Colorado Commission Recommends Lighter Sentences for Marijuana Possession

A Colorado commission set up two years ago recommends lighter sentences for drug illegal drug possession while suggesting stiffer sentences for repeat drunk driving offenders. It reduces amounts needed to trigger felony and misdemeanor marijuana charges. This is welcome news to those who contend that our prisons and jails are overflowing with people convicted of crimes of simple possession of marijuana at a burden to taxpayers. – Scotty Reid

DenverPost.com

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.

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. Read More