The Campaign for Limited Social Use will submit more than 10,000 signatures Monday in support of a city initiative that would allow the limited social use — but not sale — of marijuana at commercial establishments in areas restricted to adults 21 and older. 4,726 valid signatures of registered city voters are needed to qualify for the November 2015 ballot. The city clerk has 25 days to certify the petition.
Initiative proponents and campaign supporters — including some local business owners — will hold a news conference at 2:15 p.m. MT in front the Denver City-County Building. They will then deliver the petition to the Denver Elections Division across the street.
“While petitioning, we found that most voters agree adults should be able to consume marijuana socially in establishments that choose to allow it,” said initiative proponent Mason Tvert. “By allowing adults to consume marijuana in private businesses, we can reduce the likelihood that they’ll consume it publicly in parks or on the street.”
Under the proposed measure, businesses that have a license to sell alcohol for onsite consumption would be able to decide whether to allow cannabis consumption on the premises. Businesses that choose to allow only cannabis consumption (without licensed alcohol consumption) would be subject to regulation by the city, including restrictions on location and hours of operation. All commercial establishments that allow adults to use marijuana would be required to comply with the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, which means (1) only non-smokable forms of marijuana would be allowed indoors, and (2) smoking marijuana would only be allowed in existing designated smoking areas that are not viewable to the public.
“The initiative balances the interests of cannabis consumers with the rights of business owners to determine what kind of conduct may occur on their premises,” Kayvan Khalatbari, co-owner of Sexy Pizza, Sexpot Comedy, and Denver Relief. “It will be up to each individual business owner to decide whether cannabis use will be allowed or prohibited. This is a very sensible approach, and it’s one that should be embraced by city officials and voters.”
A strong majority (56%) of likely 2015 voters in Denver support the proposed initiative, according to a survey conducted in June by Public Policy Polling. Just 40% are opposed. The full results are available at https://bit.ly/1G7ooB0.
WHAT: News conference and submission of petition in support of the Denver initiative that would allow the limited social use — but not sale — of marijuana at commercial establishments in areas restricted to adults 21 and older
WHEN: TODAY, Monday, August 10, news conference at 2:15 p.m. MT, immediately followed by submission of the petition
WHERE: News conference in front of the Denver City-County Building, 1437 Bannock St., Denver; supporters will then walk across the street to deliver the petition to the Denver Elections Division, 200 W. 14th Ave., Denver
WHO: Mason Tvert, initiative proponent
Brian Vicente, initiative proponent
Supportive Denver business owners and other campaign supporters
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The Denver Campaign for Limited Social Cannabis Consumption, also known as the Campaign for Limited Social Use, is supporting a 2015 Denver ballot initiative to allow the limited social use — but not sale — of marijuana at commercial establishments in areas restricted to adults 21 and older. For more information, visit https://LimitedSocialUse.org.
