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Colo. Commission Recommends Lowering Drug Penalties

The Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJC) has issued recommendations to the state legislature to reduce penalties for possession of drugs.

If Colorado legislators adopt the recommendations, possessing up to 4 ounces of marijuana would become a petty offense instead of a criminal misdemeanor, and possessing 8 to 16 ounces would become a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice also favored lower-level felony charges for possessing a few grams of cocaine or methamphetamine and reducing the charge for illegally possessing various prescription drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor. It excepted possession of "date-rape" drugs, which would remain a felony.

The Commission members include representatives from all parts of the criminal justice system, including prosecutors, defense attorneys, legislators, probation officers, judges and law enforcement. The full report is here (pdf.)

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  • Display: Sort:
    I was just reading this. (none / 0) (#1)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 12:32:50 PM EST
    Seems to be a step forward.  This is what jumped out at me:

    "I think we should move forward," Attorney General John Suthers replied. "Marijuana penalties should be reduced, regardless of what happens" with the clinics.

    Let's hope the Legislature sees it that way too.  

    Drug War beneficiaries remain protected (none / 0) (#2)
    by Yes2Truth on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 03:50:16 PM EST

    Only total legalization will protect the public
    from the War on Drug Users.  

    Tiny steps "forward" such those mentioned in the article are politically shrewd because the special interest groups remain protected and the public
    thinks "something" is being done.