Colorado Group Pushes for Statewide Marijuana Legalization

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Having succeeded with Denver voters, a drug-reform group is now gathering signatures to get an item on the statewide ballot in Colorado this fall that would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, the Denver Post reported Dec. 29.

The group Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) was behind a successful ballot initiative that compelled the city of Denver to change a city law and make it legal for people over age 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Possession remains illegal under state and federal law, however.

Denver police and prosecutors continue to arrest and charge people in possession of marijuana under state law. "If the officials in this city don't have the guts to stand up for the individuals they represent, we have no choice but to take up the fight on behalf of those individuals," said SAFER director Mason Tvert.

SAFER must gather 68,000 signatures from registered voters in order to get the marijuana question on the statewide ballot. The group gathered twice that number for its Denver campaign last year.