LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IS NO BIG DEAL TO SOME

VAIL - If a small sampling in Vail is any indication, a group trying
to legalize marijuana possession in Colorado might have some local
support. The Denver-based group, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable
Recreation, last week announced it will try to get a measure on the
2006 fall ballot that would legalize possession of small amounts of
marijuana by adults in the state. The petition drive to get on the
ballot will start next month. Local resident Fletcher Groff thinks
that's a fine idea. "I'm 100 percent for it," Groff said. "You don't
hear about people getting high and getting in accidents, or getting
into domestic violence. People get high and get mellow." Denver
resident Rick Weber has a live-and-let-live attitude toward marijuana
use. "I'm not against (legalization), and I'm not for it," Weber
said. "Whatever people want to do is fine with me."

Jim Reed's thinking about marijuana laws has changed over the years.
Reed is from Dallas, where possession of any amount of marijuana is
still a felony.

"I used to be against legalization," Reed said. "But there are so
many people in jail for what ought to be a minor offense. But I still
think pot is one of the worst things for young people, especially if
they're in school." Texas and Colorado treat marijuana possession
differently, though. In Colorado, having 1 ounce or less is a "petty
offense," which carries just a $100 fine. And that's fine with Vail
Police Chief Dwight Henninger. "I wouldn't understand wanting to
reduce the penalties," Henninger said. "From my experience with
hardcore drug users, not many of them started with hardcore drugs.
There's a lot of questions in my mind about it." Local Emily Anderson
has some questions, too. "I agree with legalizing it for medical
purposes," Anderson said. "I guess I don't have a problem with
(legalization) if it's used right."

But the local district attorney said he has one serious problem with
possibly legalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana.
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said his office doesn't spend much
time prosecuting possession of small amounts of marijuana now,
although it does see some felony cases.

"I really don't have strong feelings about it," Hurlbert said. "My
bigger concern is there's no test to see if someone's driving under
the influence of marijuana. It's not like alcohol, where you can
determine that."

If the legalization issue does get on the state ballot, Hurlbert
questioned how much support it might get.

"I don't know how well it would do in a lot of areas," he said. "But
whatever the voters decide is what we'll do."