SAFER Case Dismissed, But May Continue

The pro-marijuana legalization group, Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), was dealt a swift blow in a Denver court today, as a judge dismissed an injunction the group brought regarding details in voter information booklets, or, “blue books.”

The campaign did not have a comment at deadline, but said that criminal charges could be issued in the future. SAFER is campaigning to make up to an ounce of marijuana legal in the state of Colorado for adults 21 years and older, via Amendment 44. The court case was brought over language approved for the blue book by the Legislative Council, which currently states that through a loop hole in the law, approval of Amendment 44 would also legalize the transfer of marijuana to minors 15 years and older. Proponents of the amendment claim that this is false, citing a state law that makes contributing to the delinquency of a minor illegal.

The judge stated that he dismissed the case, after a motion brought by legal representatives from the Council, because he did not feel it was in his jurisdiction. SAFER argued that the Council had a constitutional mandate to provide an impartial book, while the other side said that matters of the legislature had no place in Denver courts. 

Erin Rosa was born in Spain and raised in Colorado Springs. She is a freelance writer currently living in Denver. Rosa's work has been featured in a variety of news outlets including the Huffington Post, Democracy Now!, and the Rocky Mountain Chronicle, an alternative-weekly in Northern Colorado where she worked as a columnist covering the state legislature. Rosa has received awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for her reporting on lobbying and woman's health issues. She was also tapped with a rare honorable mention award by the Newspaper Guild-CWA's David S. Barr Award in 2008--only the second such honor conferred in its nine-year history--for her investigative series covering the federal government's Supermax prison in the state. Rosa covers the labor community, corrections, immigration and government transparency matters. She can be reached at erosa@www.coloradoindependent.com.

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