BOULDER, COLO. -- District attorneys in Colorado are weighing their options after Boulder County became the first in the state to drop pending marijuana possession cases in the wake of a public vote to legalize the drug.
Routt County District Attorney Brett Barkey said he plans to meet with senior staff members Thursday to decide whether to proceed with prosecuting petty marijuana cases that are pending in the courts.
Grand Junction Police Department officers have already been told to stop issuing ounce-or-less marijuana tickets, according to police documents obtained by the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett said Wednesday his office will drop possession cases under an ounce for adults. He said the effect would be minimal because his office already considers marijuana a low priority.
Amendment 64 passed easily with 55 percent of the state voting to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Washington also legalized it on Election Day, but a similar measure failed in Oregon.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who was openly against the measure prior to it passing, said his office will move forward with the process to legalize the drug but cautioned supporters against celebrating too soon, as marijuana is still legal at the federal level.
What do you think? Should those with pending marijuana possession charges be let off the hook? Vote in our poll below, and leave a comment to share your thoughts.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKXRM