Breckenridge, CO: Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported a municipal initiative to eliminate penalties on the adult possession of cannabis.

Over 70 percent of voters endorsed Measure 2F, which amends the town code to remove all criminal and civil penalties, including fines, on the private possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. Passage of the initiative also eliminates local penalties prohibiting the possession of cannabis paraphernalia by those age 21 or older.

Proponents of the measure, Sensible Breckenridge, gathered 1,400 signatures from registered voters to place the measure on the municipal ballot.

"This votes demonstrates that Breckenridge citizens overwhelmingly believe that adults should not be punished for making the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol," said Sean McAllister, chair of Sensible Breckenridge and a member of the NORML Legal Committee.

The new law takes effect on January 1, 2010.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or visit: http://www.sensiblecolorado.org.