Denver Marijuana Arrests Up Despite New Law

DENVER, Colo. -- Denver voters made it clear last November that they don’t want police spending time and resources busting people who smoke marijuana.

But marijuana activists have said possession arrests are actually going up, and they want to know why.

In Wednesday night’s Marijuana Policy Review Panel, members questioned police and city prosecutors about whether their policies have changed since the successful 2007 ballot initiative to make adult marijuana possession the “lowest law enforcement priority.”

"It's very simple. There's no excuse for it. The people voted for change. Nothing has changed, and that's a problem," said Mason Tvert, with Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation.

Police and prosecutors said they have not changed any policies, and that marijuana possession has always been a low priority.

They said they are required to enforce state statutes, however.

Marijuana activists said the will of the people is being ignored, and they proposed a resolution to recommend city attorneys stop prosecuting these cases.