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| Victory Energizes ‘Pot’ Law Backers |
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Posted by CN Staff on November 11, 2006 at 06:24:34 PT By Tracie Dungan Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 
Eureka Springs, AR -- A group that persuaded Eureka Springs voters to pass a pro-marijuana initiative plans to continue its efforts by proposing a similar ordinance in at least one other town, a spokesman said. The ordinance, which passed in Tuesday’s general election, makes arrests and prosecution of adults for misdemeanor marijuana possession of an ounce or less and paraphernalia possession, a low law-enforcement priority. In September, Fayetteville NORML collected 156 petition signatures in Eureka Springs, a dozen more than needed to put the question to voters. “For the first time in Arkansas history, citizens have had an opportunity to voice their opinion on America’s failed marijuana laws,” said Ryan Denham the group’s campaign director for the initiative. “Eureka Springs citizens would rather police focus on violent crimes and property crimes, and not spend their limited resources targeting, arresting and prosecuting minor marijuana offenders,” he said. The group, part of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, now will turn to its efforts to getting a similar initiative passed in Fayetteville in 2008, Denham said. The group also is considering a push for legislation in Arkansas that would decriminalize marijuana infractions so they no longer constitute a felony or misdemeanor offense, but would be more akin to a traffic violation, Denham said. “There’s been some interest shown,” he said. He’s hopeful, he said, because of the new faces that will be in the next General Assembly. Jerry Cox, executive director of the conservative Family Council and its lobbying arm, the Family Council Action Committee, said his team would be ready. “We would certainly oppose it,” Cox said Friday. The Family Council already has spoken out against legalizing marijuana for medical purposes in Arkansas, he said. “The measure in Eureka Springs, I believe, sends the wrong message to our young people that somehow using illegal drugs is OK,” he said. “In Arkansas, I believe most parents believe the use of illegal drugs, especially by their children, always is wrong.” The ordinance’s message, Denham said, is that while people “should not use marijuana,” they also should not lose education or job opportunities because of its use. Eureka Springs Police Earl Hyatt reiterated that the enforcement priorities of the police force won’t change. The initiative purports to grant officers discretion that, in fact, they already have in cases of marijuana possession, a Class A misdemeanor, he said, and it contradicts part of Arkansas law’s requirements for the offense. With such misdemeanors, the arresting officer has a choice of making an arrest or releasing the person on a citation to appear in court, he said. State law requires the suspect be fingerprinted before being locked up or released. “If an officer finds someone with a small amount of marijuana, they have always had the choice of pouring it on the ground and rubbing it in the dirt or charging the person — and that is not going to change,” Hyatt said Friday. “This has always been a moot point, but they wanted it on there and they got it. It’s their democratic right,” he said. Denham agreed that state law trumps parts of the initiative. But the point is, federal and state law enforcement agencies do, in fact, set enforcement priorities and city mayors can set agendas, particularly those that “follow the will of the people,” he said. Cox said the Northwest Arkansas town is known for taking “a more West Coast type philosophy toward use of illegal drugs.” “Eureka Springs may be the only city in Arkansas where a measure like this would receive any significant support among the local citizens,” he said. Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock, AR) CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 13:15:07 PT |
| I think Hagan is a Democrat unless there is more then one Hagan in Ohio. This all so confusing. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 12:31:48 PT |
| Link Between Lou Gehrig's Disease And Gulf War Service November 11, 2006
The risk of a Gulf War veteran developing Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) later on is two times higher than for other people, say researchers from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), USA. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease, which is often fatal - the patient's nerve cells progressively breakdown, he/she loses muscle control, and eventually becomes paralyzed. ALS = Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis = Lou Gehrig's disease About 20,000 - 30,000 people in the USA have ALS. According to Dr. Richard Johnson, lead author of a new report, the link is appears pretty strong. In general, he said, the risk for a soldier developing ALS one day is 50% greater than for people who were never in the military - this 50% raised risk refers to soldiers or ex-soldiers who were not in the Gulf War. Complete Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=56455 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 11:40:41 PT |
| This how I look at it. It's a big puzzle. This is way bigger then impeachment. That will probably happen if they put this puzzle together right and don't miss any stone being turned. It could bring down way more then just Bush. One foot in front of the other is the most complete way of ultimately achieving success. That's how we win in anything we do in life I think. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by Max Flowers on November 11, 2006 at 11:34:49 PT |
| I was horrified and angered yesterday to read that John Conyers, the guy whom I have been placing all my faith that there will be impeachment of Bush/Cheney, said that there will be no impeachment. Frustrated and confused, I couldn't figure out why he would say that after doing so much valuable legal groundwork to prepare for it. Then it slowly began dawning on me that I still have much to learn about how politics work. It's a lot like chess, apparently. That's an analogy I can appreciate, but not deeply enough to understand these current events in that context I guess, probably due to the fact that I never really learned the game in earnest. But it's starting to sink in. I think I'm starting to get it. In this situation, the democrats don't need or want to tip their hand as to what they may or may not do (and the following relies on the somewhat naive idea that the democrats are actually an opposition party and not actually a part of the same cabal), and it would probably benefit them (dems) to act like they don't plan to impeach even if they do plan to. To tip off Bush and his minions would only be to give them valuable added time to prepare for that. So the smart play is to act like they don't want to impeach. That damn well better be it, because if that's not it, then we just elected a new democratic majority congress who are even more spineless than we feared, who have no interest in seeing multiple egregious wrongs righted, who don't want justice in the name of American and Iraqi people (5,000 killed between 9/11 and in the Iraq war it falsely justified, and untold Iraqi civilians, probably better than 100,000), who won't even grab for justice when are in a position to as they loom over their injured opponent. Here's a comment from a 9/11 truth blog where the subject at hand is the same as this post: In the game of chess, a threat is often more powerful than an attack, as it ties up resources in defense. Similarly, removing Dubya and Dick would place in the White House a Republican with no fear of the Congress. (If impeachment appeared imminent, Cheney would resign and a replacement VP be appointed.) The Dems have a sword hanging over Bush's head, to use if he dares to use the veto pen. That was an eye-opener for me. It's like "checkmate." If you do this to us, we stand ready to do this to you, motherfu**er. The brutal truth of behind-the-scenes political reality. I hadn't thought of the dems being capable of that kind of thinking up until this point (and I STILL worry that I'm wrong about this scenario and that in reality they are not capable of it!). So I sincerely hope that Conyers and Pelosi are pulling a shrewd bluff, and DO plan to allow impeachment, because that is their solemn duty as congresspersons. Neither has any kind of right to just casually dismiss the call for justice that hundreds of thousands of Americans have made in the petitions for impeachment and the many polls that show overwhelming support for and desire for impeachment and the need to see JUSTICE done against these war criminals/constitutional criminals/traitors. That dismissal is what they appear to be doing. It better be just an appearance, a trick---because if it isn't, they are also going to have an outraged and angry electorate on their hands just like the republicans did. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 11:32:54 PT |
| This is from Canada but maybe it means close to the same thing. Excerpt: Objects of a society 3 The objects of a society are (a) to encourage improvement in agriculture, food production and rural living; (b) to provide leadership in sustaining the social structure of rural communities, including, but not limited to, maintaining educational opportunities and traditional activities in communities; and (c) to provide programs, services and facilities based on needs in rural communities. http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/a030e.php [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 11:30:08 PT |
| I'm still searching to try to figure out what it is. If I find something I'll post it. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 11:21:19 PT |
| Thank you. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Hope on November 11, 2006 at 11:00:00 PT |
| What are AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OFFICERS? It's obviously some sort of police. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by paulpeterson on November 11, 2006 at 10:55:36 PT |
| This looks like a typical "anti" Republican's attempt to obfuscate. It appears like Ohio has either already legitimized medical marijuana or there is a movement affot to do that, and this Republican is trying to insert some get tough language in such a law-which does more to stiffen things than to allow medical usage, etc. On the other hand, this might be a Republican's veiled attempt, with rather harsh draconian language, to slip in a medical exemption bill so it looks like it is get tough legislation, instead. It is a very long bill, of course, and I just scanned through it. We all know where Ohio is right now on this, and we know that the best we could hope for is that this guy is trying to slip in a Mickey, by the harsh language, so as to allow some breathing room for MM rights but with stiff limitations. At any rate, is looks so draconian that it can not help us with the MM cause, because the way it is worded it would allow the police to be more rigid than ever-and any MM rights would have to pass through very harsh rhetoric to get anywhere. You are right. It is very worrysome. PAUL [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 10:37:54 PT |
| Does anyone understand what this Bill means. It's by a Republican and that really worries me. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 11, 2006 at 09:55:55 PT |
| SB 74 MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Hagan, R.) - To regulate the medical use of marijuana. 1st Hearing-Sponsor. November 11, 2006 http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/15989391.htm http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_SB_74 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by mayan on November 11, 2006 at 06:45:40 PT |
| MNSBC online poll: 87 percent say 'plenty to justify' Bush impeachment:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/MNSBC_online_poll_87_percent_say_1110.html Here's the poll... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/ Go figure... Conyers Toes Party Line: No Impeachment: http://www.infowars.net/articles/november2006/101106Rotten.htm Here are some very good reads... OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE HAS JUST BEGUN: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucru/20061108/cm_ucru/ourlongnationalnightmarehasjustbegun Bush Comitted a Crime-Congress Must Be Forced to Impeach: http://benfrank.net/blog/2006/11/10/bush_comitted_a_crime--impeach/ OK Democrats, Prove Yourselves: Investigate Cheney’s Energy Meetings! http://tvnewslies.org/blog/?p=486 THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN... 9/11 Truth Remains The Critical Issue: http://prisonplanet.com/articles/november2006/101106criticalissue.htm UPDATE: Elementary Student Threatened With Psychiatric Evaluation After Visiting 9/11 Websites: http://infowars.com/articles/sept11/10_yr_old_disciplined_for_visiting_911_website.htm Chávez attacks Bush as a 'genocidal' leader: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/special_packages/5min/15965767.htm 911COURAGE.ORG LEAFLETTER to PLEAD GUILTY to TRESSPASS CHARGE - 9/11 Activist to Request Maximum Sentence: http://911courage.org/article.php/20061108230113931 [ Post Comment ] |
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