BRECKENRIDGE — Breckenridge residents voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia under town law. Unofficial results show 71 percent of voters approved the initiative.

"We're done with the days people could laugh off marijuana reform," said Sean McAllister, a Breckenridge attorney and chairman of reform group Sensible Breckenridge.

Tuesday's vote means that effective Jan. 1, people 21 and older in Breckenridge will be able to legally possess 1 ounce or less of the drug. Possession remains illegal under state law, but Breckenridge Police Chief Rick Holman said his department will "still have the ability to exercise discretion." Summit Daily News

Old Timer Cop wrote:I have been a Colorado police officer for over 25 years. I am in the minority, but it's time the STATE legalizes pot, regulates pot and TAXES pot. Over the course of my career I have seen more destruction from the use of alcohol in ONE YEAR than pot over my entire career. Municipalities legalizing it are only sending "community" messages because their law enforcement officers will just write everything into state court: it's a moot statute or city ordinance. Think of the tax base and how that money could be used to support all of the social programs, city and county programs and help with the State deficit. How much money do BOTH sides spend on these ballot issues? It's time to move on. I'm sure some of my buddies in blue will disagree with my comments, but if they can STATISTICALLY show me where pot is more dangerous or involved in as many crimes, accidents, domestic violence issues than legally obtained alcohol, then I will listen. The only crime I can relate on a regular basis to pot is the drug-rip. If its legal, you don't have to steal it or buy it in the back alley. And, don't go to the "gateway" drug argument. I would bet that over half the law enforcement community, government employees and Council/Legislators/Senators/Presidents have tried pot at least once in their lives and have moved on without addiction issues or further use of stonger narcotics. However, I know a lot of alcoholics in all of those professions. If you have addiction tendancies then you are doomed to some form of addiction: Pot, Schedule II, Alcohol and/or Sex