Breckenridge Votes to Legalize Pot

Colorado Town Will Decriminalize Possession as Medical Marijuana Movement Gains Steam

(AP)  Breckenridge made pot legal, Denver rejected a get-tough proposal on unlicensed drivers, and tax hikes were turned back around the state Tuesday in municipal elections that appeared to show a public in an anti-government mood.

In Breckenridge, 72 percent of voters in early returns voted to make up to 1 ounce of marijuana legal for adults over 21. The measure is largely symbolic — pot possession is still against state law — but supporters said they wanted to send a message to local law enforcement to stop busting small-time pot smokers.

"We believe this a signal to the state of Colorado and the nation as a whole," said Sean McAllister, a Breckenridge lawyer who pushed the decriminalization measure. Denver approved a similar decriminalization in 2005.

The Breckenridge vote came as communities nationwide are struggling with how to enforce pot laws at a time when medical marijuana has surged in popularity, especially in Colorado and California.

McAllister said the vote shows people want to skip medical marijuana and legalize pot for everyone.

"They're saying, 'We've seen this drug war, and it has failed,"' McAllister said.

Special Report: Marijuana Nation


CBSNews.com Election Night Coverage:

Results

All Election Night 2009 Results
Republicans Sweep N.J., Va. Gov. Races
N.Y. Democrat Owens Wins House Seat
Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage
Breckenridge, Colo., Votes to Legalize Pot


Analysis

What McDonnell's Win Means for the GOP, Obama
Corzine's Fall Has Been Festering for a While
What McDonnell's Win Means for the GOP, Obama
Lessons for the White House from '09 Election Results
Why Christie Won in New Jersey
McDonnell Won Due to Turnout, Independents
Exit Polls in Va. and N.J.: The Obama (Non) Factor?

[sarcasticfrog]

This is just the beginning. I will tell you this, if you are a person afraid cannabis will kill and ruin millions of lives... what country do you live in? Must not be America, because millions of people already use the illegal substance. It is a far safer substance than alcohol.

Cannabis is ON THE ROAD to decriminalization/legalization. Nixon didn't listen to the first commission (Shafer Commission) that recommended allowing adult American citizens to possess and use cannabis.

Currently, today we have a senator (stuck in the 1950s - Chuck Grassley - Iowa) who is trying to tell, again (Nixon), what a commission should do regarding recommending marijuana's decriminalization/legalization and our correctional system failure. This is a disgrace and a pathetic move from a politician in America. This is in fact, a Gag Order Amendment. I'm sorry, but why the hell should you have a system in checking laws and failures, if you aren't going to listen and accept the research and scientific data put into a report?

I know Grassley went to Sunday School, but I doubt he went to anything beyond the 8th grade.

[MsEllaneous]

Endurorob - google " kaneh-bosm " and/or " kaneh bosem "

Here is an article from the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jan/06/science.religion

[petewhite52]

Thank god there is a town in the US that gets it.
The governemet has no idea how many people actually smoke weed in this country and how much revenue we are losing.
When, it comes down to it. I would rather be in a car with a pot smoker than someone drinking...and yes that happens. Or half the legal prescribed drugs that people drive under the influence of that are way more dangerous.
And forget the old adage about it leading to harder stuff...been doing it for years and that is all the drug I need.
Hallelujah. Congratulations to the populace of Breckenbridge....
You have just made life easier for a lot of people in that community.
Unfortuantely, the rest of us have to contend with a lot of narrow minded, perhaps alki drinkers....that think their stuppor doesn't stink.

[pickaguitar1]

I wanna move to Breckenridge now!

[endurorob_5]

dragon8me November 4, 2009 7:47 AM EST
Up untill prohibition, Cannabis was the most prescribed medicine in the world, at least in the US. It was an ingredient in hundreds of medicines. It's also one of the ingrediencts in the anointing oil that Jesus was anointed with (Kanna Bossim, not sure about the spelling).



I would like to see references to that because I believe you are full of it.

[Sloughfoot]

I'll bet you have a source for your assertions, or are you the source?

[Ms_enza]

I can tell you he is full of it, because until the 1930s weed was weed and grew wild for the taking.

My grandmother told me that everyone used to smoke the stuff in Kansas -- it grew in the ditches.

[Android64]

There is a State Criminal code and a Federal Criminal code. There is no municipal criminal code. Therefore the town cannot decriminalize what it doesn't have jurisdiction over. The most the town can do is order their municipal police officers not to arrest persons in possession of less than 1 ounce. Unfortunately, every Police Officer and every elected municipal politician took an oath to uphold the law when they got their job or took office. Ordering the PD not to enforce State and Federal laws would be a violation of their oaths.

The Great American Society was built upon great American values. We need to remind ourselves that the privilege of being an American comes with a small price to pay - to uphold the laws. Let's show some backbone, and say no to something that is unnecessary.

[bobbyduck1]

Organized crime just loves people that think like you - it keeps their billions flowing!

Prohibition has never ever helped anyone except criminals. For us to be a Great American Society once again, we need to ground ourselves in reality to begin with. The reality is people are going to use cannabis. The only difference that we can make is who profits from it and who does it hurt.

Currently we have overcrowded prisons and a painfully large law enforcement budget. The end of prohibition could make a huge dent in both of those problems.

Embrace reality first, the rest gets easy.

[jtdev1]

get real!

[Android64]

There is a State Criminal code and a Federal Criminal code. There is no municipal criminal code. Therefore the town cannot decriminalize what it doesn't have jurisdiction over. The most the townn can do is order their municipal police officers not to arrest persons in possession of less than 1 ounce. Unfortunatley, every Police Officer and every elected municipal politician took an oath to uphold the law when they got their job or took office. Ordering the PD not to enforce State and Federal laws would be a violation of their oaths.

The Great American Society was built upon great Amedican values. We need to remind ourselves that the privilege of being an American comes with a small price to pay - to uphold the laws. Let's show some backbone, and say no to something that is unnecessary.

[ratty18]

It is about time that New York Gov Patterson legalizes medical Marijuana I know too many termainal cancer patients that have to get unknown pot from street vendors not knowing what it contains. Most are too afraid of arrest to grow their own. So NY makes criminals out of terminal patients who are looking for some relief for pain, inability to eat etc. Let's grow up American and New York. It is time for change. Look at the savings, less jail costs, new tax revenues, better care for people requiring or at least wanting to try this as a medication.

[Ms_enza]

They will be crushed beneath the spikedheel boot of the DEA.

Federal funds to schools and roads to be slashed... "Opps, sorry. Not enough for those projects this year."

[Harden_Tar]

What happens when some pot head fails his drug test at work? That stuff stays in your system for a while. Of course the law says "posess" not "use". Lawyers on alert. Companies that require a clean drug screen for employment need to gear up.

[jtdev1]

Funny thing is that the one people you'd think should be tested arn't.

Police - They are only tested when they first apply, after that the unions prevent testing for all drugs. But it's ok, they only carry guns and are licensed to kill...

[dragon8me]

Lets do nationwide, (to the tune of the Beatles'- "Why Don't We Do It In The Road").

[ellensmithee]

Sonofasummarex,
It's easy to tell you are the very UNeducated, inexperienced mouth of the most stupidly brain-dead in our society. Marijuana never hurt anyone who wasn't already hurting themselves. Now, alcohol, there's a H#llride.

[OregonJames]

sonofsummarex, Why in the world should we pay some big drug company for something we can easily grow ourselves? Don't be such a putz. Marijuana should be legal.

[endurorob_5]

You can grow your own poppies and your own coca plants. Why don't we just go ahead and make heroin and cocain legal also.

[MalloryDavis]

SONOFA...(I have another word here instead of SUMMAREX). First your spelling is atrocious...Secondly, you have no idea what you're posting. It's people like you who think you 'have the world on a string.' What do you do? DRINK alcohol? I've had no friends die or have their lives ruined because of smoking Herb except from the government, yet I'VE seen more people who've had their whole existance wiped out because of alcohol.

THC is in pill-form. Check your ideas before posting yourself as a fool.

[endurorob_5]

There have been plenty of people in this country murdered for selling "herb" in someone elses herb selling territory. O.K. lets here the "legalize it and it won't be in the hands of criminals". The problem here is that if it is legalized then there will be hefty taxes imposed, because that is what governments do, so it will be much cheaper to by it illegally so so the illegal drug trade will continue and unlike alcohol it is much easier to process and package M.J.

[Sloughfoot]

So you're the world's great spelling and grammer expert. didn't think that was the topic of this post but what the heck the essence of what the writer was trying to convey went right over your .......

[sonofsummarex]

Medicical Marijuana is the biggest crock of BS theer ever was. If a legitimate medical need for it exists why not just have the pharmasuitical firms make it in pilkl form. No need to grow any in the back yard!

[dragon8me]

Up untill prohibition, Cannabis was the most prescribed medicine in the world, at least in the US. It was an ingredient in hundreds of medicines. It's also one of the ingrediencts in the anointing oil that Jesus was anointed with (Kanna Bossim, not sure about the spelling).