CO Justice Commission Suggests Lighter Penalties - Colorado - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

vta · 11-15-2009, 04:27 PM

CO Justice Commission Suggests Lighter Penalties
By David Olinger, The Denver Post
Source: Denver Post

cannabis Denver, CO -- A commission of Colorado criminal justice leaders voted Friday to recommend reduced penalties for possessing marijuana and other illegal drugs.

If Colorado legislators adopt the recommendations, possessing up to 4 ounces of marijuana would become a petty offense instead of a criminal misdemeanor, and possessing 8 to 16 ounces would become a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice also favored lower-level felony charges for possessing a few grams of cocaine or methamphetamine and reducing the charge for illegally possessing various prescription drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor. It excepted possession of "date-rape" drugs, which would remain a felony.

The commission is weighing whether to recommend longer jail sentences for drunken drivers convicted of a second or third offense. Some commission members said a Denver Post series on the inconsistent sentencing of persistent drunken drivers led them to favor legislative changes, but no recommendation was made Friday.

The commission was created two years ago to study criminal sentences in Colorado and recommend changes to a legislature struggling with the growing costs of incarceration.

The proposal to reduce penalties for possessing marijuana drew broad support from a commission represented by top law enforcement officials as well as appointees from the legislature and the public defender's office. Of eighteen voting members, 13 supported the proposal, four said they could live with it, and one opposed it.

Some worried that the proposed criminal changes would get intertwined with an anticipated legislative debate about the proliferation of medical-marijuana clinics across the state.

"Are we going to be blurring issues if this is addressed?" asked Department of Public Safety executive director Peter Weir.

"I think we should move forward," Attorney General John Suthers replied. "Marijuana penalties should be reduced, regardless of what happens" with the clinics.

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Complete Article: https://www.denverpost.com/ci_13785115

vta · 11-15-2009, 04:28 PM

CO is moving right along

Pythagllio · 11-16-2009, 01:47 PM

The fat lady is singing.

Bobby Stainless · 11-16-2009, 01:50 PM

I love this place!

funkfingers · 11-16-2009, 04:01 PM

About time the government is coming to their senses.. Colorado is making some big steps lately.

slappyjack · 11-16-2009, 05:14 PM

Someone pinch me, it's really happening!

I think a 16 oz possession misdemeanor is the loosest law in the country, right?

Next goal, relaxing small-scale cultivation laws.

Old time lurker · 11-16-2009, 09:56 PM

So whats the next step for this recommendation? Do they vote on it now, or does it just move up the chain?

Hash Zeppelin · 11-16-2009, 10:40 PM

This will certainly make it easier to over grow the system, and end the drug war. The more states we can get to do this the better

Tony Aroma · 11-17-2009, 01:48 AM

Not that I'm complaining, but how is it that possession of a Schedule 2 drug (cocaine) is a more serious crime, a felony, than possession of a Schedule 1 drug (cannabis), which is a misdemeanor? Sometimes I think this war on drugs is pretty crazy.

Hash Zeppelin · 11-17-2009, 02:46 AM

^It doesnt have to make sense. the drug war is based on voluntary blindness to facts anyways.

11-15-2009, 04:27 PM	#1
vta Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,292	CO Justice Commission Suggests Lighter Penalties CO Justice Commission Suggests Lighter Penalties By David Olinger, The Denver Post Source: Denver Post cannabis Denver, CO -- A commission of Colorado criminal justice leaders voted Friday to recommend reduced penalties for possessing marijuana and other illegal drugs. If Colorado legislators adopt the recommendations, possessing up to 4 ounces of marijuana would become a petty offense instead of a criminal misdemeanor, and possessing 8 to 16 ounces would become a misdemeanor instead of a felony. The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice also favored lower-level felony charges for possessing a few grams of cocaine or methamphetamine and reducing the charge for illegally possessing various prescription drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor. It excepted possession of "date-rape" drugs, which would remain a felony. The commission is weighing whether to recommend longer jail sentences for drunken drivers convicted of a second or third offense. Some commission members said a Denver Post series on the inconsistent sentencing of persistent drunken drivers led them to favor legislative changes, but no recommendation was made Friday. The commission was created two years ago to study criminal sentences in Colorado and recommend changes to a legislature struggling with the growing costs of incarceration. The proposal to reduce penalties for possessing marijuana drew broad support from a commission represented by top law enforcement officials as well as appointees from the legislature and the public defender's office. Of eighteen voting members, 13 supported the proposal, four said they could live with it, and one opposed it. Some worried that the proposed criminal changes would get intertwined with an anticipated legislative debate about the proliferation of medical-marijuana clinics across the state. "Are we going to be blurring issues if this is addressed?" asked Department of Public Safety executive director Peter Weir. "I think we should move forward," Attorney General John Suthers replied. "Marijuana penalties should be reduced, regardless of what happens" with the clinics. Snipped Complete Article: https://www.denverpost.com/ci_13785115
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11-15-2009, 04:28 PM	#2
vta Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,292	CO is moving right along
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11-16-2009, 01:47 PM	#3
Pythagllio Patient Grower Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: in the belly of the beast Posts: 1,954	The fat lady is singing.
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11-16-2009, 01:50 PM	#4
Bobby Stainless "Ill let you try my Wu-Tang style" Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: On a buffalo Posts: 4,424	I love this place! __________________ THE 36th CHAMBER In all my time, I have learned that the "key", is as simple as "dedication". When you decide that you are going to go for something, and you don't let anything stand in your way, you open the door for great things to happen. And once you have made it that far, after having known what things look like from the bottom, you may find that the view from the top, is that much sweeter.
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11-16-2009, 04:01 PM	#5
funkfingers I expose people to magic. My fangs are dripping with Tiger blood. I am an F-18 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: 6210' Posts: 1,154	About time the government is coming to their senses.. Colorado is making some big steps lately. __________________ "Now tell me I can't tear it up, you better go get ya self some toilet paper cause your lyrics is butt"
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11-16-2009, 05:14 PM	#6
slappyjack Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 636	Someone pinch me, it's really happening! I think a 16 oz possession misdemeanor is the loosest law in the country, right? Next goal, relaxing small-scale cultivation laws.
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11-16-2009, 09:56 PM	#7
Old time lurker Inventor of the Phil Spector "Wall of Hair" grooming style Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Next door to Buckaroo Banzai Posts: 185	So whats the next step for this recommendation? Do they vote on it now, or does it just move up the chain? __________________ "Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could." - William F. Buckley, Jr.
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11-17-2009, 01:48 AM	#9
Tony Aroma Let's Go - Two Smokes! Join Date: May 2007 Location: King of Donair Posts: 1,568	Not that I'm complaining, but how is it that possession of a Schedule 2 drug (cocaine) is a more serious crime, a felony, than possession of a Schedule 1 drug (cannabis), which is a misdemeanor? Sometimes I think this war on drugs is pretty crazy. __________________ Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights. B. Marley
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