely illegal ) are worse than the benefits," said Commissioner Jack Hatfield.
Commissioner Patti Clapper, who said she is neither condoning drug use nor smoking, said that she supported the resolution because having pot use on one's record can be such a hassle later in life.
Denver voters passed a similar initiative last year, and decriminalization efforts are or have been on ballots in 11 states. Even if Amendment 44 passes, however, adult possession of marijuana would be illegal under federal law.
The commissioners also supported Referendum I, which would establish legal domestic partnerships. Its purpose is to give same-sex couples the same rights and protections as married couples -- such as inheritance rights, joint insurance coverage, and hospital visitation - -- "all the benefits of marriage except the expensive wedding ceremony," said Ireland.
Another ballot measure, Amendment 43, would change the Colorado constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The commissioners passed a resolution in opposition to that.
Other statewide issues that the commissioners took a stand on were:
* support of Amendment 42, which would raise the minimum wage to $6.85 per hour.
The Aspen City Council took a position last month in favor of Referendum I supporting same-sex partnerships, and opposed Amendment 38, the citizen petition initiative. At a recent council meeting, elected officials affirmed their opposition to term limits for judges.
Newshawk: Stoner4Life - 420 Magazine
Source: Aspen Daily News
Pubdate: Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Author: Catherine Lutz
Copyright: 2006 Aspen Daily News
Contact: https://www.aspendailynews.com/contact_us/form.htm
Website: Aspen Daily News | Aspen Colorado's #1 News Source
With virtually no comments during its regular meeting, the commissioners unanimously passed resolutions on six state ballot issues coming before voters Nov. 7, including Amendment 44, which legalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults. The commissioners had debated the question at length at a work session earlier this month, said chair Mick Ireland. At that time there was some hesitation about what kind of message the board's endorsement would send to kids.
"But we're not convinced that legalizing something for adults necessarily means that children will follow," said Ireland.
The commissioners' resolution supporting Amendment 44 says "it strikes an appropriate balance between public safety and individual choice that persons 21 years of age or older who can legally possess and consume alcohol should be able to choose to legally possess and consume small quantities of marijuana in non-public places."
That's basically the argument of the group that successfully petitioned to put the initiative on the ballot. Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, or SAFER, argues that marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol, and that booze is actually much more harmful than pot.
But the "overriding issue" for the commissioners, said Ireland, "is the massive diversion of resources" used in enforcing existing drug laws. He and the other commissioners are concerned that the state's prison system -- which houses many petty drug offenders -- severely taxes the prison system.
"The consequences ( of keeping pot completely illegal ) are worse than the benefits," said Commissioner Jack Hatfield.
Commissioner Patti Clapper, who said she is neither condoning drug use nor smoking, said that she supported the resolution because having pot use on one's record can be such a hassle later in life.
Denver voters passed a similar initiative last year, and decriminalization efforts are or have been on ballots in 11 states. Even if Amendment 44 passes, however, adult possession of marijuana would be illegal under federal law.
The commissioners also supported Referendum I, which would establish legal domestic partnerships. Its purpose is to give same-sex couples the same rights and protections as married couples -- such as inheritance rights, joint insurance coverage, and hospital visitation - -- "all the benefits of marriage except the expensive wedding ceremony," said Ireland.
Another ballot measure, Amendment 43, would change the Colorado constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The commissioners passed a resolution in opposition to that.
Other statewide issues that the commissioners took a stand on were:
* support of Amendment 42, which would raise the minimum wage to $6.85 per hour.
The Aspen City Council took a position last month in favor of Referendum I supporting same-sex partnerships, and opposed Amendment 38, the citizen petition initiative. At a recent council meeting, elected officials affirmed their opposition to term limits for judges.
Newshawk: Stoner4Life - 420 Magazine
Source: Aspen Daily News
Pubdate: Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Author: Catherine Lutz
Copyright: 2006 Aspen Daily News
Contact: https://www.aspendailynews.com/contact_us/form.htm
Website: Aspen Daily News | Aspen Colorado's #1 News Source
