Montrose - Daily Press

From The Chickenman

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.

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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.

The commission postponed a vote on a proposal to require drunken drivers to spend at least 30 days in jail on a second offense and 60 on a third offense, and undergo treatment during a probation period of at least two years.

The Post series reported that some drunken drivers got no jail time on fourth, fifth or seventh offenses, and others were spared from prison after killing people while driving drunk.

"Those stories have helped support my position" for stricter penalties, said Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson, who headed the commission's DUI committee.

Robinson advocates treating drunken drivers for alcohol problems while they're in jail.

"They sit. They do nothing but watch Oprah, or who else," he said. "We have got to do treatment during incarceration."

The commission also decided to reconsider a proposal to relieve jail overcrowding by reducing penalties for non-alcohol- related cases of driving with a suspended or revoked license.

A legislative audit report last week estimated that 225,000 people are driving illegally in Colorado, and that unlicensed drivers were involved in nearly one-fourth of Colorado's fatal crashes last year.

Weir said he feared lowering the potential jail time for continuing to drive after a revocation or suspension is "significantly out of step with what the public will accept."

 

 

Comments

Just sayin wrote on Nov 30, 2009 5:42 PM:

" Chickenman has a concealed carry permit, and is a medical mj user. Doesn't sound like being responsible to me. Pick your drug of choice, and leave the guns to the responsible citizens, not the druggies. "




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Chickenman wrote on Nov 30, 2009 6:58 AM:

" Resident.. Dont bet too much cause the Chickenman is actually a NRA member, is permitted to carry concealed, and has been trained in the safe and proper use of a firearm.
If more people knew how and when to use a firearm there be way less crime. I got a firm grip, its called being responsible for my own actions, which I am, I dont need to blame others. You make no sense at all POCM "




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Montrose Citizen wrote on Nov 28, 2009 6:10 PM:

" I bet Chicken man is against guns as well. Cause the guns don't kill the people do. What a joke. You need to get a grip and on your own life and stop making it other peoples problems as to why its someone else who is in the wrong. Be a Man and not a chicken and stand up for what we fight against everyday. Really you want kids to smoke and answer to stupid. Wow no wonder we are in trouble. "




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cm wrote on Nov 28, 2009 4:25 PM:

" marijuana should be legalized, but lowering charges on meth and cocaine??? Come on people. these are the drugs that kill. "




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Chickenman wrote on Nov 28, 2009 8:09 AM:

" Terry, sorry for your loss. The driver who chose to drive stoned was the one who had an accident and killed your family members, not the mj,. Accidents happen to sober drivers too, should we ban cars as well? Its called personal responsiblity, dont drive impared or distracted thats the law. Cell phones and driving are just as dangerous as drinking/druging driving and accidents happen. Driving is dangerous and is a huge responsiblity...
POCM "




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Montrose Citizen wrote on Nov 27, 2009 10:48 PM:

" believe you me you went to mj because the alcohol wasn't doing it for you anymore. And guess what there will come a time when mj doesn't do the job for you as well. So then we move to Meth and Cocaine. A drug is a drug and why lower the crime. Just follow the rules. "




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Interesting wrote on Nov 27, 2009 7:36 PM:

" Interesting... so Chickenman you drank like a fish for 45 years and now talk about how bad it is? I love born-again type people. I'm not talking Christians mind you, I'm talking the "do as I say, not as I did" type. You see it with alcohol and cigarettes mostly. Once they stop, everyone is supposed to stop. How much you want to bet in a few more years Chickenman will stop smoking MJ and begin telling everyone how bad it is... I'm just wondering what addiction he will move onto next... "




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Chickenman wrote on Nov 27, 2009 5:51 PM:

" Believe me I know 1st hand about alcohol problems. I drank like a fish for 45 yrs., and have been sober for 9 yrs..
My drinking almost killed me and others. My mj use is moderate and medicinal, mj is not for for everyone, but for me its a Godsend.
Show me one death attributed to mj toxicity,you cant. CDC has the facts. Look at how many die every day from alcohol and legal prescribed drugs and related issues, no comparsion as which is .worse Peaceoutchickenman "




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Terry wrote on Nov 27, 2009 5:49 PM:

" Chickenman,

You're statistics are great. But I only care about this one: 2 -Number of people in my family KILLED by a guy stoned on MJ when he slammed head on into there car.

Now please continue with your endless posts advocating how great MJ is and how you want it legalized. "




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Canyonman wrote on Nov 27, 2009 10:57 AM:

" Chickenman show me where there have been the nearly indepth peer reviewed studies on the health related problems that there have been on alcohol. You can't, because its an illegal substance and the studies haven't been done. Making it legal will eventually show the evils of this drug. Users like you don't want to admit it, but it is as bad as alcohol. "




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misterbig wrote on Nov 27, 2009 5:58 AM:

" Reduce punishment for meth???who are these idiots?? "




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Jen wrote on Nov 26, 2009 11:03 PM:

" Legalize the Marijuana completely, keep the felony offences on the Meth and Cocaine. "




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anti pc wrote on Nov 26, 2009 5:01 PM:

" GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—World Health Organization officials expressed disappointment Monday at the group's finding that, despite the enormous efforts of doctors, rescue workers and other medical professionals worldwide, the global death rate remains constant at 100 percent.

Death, a metabolic affliction causing total shutdown of all life functions, has long been considered humanity's number one health concern. Responsible for 100 percent of all recorded fatalities worldwide, the condition has no cure. "




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a_montrose_resident wrote on Nov 25, 2009 10:18 PM:

" 20% of women regret decisions made under the influence the following morning. i for one appreciate those 20% for their spontaneous behavior. "




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Chickenman wrote on Nov 25, 2009 5:43 PM:

" 5% of all deaths from diseases of the circulatory system are attributed to alcohol.
15% of all deaths from diseases of the respiratory system are attributed to alcohol.
30% of all deaths from accidents caused by fire and flames are attributed to alcohol.
30% of all accidental drownings are attributed to alcohol.
30% of all suicides are attributed to alcohol.
40% of all deaths due to accidental falls are attributed to alcohol.
45% of all deaths in automobile accidents are attributed to alcohol.
60% of all homicides are attributed to alcohol. "




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Agreed wrote on Nov 25, 2009 3:45 PM:

" Brian, I agree totally. Having seen more families destroyed by meth than by alcohol (my experience only) I would like to see meth penalities increased. "




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Brian wrote on Nov 25, 2009 11:29 AM:

" I agree with the idea of harsher punishments for DUI. But I disagree with lower the punishments for possessing a few grams of methamphetamine or cocaine. "




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