Colorado justice commission suggests lighter penalties for drug possession - The Denver Post
Colorado justice commission suggests lighter penalties for drug possession - The Denver Post
A commission of Colorado criminal justice leaders voted Friday to recommend reduced penalties for possessing marijuana and other illegal 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 is weighing whether to recommend longer jail sentences for drunken drivers convicted of a second or third offense. Some commission members said a Denver Post series on the inconsistent sentencing of persistent drunken drivers led them to favor legislative changes, but no recommendation was made Friday.
The commission was created two years ago to study criminal sentences in Colorado and recommend changes to a legislature struggling with the growing costs of incarceration.
The proposal to reduce penalties for possessing marijuana drew broad support from a commission represented by top law enforcement officials as well as appointees from the legislature and the public defender's office. Of eighteen voting members, 13 supported the proposal, four said they could live with it, and one opposed it.
Some worried that the proposed criminal changes would get intertwined with an anticipated legislative debate about the proliferation of medical-marijuana clinics across the state.
"Are we going to be blurring issues if this is addressed?" asked Department of Public Safety executive director Peter Weir.
"I think we should move forward," Attorney General John Suthers replied. "Marijuana penalties should be reduced, regardless of what happens" with the clinics
2 comments:
I agree with the recomendatons of the commission and John Suthers recomendation to move forward.
Colorado has people locked up for illegaly possesing prescription drugs. They have been given felony convictions and there lives ruined forever, when in fact they should have been given help to correct there addiction.
If justice would be served maybe we should lock up the doctor who prescribed the drug the person got addicted to??
I know a lady who turned herself in to the DA in Colorado Springs who immediately charged her and convicted her of a felony. She now sits in prison. How many more does Colorado hold?djw
It is such a public lie that they would actually even consider a law that fills their pockets with prison industry money. The AG changes his colors? They are already setting up their excuses for when it fails again. This committee has been a political excuse of the governor and legislature for too long. We need to start by non-violent public demonstrations. Those that truly wish to change this system will step forward and we will get rid of the entire legislature and administration. Neither party holds the answers. Fire them all.
mpc
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