Spring Break
Pot legalization effort blazes way to CSU
Vimal Patel
Issue date: 3/28/06 Section: Regional/State
The push to legalize adult pot use in Colorado kicked into gear at CSU last week as two student groups set up a table on the Lory Student Center Plaza to collect the required signatures needed to place the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative on November's ballot.
Before the measure goes in front of voters, the group behind it must collect 68,000 signatures, and to do so, has tapped into a groundswell of support from college students.
"We plan on bringing out an army of younger voters," said Mason Tvert, campaign director of the pro-legalization SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation). "We brought out tons of younger voters in Denver."
Initiative 100 in Denver, approved by 54 percent of the city's voters in November, eliminated all penalties for adult use and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. The drug remains illegal under state and federal law.
The proposed ballot measure would eliminate the overarching statewide pot ban, allowing individual cities to determine the plant's legality. Fort Collins has no pot ordinance and is guided by state law.
If the measure passes, the only way Fort Collins adults aged 21 or older could be prosecuted for use and possession of up to an ounce of pot would be by federal law.
Experts said it's extremely rare for the federal government to intervene in minor pot cases.
Two student groups - the CSU Libertarian Party (CSULP) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy - have set up a table to help with the signature-collection effort.
"At this point, not many people know about the measure, so they're kind of ambivalent about it," said Seth Anthony, chair of CSULP. "We want to be out there as much as possible."
Anthony said he collected about 200 signatures in three days last week.
The SAFER campaign
As some 25 citizens - many students - gathered around Tvert in the pot-friendly Cheba Hut on a recent Saturday, the scene resembled the essence of democracy.
Before the measure goes in front of voters, the group behind it must collect 68,000 signatures, and to do so, has tapped into a groundswell of support from college students.
"We plan on bringing out an army of younger voters," said Mason Tvert, campaign director of the pro-legalization SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation). "We brought out tons of younger voters in Denver."
Initiative 100 in Denver, approved by 54 percent of the city's voters in November, eliminated all penalties for adult use and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. The drug remains illegal under state and federal law.
The proposed ballot measure would eliminate the overarching statewide pot ban, allowing individual cities to determine the plant's legality. Fort Collins has no pot ordinance and is guided by state law.
If the measure passes, the only way Fort Collins adults aged 21 or older could be prosecuted for use and possession of up to an ounce of pot would be by federal law.
Experts said it's extremely rare for the federal government to intervene in minor pot cases.
Two student groups - the CSU Libertarian Party (CSULP) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy - have set up a table to help with the signature-collection effort.
"At this point, not many people know about the measure, so they're kind of ambivalent about it," said Seth Anthony, chair of CSULP. "We want to be out there as much as possible."
Anthony said he collected about 200 signatures in three days last week.
The SAFER campaign
As some 25 citizens - many students - gathered around Tvert in the pot-friendly Cheba Hut on a recent Saturday, the scene resembled the essence of democracy.
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