Lafayette Council Withdraws Bid To Increase Marijuana Penalties

For Immediate Release -- Feb. 16, 2007
Lafayette City Council withdraws bid to increase marijuana penalties
Officials reconsider drastic and unnecessary ordinance in light of
strong public opposition

Contact: Mason Tvert, SAFER executive director, 720-255-4340

DENVER -- The Lafayette City Council has withdrawn a municipal
ordinance that would have drastically and unnecessarily increased the
fine for possession of small amounts of marijuana. The proposed
measure would have increased the fine for possessing less than one
ounce of marijuana from a maximum $100 fine and no time in jail -- as
called for under state law -- to a maximum $1,000 fine and up to one
year in jail.

Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), along with the
ACLU of Colorado, the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, and
Sensible Colorado, coordinated a strong grassroots response in
opposition to the proposal, which the council initially approved at
its Feb. 6 meeting. According to a statement on the Lafayette City
Council's Web site (see below or http://www.cityoflafayette.com/
News.asp?NewsID=1466), "City staff and City Council have determined
that more information and analysis are needed on this matter."


"We are very pleased that the Lafayette City Council has withdrawn
this drastic and unnecessary measure," said SAFER Executive Director
Mason Tvert. "We appreciate their responsiveness to the concerns of
Lafayette and Boulder County citizens, and we look forward to serving
as a resource for accurate information on marijuana at the council's
public workshop on this issue in April."