Marijuana Use May Soon Be Legal in Colorado - Criminal Defense DUI ...

Marijuana use may become soon become legal in the state of Colorado if two pro-marijuana groups have their way. Although both support legalization of marijuana, the groups have differing views on what constitutes legalization. A July 7 report from The Colorado Independent states that both of these groups plan on proposing two different marijuana legislation schemes.

One group is running a ?Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol?. The objective of this campaign is to legalize marijuana use among adults over 21 who buy and possess up to one ounce of marijuana. In addition, a person could grow up to six marijuana plants and possess all the marijuana the plants produce. The group has the support and/or sponsorship of groups such as Sensible Colorado, the Drug Policy Alliance, the Marijuana Policy Project and SAFER Colorado.

The group has been working on the campaign initiative for more than five years, according to the group leader, Mason Tvert. Tvert believes the black market currently makes marijuana more readily accessible to youth than alcohol. Under the initiative, marijuana use and possession would be regulated instead of prohibited, and marijuana would be taxed in the same fashion as alcohol. The state could collect sales taxes and levy excise taxes on marijuana. The money would go toward public school construction

The initiative is expected to bring the state about $70 million annually. Medical marijuana patients would be exempt from the excise tax, and individuals who dispense medical marijuana would be able to apply for a license to become retail centers.

This initiative may not have much impact on the workload of many Colorado criminal defense attorneys. Persons under 21 would still be prohibited from buying, possessing or selling marijuana, using it in public or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.

One group that could greatly reduce the amount of marijuana cases Colorado defense attorneys handle is Legalize2012. The leader of this group, Laura Kriho, criticizes the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol?s initiative as not really legalizing marijuana. Legalize2012 plans to petition a drive for ?true legalization? of marijuana. Kriho wants to wipe the books in Colorado clean of marijuana crimes.

For now, use and possession of an ounce or more of marijuana remains illegal in Colorado. The penalty is a $500 fine and six to eight months in jail. The greater the amount of drugs involved, the higher the fines and the longer the jail term. Sale and distribution of marijuana can land you in jail for many years. If you stand accused and/or charged, you will need a good Colorado criminal defense attorney to try to get you the lightest sentence possible.

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Source: http://www.morancriminallaw.com/2011/07/marijuana-use-may-soon-be-legal-in-colorado/

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