Rocky Mountain Voice

Aurora Council Members Split Over Statewide Fentanyl Felony Proposal

By Adria Iraheta | Denver7

Initiative 85 would make possession of any amount of fentanyl a felony in Colorado, but Aurora city leaders say increased incarceration isn’t the answer.

AURORA, Colo. — Aurora’s Government Relations Committee approved a resolution this week opposing Colorado’s Initiative 85, a statewide ballot initiative which would make possession of any amount of fentanyl — even under one gram — a felony offense.

Under current Colorado law, a felony possession charge only applies to amounts over one gram.

The resolution opposing the measure now heads to a full vote at the next Aurora City Council meeting.

Initiative 85 would also require court-ordered treatment for users and expand habitual criminal classifications for drug possession charges.

Aurora resident Manige Blackburn-Giles said the issue is personal for her family.

“Last year was a really rough one for our family. We had two funerals related to fentanyl overdoses.”

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