Social pot use: Issue heats up in Denver as competing initiatives turn in signatures
Denver elections officials are reviewing petitions for two potential local ballot measures that would allow the social use of marijuana one in private clubs and the other in regular businesses, such as bars or cafes or even yoga studios, under certain conditions.
Backers of the competing social pot use initiatives each turned in thousands of petition signatures this week, the latest on Friday.
Whether to allow more prominent use of marijuana and where is shaping up as the biggest localdebate ahead of the Nov. 8 election. For Denver, it couldsolve a problem that emerged in the wake of Colorados legalization of recreational marijuana: Outside of their private property, there are few places for people to consume it.
The issue is particularly vexing for tourists, but one supporter said thats not the only result of the lack of choices.
Weve seen public consumption citations and arrests increase dramatically here in Denver over the last couple of years, said Kayvan Khalatbari, co-owner of Denver Relief Consulting, which is the main backer of the proposed initiative that focuses on consumption areas in businesses.
Were seeing some of the highest disparities in arrests for people of color over white folks for public consumption of cannabis, he said. And its often not because of the tourist issue, and giving them a place, but fortheresidents of Denver.
He was among supporters who say they filed 10,800 signatures Friday for the Neighborhood-Supported Cannabis Consumption Initiative, so-named because each business that applies for a consumption area permit would need support from a neighborhood organization. It takes4,726valid signatures to make the ballot, and the Denver Elections Division has more than three weeks to verify the signatures.
Earlier this week,Denver chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) said it filed more than 6,500 petition signatures for its Responsible Use Denver initiative, which would allow private marijuana clubs. That tally leavesless room for error, but chapterdirector Jordan Person said supporters were continuing to collect more signatures through Mondays effective petition deadline.
Weve worked so hard, and now Im happy that now its coming to a head, she said.
Denver city officials havent acted on the social use issue, in part because some question if state law fully allows local laws allowing some form of public consumption. A few cities and towns in Colorado have allowed private clubs. Though Denver city attorneys raised some questions about both proposals as they were being drafted, officials have declined so far to weigh in on the potential initiatives.
Person and Khalatbari said either initiative would offeran improvement for Denver, though each arguestheir approach would be better. Each would require patrons to bring their own cannabis products.
Its going to be apersonal preference for voters, Person said. The campaign, which could involve radio ads and other outreach from both sides, is going to be about education, she said.
Conceivably, voters could approve both, though its unclear whether each would then take effect since they dont necessarily conflict ...
