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Lead Shrinks: Don't Let Amendment 64 Go Up in Smoke

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 08:21:00 AM EST
Tags: Amendment 64 (all tags)
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Last month, Amendment 64, Colorado' proposal to legalize small amounts of marijuana for adult use had a 51 to 49 lead. This week, after the pot warriors came to town and took out ads, the lead is down to 48 to 39%.

This bill is an impoortant one to pass. Right now, possession of under an ounce of pot carries a hundred dollar fine --and a criminal record. You have to disclose it when applying for jobs. If you are in college, your will lose your loan for a while. Paying to expunge it later is expensive, and given the number of records on the internet, some will likely stay there. It can affect your ability to rent an apartment or apply for some kinds of professional licenses.

If the law isn't on the books, the state can't charge, and you are free of that pesky criminal record. Same goes for your kids, where a record could hurt their chances of getting into or staying in college. [More...]

Regardless of whether you smoke it, think about those you care about who do. Undo the chains. Pass Amendment 64. The feds will continue to focus on their large trafficking cases and perhaps some large commercial marijuana operations.

For the average voter, the bill is a gift. Make sure you vote -- Yes on 64.

The feds, could, but do not bring federal marijuana cases that are not attached to other crimes. Their charging guidelines don't provide for it and they don't want to clog the courts.

It will also bring in large amounts of revenue and create jobs.

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    Lead Shrinks: Don't Let Amendment 64 Go Up in Smoke | 1 comment (1 topical)

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    why legalize? (none / 0) (#1)
    by diogenes on Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 07:51:38 PM EST
      You could simply make possession of less than one ounce a violation not unlike a speeding ticket, thus eliminating the criminal records and jail time.
      If you are "creating jobs" as opposed to moving jobs from black market dealers into the open then you mean that marijuana consumption will increase if legal, thus creating a need for more dealers and growers.  It may be that having marijuana be as cheap and easily available for all (including middle schoolers) as is alcohol is on the whole a good thing for society, but you don't say so in quite so many words.
    Lead Shrinks: Don't Let Amendment 64 Go Up in Smoke | 1 comment (1 topical)

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