cannabisnews.com: Interest High in Mendocino County Pot Measure





Interest High in Mendocino County Pot Measure
Posted by FoM on October 05, 2000 at 10:01:28 PT
By Michelle Locke, Associated Press Writer
Source: Modesto Bee
The burning issue on Mendocino County's ballot, a grow-your-own marijuana measure, is a bit of a moot point. Hemp husbandry may be a hit with voters, but state and federal laws banning pot will still apply.Still, backers have high hopes for Measure G, which could become the first such law in the country. Alaska voters also are considering legalizing pot, but there is considerable contention over that measure, which includes offering restitution for time spent in prison for marijuana crimes.
Mendocino County's cannabis campaign faces no organized opposition."Measure G is a political statement by the people of Mendocino County that we think that the war on marijuana is hugely wasteful. We want to move political opinion and that's really what this initiative is all about," said Dan Hamburg, a former Democratic congressman turned Green Party activist who is among those backing the marijuana measure.Lovely and remote, Northern California's Mendocino County is the land of a thousand postcards. But beyond the white-gabled inns and soaring redwoods is another country. The "Emerald Triangle" where Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity counties converge about 150 miles north of San Francisco, produces a pot crop with a street value of around $1 billion annually. And it's no ordinary smoke. Prized by connoisseurs, Emerald Triangle marijuana commands up to $5,000 a pound.Last year, state anti-marijuana forces raiding the county's illicit pot farms seized more than 63,000 plants valued at more than $250 million.Measure G would prohibit sale or transportation of marijuana. But it would legalize uncounted hordes of pot YIMBYs -- Yes in my backyard -- by allowing residents to grow up to 25 plants for their own use. It also would direct county law enforcement to make busting small-time growers a low priority.Authorities here already do that; Sheriff Tony Craver is among the 5,900 residents -- twice the required amount -- who signed the petition to get Measure G on the ballot.Pass or fail, Craver said he will enforce state and federal bans on marijuana -- something he suspects will come as an unpleasant surprise to would-be pot farmers who interpret Measure G as a license to till. "I'm sure there'll be some political turmoil surrounding this issue."Most expect Measure G to pass considering that voters were 64.5 percent in favor of the 1996 state initiative allowing use of marijuana for medical reasons. That measure passed but is still being fought over in the courts.But support is not universal."I think it's going to give a mixed message to kids. And I think it's a bad message," said Gary Brawley, superintendent of the Ukiah Unified School District.A lunch-hour sample at the outdoor deck of a cafe in rural Boonville drew mixed opinions."I think it's a bunch of crap," said county resident Eddie Pardini. "Sure, there may be people that need it for medicinal purposes or whatever, but somewhere down the line it's going to be abused. Kids are going to get it."One table over, Hugh Hamilton thought he'd vote for it."I would say, why not? I think there are good cases for medical use and I really think a lot of time and money's being wasted in the war on drugs in going after the little stuff. I kind of see it as Prohibition all over again."At 82, Measure G backer Ann Deirup is old enough to remember Prohibition.A tree farmer near the seaside village of Mendocino, Deirup's never smoked a joint. But she thinks the current approach to marijuana makes no sense."I am not into the thing. I don't grow it. I don't smoke it. But I don't think it's as dangerous as alcohol," she said. Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA)Author: Michelle LockePublished: Thursday, October 5, 2000 Copyright: 2000 The Modesto BeeContact: letters modbee.comWebsite: http://www.modbee.com/Feedback: http://www.modbee.com/help/letters.htmlRelated Articles:Poll Pans Pot - Alaskahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7255.shtmlFree Hemp Battle Cry for Local Groups http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7254.shtml  Mendocino Pot Measure a First http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7077.shtmlCannabisNews Cannabis Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by legalizeit on October 05, 2000 at 16:28:41 PT
Here we go with the KIDZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ again
>"I think it's going to give a mixed message to kids. And I think it's a bad message," said Gary Brawley, superintendent of the Ukiah Unified School District.Grow up. Nobody said we wanted kids to smoke it, and never will. It's because of idiocy like prohibition and D.A.R.E. that kids want to smoke it in the first place.>"I think it's a bunch of crap," said county resident Eddie Pardini. "Sure, there may be people that need it for medicinal purposes or whatever, but somewhere down the line it's going to be abused. Kids are going to get it."Kids ALREADY get it! The real "bunch of crap" is prohibition laws that make kids getting it very easy.>Pass or fail, Craver said he will enforce state and federal bans on marijuana -- something he suspects will come as anunpleasant surprise to would-be pot farmers who interpret Measure G as a license to till.This is true hypocrisy in action. A cop actually supports a pro-pot measure, but pledges to keep the prohibition going even if it passes. What is his real motive, I wonder? If he's so pro-pot, he should be looking the other way as far as state and federal laws go, and let the state and federal thugs enforce their prohibition crap if they so desire.We're getting there, but have a long ways to go...
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