State lawmakers have finalized the language for the November ballot. Most of the discussion centered on amendment 64, which would legalize small amounts of marijuana for people over the age of 21.
Both supporters and opponents asked lawmakers to tweak the ballot language during Wednesday鈥檚 meeting. Brian Vicente is one of the chief authors of amendment 64. He wanted new wording to show that people wouldn鈥檛 be allowed to smoke pot in public, and that the amendment wouldn鈥檛 change employment policies.
Vicente also objected to provisions comparing marijuana to tobacco use and instead wants it exclusively compared to alcohol.
鈥淲e feel to tobacco has a very negative connotation, we feel that鈥檚 not fair. We would strongly argue it鈥檚 pulled out of there.鈥�
But lawmakers in both parties rejected those changes. Instead they added wording to highlight that marijuana can be especially dangerous to the brain development of youth. Several citizens testified that they have serious concerns about legalization including Gina Fenton of Denver. She鈥檚 the mother of four sons and says she鈥檚 noticed how prevalent marijuana use is among young people.
鈥淢y friends whose kids go to public schools that have an open lunch. They鈥檙e getting their burgers and going to get marijuana. There鈥檚 more of a stigma in smoking a cigarette than lighting up a joint. The fact that it鈥檚 so accessible. If we legalize it it鈥檚 just going to become worse.鈥�
The marijuana initiative alsoasks state lawmakers to pass an excise tax. But majority leader John Morse (D) added additional wording to say the amendment can鈥檛 require lawmakers to approve the tax.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e telling me as an elected official how I should vote. You鈥檙e ordering us to vote a particular way. This thing is laced with things that would be litigated for decades.鈥�
Colorado voters will see three ballot questions this fall. Lawmakers already referred a measure to update state personnel rules. And a ballot question expressing support for reforming federal campaign finance laws received only minor changes.
