MARIJUANA POSSESSION LEGALIZED IN DENVER

Now that marijuana has been legalized in Denver, the "Mile
High City" definitely means something new.

Denver residents voted 54 percent to 46 percent to legalize the possession
of an ounce of marijuana for those over 21 years of age.

State possession laws, however, will still be applied according to authorities.

Those who support the law agree that use of marijuana is safer than
cigarettes and second-hand smoke. Members from the group Safer Alternatives
for Enjoyable Recreation educated voters on the more harmful effects of
alcohol on society as opposed to marijuana.

At North Carolina State University, students are split on the issue of
whether or not any amount of marijuana should be legal.

Ryan MCcauley, a junior in sports management, said he believes that making
marijuana legal is safer for its users.

"It's a smart idea [to make marijuana legal] because so many people are
doing it anyway, and if it's legal there is less danger involved in people
buying and selling it," McCauley said.

Less violence is one reason that some are in favor of the law, other
reasons include decreasing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related deaths.

"Marijuana should definitely be legal," Kelly Clark, a junior in political
science, said.

"If it's made legal then people would get into less trouble trying to hide it."

Denver is not the only state to follow these laws; Seattle, Oakland and
even a couple of college towns have made laws on possession minimal
priority for law enforcement.

According to Clark, making possession of marijuana legal will cut down on
drinking and drinking related deaths.

"Kids [who] are smoking pot aren't drinking and driving, nor are they
nearly as impaired as a drunk person," Clark said.

Some feel that to legalize marijuana would cause increased drug addiction
percentages and higher chances of school age children using it as well.

"If pot is made legal, then kids won't be afraid to do it," said Lucia
Lazarowski, a junior in Education, said.

"If it's made legal more people would do it and become addicted."