Number of Public Use Cannabis Tickets Issued in Denver Skyrockets

This year alone, Denver police have issued more public-use
cannabis tickets than ever: 668 have been issued since cannabis became
recreational, which is 551 more than last year. While some are using this as a
negative and proof that there are issues with the new legislation, others are
seeing this as a chance to try and reform current policies.

One reason cited for why so many tickets are being written
is that since police can no longer make arrests, they are writing tickets in
place of more serious charges. While it is certainly valid that some are
smoking in public areas where not permissible, it is likely that some of these
citations are happening to people while in their cars, on their porches, or in
other unassuming situations.

Another complaint from cannabis users is that as friendly as
the city is to the plant, there is nowhere legal to consume besides a private
residence or smoke-friendly hotel room. The city has not been receptive to the
idea of opening cannabis clubs. Perhaps in light of this and the
ever-increasing popularity of legalization in the city, some of these clubs
will be allowed to open and flourish.

Rob Corry, a cannabis lawyer in Denver who has actually been
cited himself for smoking at a Rockies game, was quoted by Colorado Public Radio as saying “We don’t have the bar/club side. Denver
is going to continue to see public consumption of it, [which] will be
inevitable, until Denver allows people a place to consume it.”

It is certainly true that the more people move to the area
for the freedoms, the more these citations will get written. Hopefully with all
this in mind, Colorado authorities will be less likely to write tickets, and
more likely to embrace the idea of public clubs and smoking areas.