Colorado Initiative to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Poised for 2012 Ballot

Campaign submits nearly 160,000 signatures; approximately 86,000 required to qualify for November ballot

Group of supportive women among proponents at news conference held prior to submission of signatures to the Secretary of State

JANUARY 4, 2012 – DENVER – Proponents of a statewide initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol submitted nearly 160,000 signatures in support of placing the measure on the 2012 ballot. Only 86,105 valid signatures of registered Colorado voters are needed to qualify.

The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 would make it legal for adults 21 and older to possess limited amounts of marijuana, establish a system in which it is regulated similar to alcohol, and allow for the cultivation of industrial hemp. Along with generating state and local sales tax revenue, the measure calls on the state legislature to enact an excise tax on whole sales, of which the first $40 million annually will be directed to Colorado's public school construction fund.

"We will win this campaign because the voters understand that marijuana prohibition is a policy long overdue for repeal," said Brian Vicente, one of two proponents who initiated the measure. "Polls consistently show more Coloradans support making marijuana legal than oppose it, and we are confident they will pass this measure and make history this November."

A group of more than a dozen women participated in a news conference prior to submission of the signatures to the Secretary of State. Among them were a prominent Republican Party activist, a prominent Democratic Party activist, and a recent graduate from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, who discussed why they support ending marijuana prohibition and regulating it like alcohol.

"This is an issue often perceived as being supported only by young men, but women like me throughout the state agree that it is time to end marijuana prohibition and regulate it like alcohol," said Wanda James, a prominent Colorado political activist and business owner.  "We are mothers, daughters, taxpayers, business owners, college students, and more, and we are excited to help this campaign make history in November."

The Secretary of State has 30 days to determine whether the petition contains a sufficient number of signatures.

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