Petition Group Pushes For Legalized Pot
A strong push to legalize the recreational use of pot is under review in Denver.
The group behind the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 would like to decriminalize pot. Proponents are proud because they believe they got almost twice as many signatures as they needed to get the issue on the November ballot.
“Just like alcohol, you’d be able to walk into a store and purchase this if you were a responsible adult,” said Mark Slaught, who helped gather petitions in Colorado Springs.
“The big difference is that it would be consumed in the home and not in bar outlets,” said Slaught.
The group needed 80,105 registered Colorado voters to sign petitions to get the issue on the ballot. On Wednesday, they turned in petitions with close to 160,000 signatures. The signature verification process by the Secretary of State’s office should take at least one month.
“We will win this campaign because the voters understand that marijuana prohibition is a policy long overdue for repeal,” said Brian Vicente, one of two proponents who initiated the measure.
Besides opening the door for recreational use, Slaught believes if voters pass the measure it would help the economy.
“Whether you’re for or against marijuana any business can be licensed, regulated and taxed and be made into a profitable enterprise,” said Slaught.
The group behind the ballot measure said the first $40 million in revenue is earmarked for a construction fund that benefits public education.
Slaught said decriminalizing marijuana throughout Colorado would also help the hemp industry grow. Slaught envisions it’s use as a biofuel, textile, and paper product growing.
“For me, marijuana prohibition is a pretty important issue,” said Slaught. “I think we’ve spent far too much money on a failed program.”
Slaught is critical of the War On Drugs.
“Too many people are sent through the system to take classes or just costing us money to prosecute these cases when they should be able to use marijuana responsibly as an adult,” said Slaught.
