skunk
08-27-2009, 07:50 PM
Denver marijuana panel backs $1 penalty on small amounts; The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13212872)
This is kind of an odd situation. While the panel did send a letter to the head Denver County judge, there seems to be a bit of confusion as to what the actual fine would be even if the Denver penalty was lowered to $1. There is a mandatory state fine of $100 and a $10 bureau fee so no matter what offenders would pay $110+. So its not so much a reduction of a fine to $1, but to $111 per the state minimum and bureau fee.
Very strange, but I don't live in that state so I don't really understand the local politics.
What I do know is there's some fucked up water laws still in use where citizens can't use rainwater harvesting because its supposedly owned by people downstream.
By the way, make sure to read the comments section, always interesting to see how some people get really pissed off about this particular issue.
Those god damn hippies I tell ya, they're ruining the planet...You know, considering they've only been around for 30-40 years officially and we were doing so well beforehand.
*sigh*
Denver's marijuana policy review panel agreed Wednesday to send a letter to the presiding judge of Denver County Court urging a $1 fine as penalty for possession of marijuana of less than an ounce.
The current fine schedule indicates a $50 fine for such offenses, plus a $100 drug surcharge required by the state of Colorado and a $10 "bureau fee."
Mason Tvert, a member of the panel and the executive director of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, which has pushed decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, said state law requires the surcharge and the $10 bureau fee.
He said that if Presiding Judge Marcy Celeste accepts the recommendations, the penalty would still stand at $111.
Tvert said lowering the fine would send a message to police "that it is not worth their time or the court's to issue any more citations."
The panel agreed to send the letter to the judge on a 6-2 vote.
Christopher Osher, The Denver Post
This is kind of an odd situation. While the panel did send a letter to the head Denver County judge, there seems to be a bit of confusion as to what the actual fine would be even if the Denver penalty was lowered to $1. There is a mandatory state fine of $100 and a $10 bureau fee so no matter what offenders would pay $110+. So its not so much a reduction of a fine to $1, but to $111 per the state minimum and bureau fee.
Very strange, but I don't live in that state so I don't really understand the local politics.
What I do know is there's some fucked up water laws still in use where citizens can't use rainwater harvesting because its supposedly owned by people downstream.
By the way, make sure to read the comments section, always interesting to see how some people get really pissed off about this particular issue.
Those god damn hippies I tell ya, they're ruining the planet...You know, considering they've only been around for 30-40 years officially and we were doing so well beforehand.
*sigh*
Denver's marijuana policy review panel agreed Wednesday to send a letter to the presiding judge of Denver County Court urging a $1 fine as penalty for possession of marijuana of less than an ounce.
The current fine schedule indicates a $50 fine for such offenses, plus a $100 drug surcharge required by the state of Colorado and a $10 "bureau fee."
Mason Tvert, a member of the panel and the executive director of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, which has pushed decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, said state law requires the surcharge and the $10 bureau fee.
He said that if Presiding Judge Marcy Celeste accepts the recommendations, the penalty would still stand at $111.
Tvert said lowering the fine would send a message to police "that it is not worth their time or the court's to issue any more citations."
The panel agreed to send the letter to the judge on a 6-2 vote.
Christopher Osher, The Denver Post