JollyGreenGiant
Member
Denver Councilman Supports Pot Initiative
Terry Jessup
Reporting
(CBS4) DENVER A Denver city councilman is taking some heat from other public officials after publicly supporting the marijuana ballot initiative.
Democrat Doug Linkhart said he's in favor of Amendment 44 which would legalize small amounts of marijuana.
"I'll probably vote for it," Linkhart said. "I'm waiting for proof that says marijuana is a bad thing and I haven't seen it. I've read a lot about marijuana."
Linkhart is a councilmember in a city that drew national attention when Denver voters approved possession of less than an ounce of marijuana in 2005. The issue passed with 54 percent and is currently on the state ballot.
"Dealing is still illegal," Linkhart said. "Under the issue, if small amounts are legal then the price should go down so dealing would be less popular."
Fellow councilman Charlie Brown said he's disappointed in Linkhart because he believes the chairman of Denver Council's Public Safety Committee is sending the wrong message.
"I don't want to see national headlines if this is approved because I do think it will bring in an element of drug selling that we don't need in this city," Brown said. "That's not the kind of new business we need to attract to our city or to our state."
Linkhart said he doesn't use pot nor does he encourage anyone else to.
"It's not a personal choice," Linkhart said. "It's looking at how do we spend our law enforcement dollars, what's important, what impacts public safety, how should we allocate our resources, let's focus on what's important."
Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman said Linkhart's position defies common sense and sets a bad example for children,
Many Amendment 44 supporters commend Linkhart for representing what is apparently the position of many of his constituents given the city-approved marijuana initiative just last year.
Linkhart said he doesn't believe Amendment 44 will pass statewide despite its popularity in Denver.
Terry Jessup
Reporting
(CBS4) DENVER A Denver city councilman is taking some heat from other public officials after publicly supporting the marijuana ballot initiative.
Democrat Doug Linkhart said he's in favor of Amendment 44 which would legalize small amounts of marijuana.
"I'll probably vote for it," Linkhart said. "I'm waiting for proof that says marijuana is a bad thing and I haven't seen it. I've read a lot about marijuana."
Linkhart is a councilmember in a city that drew national attention when Denver voters approved possession of less than an ounce of marijuana in 2005. The issue passed with 54 percent and is currently on the state ballot.
"Dealing is still illegal," Linkhart said. "Under the issue, if small amounts are legal then the price should go down so dealing would be less popular."
Fellow councilman Charlie Brown said he's disappointed in Linkhart because he believes the chairman of Denver Council's Public Safety Committee is sending the wrong message.
"I don't want to see national headlines if this is approved because I do think it will bring in an element of drug selling that we don't need in this city," Brown said. "That's not the kind of new business we need to attract to our city or to our state."
Linkhart said he doesn't use pot nor does he encourage anyone else to.
"It's not a personal choice," Linkhart said. "It's looking at how do we spend our law enforcement dollars, what's important, what impacts public safety, how should we allocate our resources, let's focus on what's important."
Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman said Linkhart's position defies common sense and sets a bad example for children,
Many Amendment 44 supporters commend Linkhart for representing what is apparently the position of many of his constituents given the city-approved marijuana initiative just last year.
Linkhart said he doesn't believe Amendment 44 will pass statewide despite its popularity in Denver.
