Denver Council Votes Against Front Yard and Balcony Smoking

Despite support from cannabis activists and libertarians, Denver’s City Council voted 7-5 to ban front yard and balcony smoking in Denver.

There is still a final vote on the matter next Monday, but many people are already quite upset with the council’s decision. After all, Amendment 64 made very clear the intent to regulate cannabis like alcohol. Mason Tvert from Marijuana Policy Project points out that not only does this ban fail to do so, but it is difficult to enforce and would be a waste of law enforcement resources. Bans on private property could be put in place by homeowner’s associations, landlords, etc.:

The answer is to allow communities to handle this like they do everything else.

Supporters of the ban point to their children as an excuse, of course, saying it leads them to believe that marijuana is OK. I understand people’s reluctance to let go of the “Marijuana is bad” mentality they’ve bought into for so long, but marijuana is legal now. It is also far safer than alcohol or tobacco, both of which can be enjoyed in one’s yard or balcony, regardless of whether or not people can see them.

This may still be a step up from the old proposal of punishing marijuana smells with $1,000 fines, but I will be very disappointed in Denver officials if this ban passes next Monday’s vote.