cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Evidence Stays with MCSO for Now Medical Marijuana Evidence Stays with MCSO for Now Posted by CN Staff on September 07, 2004 at 13:57:53 PT By Scott Schwebke Source: Montrose Daily Press Montrose -- The Montrose County Sheriff's Office is awaiting a court order before it returns confiscated pot to a man who claims to be a registered medical marijuana caregiver. Sheriff Warren Waterman said the MCSO is faced with an unusual situation in having to give back marijuana to 53-year-old Michael Branson. "It's tremendously different than any other case (handled by the MCSO)," Waterman said. "We are not in the habit of returning contraband to someone. In this case, we believe the individual appears to be registered with the state and we are probably going to have to give it (some of the seized marijuana) back, but we are not going to do it without a court order."MCSO personnel arrested Branson Aug. 18, on suspicion of marijuana cultivation after finding pot growing in a garden at his Pea Green residence.Prosecutors decided last week not to file charges against Branson because the evidence seized from his property is inadmissible in court.Branson has said he is registered with the state to grow medical marijuana for a 44-year-old Eckert area woman who has multiple sclerosis.Branson was arrested because MCSO personnel discovered 22 plants on his property, which is 16 more than allowed under the state's medical marijuana statute.Branson said he was growing more pot than allowed by the state because he is attempting to become a registered medical marijuana patient himself and a caregiver for another individual.To be listed on the state's medical marijuana registry, a patient must obtain certification from a licensed Colorado physician that they have been diagnosed with a debilitating condition that may be alleviated by marijuana.Registered medical marijuana patients or caregivers can possess no more than two ounces of useable marijuana and not more than six marijuana plants, with three or fewer being mature, flowering plants.MCSO Investigator Bill Smith, who has been working on the case involving Branson, said he plans to meet with officials from the 7th Judicial District Attorney's Office this week to discuss steps for returning some of the seized marijuana.The MCSO is waiting on a court order before it releases the pot to ensure all legal bases are covered because federal law enforcement officials do not recognize Colorado's medical marijuana statute, he said.Source: Montrose Daily Press (CO)Author: Scott SchwebkePublished: September 07, 2004 Copyright: 2004 The Montrose Daily PressContact: scotts montrosepress.comWebsite: http://www.montrosepress.com/Related Article & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmProsecutor Drops Medical Marijuana Case http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19439.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #31 posted by runruff on September 08, 2004 at 19:36:46 PT: ekim Thank you, thank you, thank you, for posting the LEAP web site. I now have the homepage in my favorites. Did I say thank you? [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by ekim on September 08, 2004 at 18:09:31 PT E i hope the NY lady goes to this event Sep 9 04 Society of Professional Journalists 09:00 AM Jack Cole New York New York USA The Society of Professional Journalists' National Convention offers the journalism community an opportunity to reflect on the industry and to engage in thought-provoking, stimulating and hands-on training. This year's convention theme is "Raising the Torch". Board Member Jack Cole and Speaker Fred Martens will attend. Sep 10 04 Unitarian Universalist Ocean County Congregation 10:30 AM Martin Haines Bayville New Jersey USA The Unitarian Universalist Ocean County Congregation welcomes Speaker Judge Martin Haines for discussion of the failure of drug prohibition. Sep 10 04 Round Rock Sunrise Rotar 07:00 AM Howard Wooldridge Round Rock Texas USA No rough edges on Board Member Howard Wooldridge as he breakfasts with members of the Round Rock Sunrise Rotary while discussing the failure of the war on drugs. Sep 11 04 Youth Voter Registration and Education Event 02:00 PM Michelle Holton Steamboat Springs Colorado USA The Youth Voter Registration and Education Event, sponsored by the local Peace and Justice Committee and KIDN radio (95.5FM), welcomes Michelle Holton as she works the LEAP information booth. Sep 12 04 International Association of Women Police 08:00 AM Jack Cole Boston Massachusetts USA September 12th-16th, 2004. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition exhibits at the 42nd Annual Training Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. LEAP Executive Director Jack Cole to present and exhibitors include Judge Eleanor Schockett, and two LEAP speakers who are also legal medical marijuana patients; Former Texas police officer Martha DeWolfe now from California and former corrections officer Alison Myrden from Toronto, Ontario. http://www.leap.cc/event [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on September 08, 2004 at 17:04:07 PT Medical Marijuana Clinic in Bend - Sept. 27th September 8 - The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) has announced that the number of patients legally using medical marijuana in Oregon is over 10,196. Many patients report that cannabis provides relief when other methods and medicines have failed.Posted on the OMMP website: http://www.dhs.state.or.us/publichealth/mm/data.cfm is a list of the conditions for which patients currently find relief by using medical marijuana. Complete Article: http://www.bend.com/news/ar_view%5E3Far_id%5E3D17794.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by afterburner on September 08, 2004 at 08:26:00 PT Brilliant Conclusion - re Comment #13 "The answer seems obvious, but the surest way to shut up the US prohibitionists, and particularly our sociopathic Drug Czar, would be for Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell to challenge John Walters to a debate. That would send Walters running to the Mexican border. "In fact, Campbell should challenge the Canadian Prime Minister to a debate. Canada needs a national debate on cannabis prohibition, because freedom has nothing to fear from the truth – least of all in Vancouver." --Richard CowanAmen. Tell it brother! [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by JustGetnBy on September 08, 2004 at 08:19:05 PT Quitter ??? I tought Mizz Barthwell quit her position at ONDCP to persue a political office.Maybe she had her fingers crossed, or maybe the real world was too scary for her. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on September 08, 2004 at 08:17:36 PT Hello Everyone! So far no news to post. The weather is icky from what's left of Frances but it isn't bad just a lot of rain. We can use the rain here. I'll keep looking for news. I'm not upset today. I don't like when I'm upset and thanks everyone for understanding. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by Hope on September 08, 2004 at 07:41:10 PT Kap...forfeiture...the department's stuff Yes, you're right. They should immediately call in the Feds to confiscate at least something...I mean...that'll teach em. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on September 08, 2004 at 07:38:56 PT hemp seed Birds really are effective little sowers and they love hemp seed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by kaptinemo on September 08, 2004 at 07:31:16 PT: But, but, but...what about forfeiture?????? It was on police property...yet the police do not lose their housing? Their cars? Their bank accounts? (Devilish grin)More such plantings are needed. As the old cartoon derived from the popular peanut butter candy wrapper character said: "Mary Jane sez: 'Plant your seeds; keep prices down!' ".Uh huh...right on Officer Jack Boot's front lawn. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Hope on September 08, 2004 at 07:27:24 PT Dongenero laughin out loud... [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by dongenero on September 08, 2004 at 07:18:16 PT My best Barney Fife impression Yep, the people of Green Bay can rest easy now that that illegal grow operation at the sheriff's office has been eradicated. Ya gotta nip it in the 'bud'. Nip it, nip it! [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Hope on September 08, 2004 at 07:09:28 PT or maybe ... the culprit was a little birdie. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on September 08, 2004 at 07:08:01 PT "Obviously, as a prank," *smile*Not so "obviously" to me. It seems to me that it's a possibility that our Overgrow America friends have succeeded...again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Hope on September 08, 2004 at 07:02:40 PT E Johnson That's a great story about the lady/ex-con publisher.I might be remembering wrong...but I thought awhile back you mentioned that you had started that novel about what is going on in our world. I was wondering how it was going.Hey...EJ...if you use our names...people from this website, as character names, let Hope be nice. I hate being thought of as "mean". I saw a bumper sticker once that I liked...it said, "Mean People Suck". But anyway....have you made any progress that you can report?I'm betting that as well spoken and educated as you are that you could write a great novel. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by dongenero on September 08, 2004 at 07:02:13 PT Green Bay news Strange News - AP Marijuana Plants Found Outside CourthouseTue Sep 7,11:28 PM ET Add Strange News - AP to My Yahoo!GREEN BAY, Wis. - Sheriff's officers had marijuana growing right under their noses — or at least right outside their headquarters — before discovering and removing the illegal weed. A Green Bay television station, WLUK-TV, reported Tuesday night that it received a tip and alerted the Brown County Sheriff's Department about the greenery in a planter on the south side of the courthouse.Chief Deputy John Gossage wasn't sure of the plants' identity, but a drug officer confirmed the presence of marijuana."Obviously, as a prank, somebody planted this or dropped some seeds into the plants," Gossage said.The drug officer pulled the six small plants, which were to be destroyed."It's a good thing it was brought to our attention because someone may have realized what it was and could've taken it and used it," Gossage said. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Hope on September 08, 2004 at 06:18:35 PT Kap Lol!You're right...but I find it difficult to believe that Barthwell will actually show up. If she believes the drivel and prevarications she spouts she should be glad to have the opportunity to defend her oh so righteous stance.(Are you sure that's not a chainsaw instead of an electric carving knife?)*smile* [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by kaptinemo on September 08, 2004 at 05:07:59 PT: So, Ms. Barthwell will 'debate' on Montel's? Oh boy, this is gonna be good. 'Lock-and-load' those VCR's, children, as you won't want to miss *this* one! One long-suffering and righteously furious African-American recipient of another African-American's officially adminstered 'compassion'? No chance to play the 'race card' on this one. The sparks should fly on Friday, for sure.Because I seriously doubt Mr. Williams is going to give her the 'pass' that so many media types have provided DrugWarriors in the past. He knows the truth from personal experience and has more than enough motivation to trade truth for fiction at a furious rate. The facts, as well as the 'fur', will fly. I fervently wish I could be in the audience, that day. I'd bring a REAL turkey carving knife (though I'd doubt they'd let me in with it). [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by mayan on September 08, 2004 at 04:25:17 PT CorvallisEric Here's a related story...Vancouver Mayor 'amazed' by over-the-counter pot cafe: http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cbc/vancouver_home&articleID=1706244They were open for four months and the sky didn't fall? How is it that the dreaded devil weed didn't destroy the entire neighborhood? [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by CorvallisEric on September 08, 2004 at 01:53:15 PT Off-topic: latest from Vancouver Richard Cowan on Da Kine Smoke and Beverage Shop which will have a license-revocation hearing on Sept. 15.http://marijuananews.com/news.php3?sid=763 [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by E_Johnson on September 07, 2004 at 23:16:18 PT This is what I'm talking about When I say we should be writing down all of our stories about this war -- this woman has done that and started her own publishing company too:http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/08/books/08stri.htmlThe LEOs sold their stories to Hollywood and that helped promote this war to begin with.Libertarians are so literal!Maybe it might upset people to think that society moves more by fiction than by fact, but novels have always been important in the process of social change since the first novel was ever published. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 07, 2004 at 20:38:07 PT Update: Ashcroft v. Raich Supreme Court Case DPFCA: UPDATE: Ashcroft v. Raich Supreme Court Case Hello Everyone,I am sorry it took me so long to update you on the Ashcroft v. Raich Supreme Court case. Since we found out our case was going before the United States Supreme Court the case has been getting lots of media coverage we were in the New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post among many other news papers across the country and plenty of t.v. media. I had to rest the entire month of July and mid August the media has been picking up again.I have been invited to go on the Montel Williams Show. Other guests of the show will be Irv Rosenfeld Federal IND patient, Rob Kampia from Marijuana Policy Project, Debby Jefferys who has a son that used cannabis. Montels producer was able to get Andrea Barthwell, Deputy Dirctor of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to come and debate us. The Show will be filming on Sept. 10th in New York. We do not know when it will air yet but I will let everyone know it will be a great show.Timeline of the CaseAngel McClary Raich, et al. v. John Ashcroft, et al.United States Supreme Court Timeline. The Ashcroft v. Raich case will be heard before the United States Supreme Court either early December 2004 or Mid January 2005. Our briefs will be due on September 29, 2004. The governments reply brief is due on November 3, 2004. If you would like to read the briefs filed in the United States Supreme Court go to http://www.angeljustice.org/article.php?list=type&type=11 August 11, 2004. John Ashcroft filed his Merits Brief in the United States Supreme Court for the Petitioners.August 11, 2004. A Joint Appendix was filed in the United States Supreme Court by both parties.August 11, 2004. Amici Curiae Brief filed in Support of the Petitioners Robert L. Dupont, M.D., Peter B. Bensinger and Herbert Kleber, M.D.August 11, 2004. Amici Curiae Brief filed in the United States Supreme Court in Support of the Petitioners from The Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., The Drug Free Shcools Coalition, Save Our Society From Drugs, The International Scientific and Medical Forum on Drug Abuse, The Institue on Global Drug Policy, and Students Taking Action Not Drugs, et al.August 11, 2004. Amici Curiae Brief filed in the United States Supreme Court in Support of the Petitioners from Mark E. Souder; U.S. Representative, Cass Ballenger; U.S. Representative, Dan Burton; U.S. Representative, Katherine Harris; U.S. Representative, Ernest J. Istook, Jr.; U.S. Representative, Jack Kingston; U.S. Representative, and U.S. Representative, Doug OseAugust 11 2004. Amici Curiae Brief filed in the United States Supreme Court in Support of the Petitioners from Community Rights Counsel August 11, 2004. Amici Curiae Brief filed in the United States Supreme Court in Support of Neither Party On June 10, 2004. John Ashcroft, et al. filed their Reply Brief for the Petitioners in the Supreme Court.On June 7, 2004. Angel McClary Raich, et al. filed their Respondents' Brief in Opposition in the Supreme Court.On May 14, 2004. After nine weeks of negotiations, attorneys for both sides finally agreed upon the language for the following Preliminary Injunction. United States District Court Judge Martin J. Jenkins filed the Preliminary Injuction Order that said, "In Raich v. Ashcroft, 352 Fed. 3d 1222 (9th Cir. 2003), the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the Plaintiffs have demonstrated a strong likeihood that 'as applied to them, the [Controlled Substances Act] is an unconstitutional exercise of Congress' Commerce Clause authority.' Id. at 1227. According, "IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT, during the pendency of this action Defendants, and their agents and officers, and any person acting in consort with them, are hereby enjoined from arresting or prosecuting Plaintiffs Angel McClary Raich and Diane Monson, seizing their medical cannabis, forfeiting their property, or seeking civil or administrative sanctions against them with respect to the interastate, noncommercial cultivation, possession, use, and obtaining without charge of cannabis for personal medical purposes on the advice of a physician and in accordance with State law, and which is not used for distrbution, sale, or exchange." To read more of this Preliminary Injunction please go to the court document page of the http://www.angeljustice.org website at http://angeljustice.org/article.php?list=type&type=11 On April 20, 2004. United States Attorney General John Ashcroft and DEA Administrator Karen Tady filed a Petition for Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. Once the federal government filed their Petition for Certiorari the name of the case was changed from Raich v. Ashcroft to Ashcroft v. Raich. Ashcroft became the Petitioner and Raich became the Respondent.On March 11, 2004. The United States District Court filed notice stating, "YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT the Court has scheduled a Status Conference for Tuesday, April 6, 2004 2:00 p.m. before the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins." Conference will be held in courtroom 11, on the 19th floor, U.S. Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California 94102.On March 8, 2004. We received notice from the District Court letting us know they received the Mandate from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.On March 5, 2004. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued it's mandate stating, "APPEAL FROM the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco). THIS CAUSE came on to be heard on the Transcript of the Record from the United States District Court for the United States Northern District of California (San Francisco) and was duly submitted. ON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, It is now here ordered and adjudged by this Court, that the judgment of the said District Court in this cause be, and hereby is REVERSED AND REMANDED."February 25, 2004. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals DENIED John Ashcroft, et al. on petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc. In the rehearing was before Judges Pregerson, Beam, and Paez. "Judges Pregerson and Paez have voted to deny appellees petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc. Judge Beam voted to grant the petition for rehearing. Judge Beam is from the Eight Circuit. The full court has been advised of the petition for rehearing en banc and no judges has requested a vote on whether to rehear the matter en banc. The petition for rehearing and for rehearing en banc was DENIED."January 23, 2004. Appellees filed petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.December 16, 2003. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rules in support of patients and caregivers -- holding that the Federal government's actions against them are unconstitutional.October 7, 2003. Hearing in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The case was heard before judges Pregerson, Beam (8th Circuit), and Paez.August 12, 2003. Plaintiffs-Appellants' Motion to Assign Related Cases for Oral Argument on the Same Date and Before the Same Panel But to be Argued Separately.July 25, 2003. Order to Assign Case to the Next Available Merits Panel.On July 10, 2003. Appellants Letter of Recent Decision in the Lawrence v. Texas case.On June 17, 2003. Amici Curiae Letter from Butte County requesting to join the Amici Curiae Brief submitted by the State of California, Alameda County and the City of Oakland in Support of the Appellants.On June 11, 2003. Appellants file reply brief and then await a hearing date.On May 28, 2003. Appellees (Defendants) (Ashcroft & Hutchinson) filed their Answering Brief in the Court of Appeals.On April 23, 2003. Appellants (Plaintiffs) filed their Opening Brief in the Court of Appeals.On April 29, 2003. Amici Curiae Letter and Brief in Support of Appellants from the State of California, Alameda County, and the City of Oakland.On April 30, 2003. Amici Curiae Brief in Support of Appellants from the California Medical Association and the California Nurses Association.On April 30, 2003. Amici Curiae Brief in Support of Appellants from Marijuana Policy Project, Rick Doblin, Ph.D; and Ethan Russo M.D.On March 12, 2003. The Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.On March 5, 2003. The Court filed an order denying the preliminary injunction, despite finding that "the equitable factors tip in plaintiff's favor."December 17, 2002. Hearing before United States District Judge Martin J. Jenkins on the motion for preliminary injunction.October 9, 2002. Two medical cannabis patients, Angel McClary Raich, Diane Monson, and two caregivers, John Doe Number One, and John Doe Number Two filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction against Attorney General John Ashcroft and former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson. McClary Raich and Monson are asking Judge Martin J. Jenkins to issue a preliminary injunction during the pendency of this action and a permanent injunction enjoining defendants from arresting or prosecuting plaintiffs, seizing their medical cannabis, forfeiting their property, or seeking civil or administrative sanctions against them for their activities.According to the complaint, John Ashcroft and Asa Hutchinson are unconstitutionally exceeding their authority by embarking on a campaign of seizing or forfeiting privately-grown intrastate medical cannabis from California patients and caregivers, arresting or prosecuting such patients, mounting paramilitary raids against patients and caregivers, harassing patients and caregivers, and taking other civil or administrative actions against them.-- Compassion and Justice, Angel McClary Raich angel raich-v-ashcroft.com 510-764-1499Download the major pleadings from our litigation (Raich v. Ashcroft) at: http://raich-v-ashcroft.com and http://angeljustice.org or http://angeljustice.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by runruff on September 07, 2004 at 19:50:17 PT: social math Any sociologist worth his/her hempseed will tell you that any society were only 10% of the people disobey a law, said law is unenforcable. 10% in the case of cannabis/hemp prohibition in America is about 28 to 30 million people. Of course we all know as well as the social engineers in the federal gov't know the percentage numbers are much greater than ten percent. How many people would it take and how much money would it take to incarcerate more thaan 30 million people if the feds were serious about this war? Noam Chumsky said not to wast time telling theses idiots the truth. They already know the truth. They are about something else. Mostly job secerity. Who could jusify incarcerating another human being for the "crime" of expierencing a feeling of uphoria?E=hempseed2Namaste [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by goneposthole on September 07, 2004 at 18:51:40 PT two hundred billion wasted on the war in Iraq would have gone a long ways for all fifty states, too. Two hundred billion would have paid for the college education for twenty million college students for one full year at a cost of ten thousand dollars per year.The amount of money frittered out the windows of the hotels in the 'green zone' would have bought one billion ounces of cannabis at two hundred bucks on ounce.Give the guy back his cannabis. Do unto others what you would want done to yourself.That much money wasted on a stupid war is gluttony in its worst form.13,000 innocent Iraqi deaths come at a cost of somewhere near seventeen million dollars per death. At a cost of a thousand American soldiers so far, the cost is a staggering two hundred million dollars per death.We have a no account government with no hope of recovering from the mess it has created. It has done absolutely no good. The cost of empire is already too great to bear.Time to give the 'Republicans' and the coke snortin' George Bush the boot. Good riddance, too. The elephants look like jackasses. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by The GCW on September 07, 2004 at 18:33:10 PT U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq Pass 1,000 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20040908/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 07, 2004 at 18:31:22 PT mayan It isn't contraband but medicinal cannabis that's right. Calling it contraband makes it seem like it was illegal and it wasn't. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 07, 2004 at 18:28:11 PT siege The polls seem to lean towards Bush. I hope we see a change in the polls soon. We have Initiatives coming up and maybe we can win a few of them on election day. That will help if Bush gets in for 4 more years and will be great if Kerry wins because he might honor the Initiatives. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by siege on September 07, 2004 at 18:17:25 PT POLLS REAL CLEAR POLITICS http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Presidential_04/oh_polls.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by mayan on September 07, 2004 at 18:08:51 PT Contraband??? "We are not in the habit of returning contraband to someone. In this case, we believe the individual appears to be registered with the state and we are probably going to have to give it (some of the seized marijuana) back, but we are not going to do it without a court order.""Contraband"??? It seems to me it's medicine!FoM, that's interesting about Forchion. I think that if anybody should have to submit their DNA it is the cannabis prohibitionists since they are the real criminals. The way out is the way in...Listen to Sue Supriano Interview Mike Ruppert: http://www.suesupriano.com/Ruppert's New Book Out Soon! Crossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil http://www.fromthewilderness.com/store/index.shtmlMajor 9/11 Truth Events Planned World-Wide: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20040907162217669/11 Events Sept. 9th & Sept. 11th NYC: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/archive/scoop/stories/eb/3a/200409070044.c4f9006a.htmlPress Conference with Cynthia McKinney, 9/9 in NYC: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20040906223159916 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 07, 2004 at 15:50:08 PT The GCW I wasn't sure about the copyright and I went with the Daily Camera and thought I should archive it. Here it is if anyone would like to make a comment. I hope the copyright info is correct. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread19452.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on September 07, 2004 at 15:32:16 PT More Colorado::: New Boulder NORML Chapter New Boulder NORML ChapterBoulder Daily Camera Sept. 7, 2004http://www.bouldernews.com/bdc/county_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2423_3165022,00.htmlCounty gets NORML on pot Libertarians form chapter to advocate legal marijuanaBy Kate Larsen, Camera Staff Writer September 7, 2004Boulder County is getting normal . well, a NORML chapter anyway. Two local Libertarians got word last week from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws that their Boulder County chapter is official. Longmont resident Paul Tiger and Boulder resident Jeff Christen-Mitchell are hoping to grow the chapter beyond its current five members. "We decided that, look, there's a whole mess of card-carrying NORML members in the county and no organization to support them," Tiger said. There are about 105 NORML chapters nationwide. The Boulder chapter will bring the number in Colorado to two. The other chapter is at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. A chapter previously existed at the University of Colorado, but folded a few years ago. "Boulder is sort of a natural place to have a chapter," said Kris Krane, associate director of NORML. In addition to lobbying for the decriminalization of marijuana, Krane said the nonprofit also tries to fight the stereotype often associated with its users. "Most pot smokers are good citizens; they pay taxes and raise families," Krane said. "We don't feel they should be treated as criminals and we shouldn't be using taxpayers' dollars to do so." NORML also supports a legally controlled market for marijuana. Tiger, who is running for the District 2 seat on the Boulder County Board of Commissioners, said he's upset that federal law enforcement is cracking down on Coloradans using marijuana for medical purposes. In 2000, Colorado voters approved Amendment 20, which legalizes marijuana use for people who can legally claim a medical need. Those on the state registry may possess 2 ounces of marijuana and six marijuana plants and smoke or eat marijuana in their home. "We want to educate legislators that the government . the federal government . is infringing on the state; and here in Boulder County see an end to the drug task force," Tiger said. The Boulder County Drug Task Force isn't following its original charge to crack down on hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, Tiger said. Instead, the largely county-funded group spends it time busting marijuana offenders, he said. "Marijuana is an illegal drug on the books," said Lt. Steve Prentup, head of the Boulder County Drug Task Force. "We're charged with a task to enforce the law." Prentup said that while the task force's name may sound ominous, it's really just a way to collaborate law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions. Less than 3 percent of local law enforcement resources go to drug enforcement, he said. Christen-Mitchell, a founding member of the new Boulder NORML chapter, said what law enforcement is doing isn't working. He hopes the local chapter will spark others in Colorado. "Our next step is to try to organize at the state level," Christen-Mitchell said. ###Boulder NORML Phone: (303) 449-4854 Contact: Paul Tiger E-Mail: Boulder-NORML paultiger.comUniversity of Northern Colorado NORML 711 26th Ave. #1 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 405-4409 Contact: R. Shane Atkinson E-Mail: atki9207 blue.unco.edu --------------------------------------------------------------- Daily Camera P.O. Box 591 Boulder, CO 80306 Phone: 303-473-1305 Fax: 303-449-9358 Letters: openforum thedailycamera.com Web: www.thedailycamera.com *************************************************************** Re-distributed as a public service by the: Colorado Hemp Initiative Project Email: cohip levellers.org Web: http://www.levellers.org/cohip/ "Fighting over 60 years of lies and dis-information with 10,000 years of history and fact." [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 07, 2004 at 14:49:57 PT Article from The AP About Edward Forchion Judge: 'Weedman' right, partially, about state DNA law:http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--weedman0907sep07,0,5459217.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire [ Post Comment ] Post Comment