Pass the pipe..

[Steff]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_...DMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

 

 

Denver Voters OK Marijuana Possession

By JON SARCHE, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 36 minutes ago

 

 

 

DENVER - Residents of the Mile High City have voted to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults. Authorities, though, said state possession laws will be applied instead.

 

 

With 100 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, 54 percent, or 56,001 voters, cast ballots for the ordinance, while 46 percent, or 48,632 voters, voted against it.

 

Under the measure, residents over 21 years old could possess up to an ounce of marijuana.

 

"We educated voters about the facts that marijuana is less harmful to the user and society than alcohol," said Mason Tvert, campaign organizer for SAFER, or Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation. "To prohibit adults from making the rational, safer choice to use marijuana is bad public policy."

 

Bruce Mirken of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project said he hoped the approval will launch a national trend toward legalizing a drug whose enforcement he said causes more problems than it cures.

 

Seattle, Oakland, Calif., and a few college towns already have laws making possession the lowest law enforcement priority.

 

The Denver proposal seemed to draw at least as much attention for supporters' campaign tactics as it did for the question of legalizing the drug.

 

Tvert argued that legalizing marijuana would reduce consumption of alcohol, which he said leads to higher rates of car accidents, domestic and street violence and crime.

 

The group criticized Mayor John Hickenlooper for opposing the proposal, noting his ownership of a popular brewpub. It also said recent violent crimes — including the shootings of four people last weekend — as a reason to legalize marijuana to steer people away from alcohol use.

 

Those tactics angered local officials and some voters. Opponents also said it made no sense to prevent prosecution by Denver authorities while marijuana charges are most often filed under state and federal law.

 

The measure would not affect the medical marijuana law voters approved in 2000. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that medical marijuana laws in Colorado and nine other states would not protect licensed users from federal prosecution.

 

Also Tuesday, voters in the ski resort town of Telluride rejected a proposal to make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by people 18 or older the town's lowest law enforcement priority. The measure was rejected on a vote of 308-332.

[Wong & Owens]

In a related story, Hostess unveiled plans today for its first ever Twinkies restaurant, scheduled to open in Denver, CO sometime in late 2006......

[mreye]

Well, that explains this

 

Colorado voters agreed Tuesday to give up $3.7 billion in taxpayer refunds over the next five years to allow the state to bounce back from a recession, ignoring the arguments of fiscal conservatives who say the government doesn't need more money to spend.

 

The vote was closely watched around the nation, with California scheduled to decide a government tax-and-spend question next week and several other states considering spending caps.

 

Supporters said Colorado simply could not afford to vote no, not with higher education, health care and transportation already suffering from millions of dollars in budget cuts.

 

With 76 percent of the expected vote counted statewide, 439,778 voters, or 53 percent, had approved the plan, compared with 391,842, or 47 percent, who voted against it.

[kapkomet]

Ah, so they were high when they voted? Good call.

 

[mreye]

Ah, so they were high when they voted?  Good call.

 

Wouldn't you have to be?

[Texsox]

I have never smoked pot and never will. But I do believe the marijuana laws need to be changed. I really don't see a huge difference in Alcohol and marijuana. Let the government tax the crap out of it like alcohol and use the money for schools. That trick always works.

[Kyyle23]

I have never smoked pot and never will. But I do believe the marijuana laws need to be changed. I really don't see a huge difference in Alcohol and marijuana. Let the government tax the crap out of it like alcohol and use the money for schools. That trick always works. 

 

I think the traffic accidents related to marijuana use are probably drastically smaller than traffic accidents related to alcohol use. Thats just my opinion though.

 

At some point the government will realize the potential cash cow that marijuana is and they will totally maximize it at our expense. Its only a matter of time.

 

On a related note, the "Say no to drugs" commercials aimed at pot smokers are getting funnier and funnier. Apparently now if you are smoking pot you will forget your sister is riding a bike in your driveway and run her over, or you will take your sister to a Carnival and forget her there, or you will hang out with your friends all day long (smoking pot) and forget your sister is having a birthday. So I have deduced that smoking pot is bad if you have a sister.

 

Thankfully, I have a brother.

[YASNY]

I have never smoked pot and never will. But I do believe the marijuana laws need to be changed. I really don't see a huge difference in Alcohol and marijuana. Let the government tax the crap out of it like alcohol and use the money for schools. That trick always works. 

 

We can build new ballparks for everybody! Except the Cubs. Wrigley's a shrine, you know.

[Kyyle23]

We can build new ballparks for everybody!  Except the Cubs.  Wrigley's a shrine, you know.

 

 

 

"And a new ballpark is being built in Florida, funded solely on tax money from last years Marijuana crop. The ballpark, funded by Marlboro, is tentatively named ' Marlboro's field of Greens", but is more commonly nicknamed 'The Big Bowl', some say due to the shape of the ballpark....."

[RockRaines]

You get waaaaay more f-ed up after drinking alcohol than smoking a bunch of pot. IN fact, you cant even OD on pot, but you can on alcohol. I dont understand why society is so against smoking a little weed now and again. Honestly, more people do it than most people realize.

[Kyyle23]

You get waaaaay more f-ed up after drinking alcohol than smoking a bunch of pot.  IN fact, you cant even OD on pot, but you can on alcohol.  I dont understand why society is so against smoking a little weed now and again.  Honestly, more people do it than most people realize.

 

Are you saying that YOU do it, Rock?

[kapkomet]

What a shocking development this thread has turned into.

 

[Kyyle23]

What a shocking development this thread has turned into. 

 

 

I think most threads on SL&P have about a 10 post limit before the conversation turns to something that the creator of the thread never intended.

[Steff]

I think most threads on SL&P have about a 10 post limit before the conversation turns to something that the creator of the thread never intended. 

 

 

 

It all boils down to sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, Bush bashing, or abortion. I'd say we're right on track here.

[Kyyle23]

It all boils down to sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, Bush bashing, or abortion. I'd say we're right on track here. 

 

Well i certainly dont see the problem with it, lol.

 

I would change "Bush-bashing" to Rep/Dem bashing, but that is splitting hairs

[Steff]

Well i certainly dont see the problem with it, lol.

 

I would change "Bush-bashing" to Rep/Dem bashing, but that is splitting hairs 

 

 

 

bush-bashing... splitting hairs... LMAO.. so many directions for that one to go.

[bmags]

I think the traffic accidents related to marijuana use are probably drastically smaller than traffic accidents related to alcohol use.  Thats just my opinion though.

 

At some point the government will realize the potential cash cow that marijuana is and they will totally maximize it at our expense.  Its only a matter of time.

 

On a related note, the "Say no to drugs" commercials aimed at pot smokers are getting funnier and funnier.  Apparently now if you are smoking pot you will forget your sister is riding a bike in your driveway and run her over, or you will take your sister to a Carnival and forget her there, or you will hang out with your friends all day long (smoking pot) and forget your sister is having a birthday.  So I have deduced that smoking pot is bad if you have a sister. 

 

Thankfully, I have a brother.

 

haha, i know...whenever you are pushing far off scenarios as facts that WILL happen you know you are losing a battle.

[southsider2k5]

It all boils down to sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, Bush bashing, or abortion. I'd say we're right on track here. 

 

In about 5 more posts, some lurker will take a pot shot at Steff, and kick off a 10 page, 20 person arguement and we will be headed down our usual road.

[Steff]

In about 5 more posts, some lurker will take a pot shot at Steff, and kick off a 10 page, 20 person arguement and we will be headed down our usual road.

 

 

 

Uhh... yea. How in the hell do you think this site has so many posts. :rolly

[Kyyle23]

In about 5 more posts, some lurker will take a pot shot at Steff, and kick off a 10 page, 20 person arguement and we will be headed down our usual road.

 

my money says its Juggs

[Kyyle23]

Uhh... yea. How in the hell do you think this site has so many posts.  :rolly

 

[southsider2k5]

my money says its Juggs

 

Oh its WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE open (no green needed)

[RockRaines]

Are you saying that YOU do it, Rock? 

I knew there was a reason I voted for the green party.

[sox4lifeinPA]

I hate steff

[Kid Gleason]

It's odd. I LOVE Beer. I have a beer cellar and a dedicated beer fridge. It's a hobby.

 

I have smoked pot 3 or 4 times in my life and only been high twice.

 

I'm the first person to say alcohol should be illegal LONG before pot should be. It's just another example of how f***ed up the human race is. Ot atleast how f'ed up the US is.