Colorado Springs Police Chief clarifies marijuana enforcement for officers

Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey has sent a bulletin to all officers clarifying how officers should deal with marijuana enforcement with the passage of Amendment 64.

Here is the bulletin sent by Chief Carey:

Based on Governor John Hickenlooper’s December 10, 2012 proclamation certifying the vote on Amendment 64, members of the Colorado Springs Police Department need to be aware of the immediate changes related to the enforcement of marijuana possession and use.

Amendment 64 decriminalizes the non-public use, and possession, of less than an ounce of marijuana by persons twenty one years of age and older. The Amendment does not change any of the current Municipal Ordinances and/or Colorado Statutes as they relate to individuals under the age of twenty one. An individual twenty one or older is authorized to possess an ounce or less of marijuana but they are not permitted to use the marijuana in a public place or in a manner that endangers others. If it is necessary to issue a summons for public consumption of marijuana it should fall under Municipal Court 9.7.206: Possession of Cannabis.

Citizens are allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants, not more than three of which may be mature, flowering plants, in an enclosed, non-public, locked space. There are no current requirements that personal grows need to be in the home.