November 2, 2005

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025 

DENVER DA COMMENTS ON MARIJUANA MEASURE

Marijuana possession is still illegal in Denver

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey acknowledged yesterday’s passage of a Denver ballot measure regarding marijuana by reminding people in Denver and across Colorado that it is still illegal to possess and consume marijuana!

“The change in Denver’s city ordinance does not change Colorado state law,” Morrissey noted.  “It is still illegal to possess less than an ounce of marijuana anywhere in the state, and that includes Denver.” 

Morrissey estimates that more than 90-percent of the marijuana possession cases filed in Denver are already being filed by using the state statute (not Denver’s ordinance) and he does not expect a large impact from the ballot measure.

Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a class 2 petty offense and is punishable by fine.

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