cannabisnews.com: Council OKs Tougher Pot Penalty





Council OKs Tougher Pot Penalty
Posted by CN Staff on March 30, 2006 at 06:32:53 PT
By Joe Wessels, Post Contributor
Source: Cincinnati Post
Ohio -- In a move that supporters claimed would give police more crime-fighting powers, City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday to make possession of small amounts of marijuana punishable by fines and jail time.For first-time offenders, the measure makes the possession of less than 200 grams a fourth-degree misdemeanor, with maximum penalties of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. Subsequent offenses would be a first-degree misdemeanor, with maximum penalties of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Until now, those caught with less than 100 grams of the drug in the city were only ticketed and not subject to arrest.Elevating the offense to a misdemeanor enables police to arrest and then subsequently search suspects, said Council Member Cecil Thomas, chairman of the Law & Public Safety Committee and sponsor of the ordinance.Police Chief Thomas H. Streicher Jr. said the expanded search powers the ordinance affords would likely lead to seizure of other contraband, such as guns. The new law would also require defendants to go to a judge who could sentence them to drug rehab programs.Councilman David Crowley, who with Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell opposed the ordinance, called it "regressive."Mayor Mark Mallory said he would allow the measure to become law without his signature, as a show of his disapproval. But to veto it would be an "an exercise of futility," he said, since supporters had sufficient votes for a veto override.Thomas said drug dealers who frequent the city know exactly how much they can carry under Ohio law - up to 100 grams, about the size of a cigarette - and only be subject to a "pay out" ticket.Streicher said marijuana possession laws in Kentucky and Indiana are much stiffer. With Cincinnati's proximity to those states and easy access, drug dealers find the city a haven to ply their trade, he said. "If I was going to buy a lawn mower and in two places it costs $400 and in one it cost $250, guess where you are going to go."But Crowley said studies show that 90 percent of those cited for marijuana possession were from the city and Thomas' ordinance was unneeded. Last year, Cincinnati police handed out 4,100 marijuana citations, according to Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz.Tarbell said he'd heard from no one expressing support for the law, but several people had contacted his office opposed to it. No one spoke in favor of the legislation at Wednesday's meeting, but several spoke against it.Thomas said neighborhood groups were willing to come and speak for the ordinance, but he told them he had the votes to get it passed.Though the ordinance, as well as Ohio law, does not distinguish between those who use marijuana for medical or recreational reasons, Thomas does not expect police to target college students or those who use it to self-medicate."That's not who they'll be going after," he said. "I'm not concerned about that because crime is occurring in our troubled neighborhoods."In fact, Thomas said he is not totally opposed to legalizing the drug, though Council does not have the authority to do that. His main concern with that would be the negative impact on public health.Source: Cincinnati Post (OH)Author: Joe Wessels, Post ContributorPublished: March 30, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Cincinnati PostContact: postedits cincypost.comWebsite: http://www.cincypost.com/Related Article:Tougher Pot Penalty is Opposed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21597.shtmlToughened Penalty for Pot Has Found Support http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21561.shtml
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Comment #44 posted by Toker00 on April 01, 2006 at 05:55:57 PT
potpal
Hey,dude. You tell 'em. No, you show 'em. Cannabists are ACHIEVERS.Toke.
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Comment #43 posted by afterburner on March 31, 2006 at 23:02:07 PT
Counter Counter-Attack of the Prohibitionists
"Global ganja culture should now be going on the offensive. We have the prohibitionists on the run, we have momentum and public opinion on our side, and we must articulate a vision of how we want our culture and our plant defined in the new millennium."- Dana Larsen, Editor of Cannabis CultureCounter counter-attack of the prohibitionists in Cincinnati. Speak out Ohioans. Speak out cannabis lovers. Share your vision with your neighbors.
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Comment #42 posted by FoM on March 31, 2006 at 17:54:04 PT
potpal 
It's good to see you. It sounds like you like your new job. 
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Comment #41 posted by potpal on March 31, 2006 at 17:38:54 PT
Checking in...
Hi gang. Still out here, just working my arse off. Begun my new gig as a programmer analyst and learning new s/w to go with it. Funny how a 35 year, every day, user of the demon weed can actually thrive in such a demanding environment.These guys are taking the HI out of O hi o. It's depressing really. Cops and robbers, one and the same.Aloha beau coup to my pot pals.
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Comment #40 posted by whig on March 31, 2006 at 12:32:23 PT
BGreen
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
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Comment #39 posted by BGreen on March 31, 2006 at 11:02:48 PT
Say Whaaaat?
In fact, Thomas said he is not totally opposed to legalizing the drug, though Council does not have the authority to do that. His main concern with that would be the negative impact on public health.You mean they can impose a harsher penalty involving jail time for something that used to be just a fine, but they can't LOWER the penalty for any crime?This country THRIVES on PUNISHMENT.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #38 posted by unkat27 on March 31, 2006 at 10:43:17 PT
More Legal Thievery
"Last year, Cincinnati police handed out 4,100 marijuana citations, according to Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz."Hmm, 4100 x $250 = $1,105,000Not bad, for an easy killing. No law can stop stealth if stealth is the law.
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Comment #37 posted by John Tyler on March 30, 2006 at 19:42:24 PT
Racist laws
Here is the whole point…They want to be able to selectively enforce this law in the troubled neighborhoods. Here is what it means…We aren’t going to bother the white folks, but we are going to come down hard on the low income black neighborhoods. It is just racist. It is part of the cradle to prison social program. 
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Comment #36 posted by mayan on March 30, 2006 at 13:48:08 PT
$ $ Rehab $ $
The new law would also require defendants to go to a judge who could sentence them to drug rehab programs.So are the city council members on the take from the drug rehab industry or what? My prediction is that these city council members will also be unemployed before too long.
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 10:43:51 PT
Dankhank
Thank you. I turned off my music and turned on the movie and it was just starting. I love Bruce Dern. He is my kind of loon.He was great in The Burbs! LOL!
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Comment #34 posted by Dankhank on March 30, 2006 at 10:38:22 PT
on Sundance soon ...
Silent Running ...great movie starring Bruce Dern trying to save the last forest of Earth ... it's in space ...
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 10:20:37 PT
Article By John Stossel 
Rethinking The Drug WarBy John Stossel http://tinyurl.com/p9z7p
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Comment #32 posted by observer on March 30, 2006 at 09:53:16 PT
''our troubled neighborhoods''
"That's not who they'll be going after," he said. "I'm not concerned about that because crime is occurring in our troubled neighborhoods."Translation: ''We want to arrest black, hispanic people. We want to stick it to poor people, regardless of their color. (But mostly, we want to punish and enslave black people.)If pressed, we'll claim we're only saving kids from 'drugs'.''And what's this "our troubled neighborhoods" schlock? How much you want to bet that fascist little councilperson doesn't live where they suggest their little laws should be unevenly enforced? 
http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pot
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 09:44:54 PT
Whig and Toker00
I will talk to my husband this weekend and try to figure it out. We live 100 miles from an airport and we don't have enough room to put people up in the house but we do have a couple nice motels within ten miles and we can get to them on a nice scenic road from here. We probably could rent an RV for people to stay in. We can take care of water and sewer hook ups without a problem. It would have to be late summer like August if we tried it this year. We are going to be working on our house and we should be done with the outside by August.
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 09:33:02 PT
Toker00
That's half of the land in the pictures. We are never bothered out here. We could have music as loud as we want. 
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Comment #29 posted by whig on March 30, 2006 at 09:31:56 PT
Toke/FoM
Whenever you say the word, FoM.
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 09:30:04 PT
Toker00
Woo! Woo! Woo!Can I say Go Women? LOL!Seriously women look at the emotional part of the drug war more then men. Men want to be able to do what they want and fight it that way but women want to fix it because they don't want to see people in jail over a plant.
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Comment #27 posted by Toker00 on March 30, 2006 at 09:29:05 PT
Hey Whig
Look at FoM's land pictures. Is this where we will gather?Toke.
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Comment #26 posted by Toker00 on March 30, 2006 at 09:26:53 PT
FoM
I know I'm a bit late with this, but HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH!Toke.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #25 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 09:25:36 PT
Related Article from Snipped Source
City OKs Jail Time for Pot***Thursday, March 30, 2006The consequence of getting caught with a joint - or any amount of marijuana less than 100 grams - just became more serious in Cincinnati.City Council voted, 6-2, to increase the penalty for possessing a small amount of marijuana. Under the old law, it was a minor misdemeanor that brought a ticket and a $100 fine.As of today, it's a fourth-degree misdemeanor that now means immediate arrest - along with a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. A second offense is now a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.At four hearings held by City Council, no one spoke in favor of the law, but dozens spoke out against it - and more would have opposed it but for fears of admitting they smoke marijuana now, opponents said.Snipped:Complete Article: http://tinyurl.com/gqrfw
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Comment #24 posted by Toker00 on March 30, 2006 at 09:25:17 PT
FoM
Who was that saying women aren't too involved in our Movement? Here is some really GREAT news for Texas!http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/428/texaslwv.shtmlThank ya Mam's.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!
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Comment #23 posted by Richard Zuckerman on March 30, 2006 at 09:22:50 PT:
MISDIRECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.
This morning, I called my local State Senators, Barbara Buono, a member of the N.J. State Senate Health Committee and Bob Smith, a member of the N.J. Senate Environment Committee, and asked for their support for medical Marijuana and Hemp. I also called N.J. State Senate Joseph Vitale, Chairman, Senate Health Committee, to ask for S. 88 to be posted for a vote. S. 2200, identical to S. 88, are for Medical Marijuana, and we could not obtain any progress on Med Pot legislation because Senator Vitale REFUSED TO POST THE BILL FOR A VOTE!! MY TELEPHONE CALL THIS MORNING IS TO ASK THAT HE POST S. 88 FOR A VOTE!!About 15 minutes ago, I printed out two pages from www.hempcar.org, the "Petrol v. Hemp" pages, to send to aforementioned Senator Bob Smith, of the N.J. Senate Health Committee. His secretary suggested I send another letter asking for his attention to the benefits of Hemp, because he failed to respond to my previous letter regarding same.I hope the city council members who support the recriminalization of Marijuana are voted out of the office at the very next election!!!!
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 09:13:39 PT
Off Topic
I uploaded two pictures of the land we could have an event on someday. The houses are ours but they aren't the one we live in.
Pictures
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Comment #21 posted by Genthirdday on March 30, 2006 at 09:12:03 PT
Rockefeller Reform
Interesting article at Alternet Drug Reporter by Anthony Papa, a New York State ex con drug activist reformer.Hope the link works. http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/
"Awaiting Real Rockefeller Reform"
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Comment #20 posted by whig on March 30, 2006 at 08:57:30 PT
Max
Sorry, I didn't do the math either, I just repeated what they said, but yeah. 100g would be a lot more than a cigarette. I'm more used to thinking in imperial units.
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Comment #19 posted by Max Flowers on March 30, 2006 at 08:53:39 PT
100g cigarette?!
What the heck are they talking about?100g is nearly a quarter pound, that's 4 ounces. That is a big fat bag. A big joint (cigarette sized is big, to me) is about ONE gram (or less).
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Comment #18 posted by whig on March 30, 2006 at 08:40:25 PT
Quantity
[i[Thomas said drug dealers who frequent the city know exactly how much they can carry under Ohio law - up to 100 grams, about the size of a cigarette - and only be subject to a "pay out" ticket.So 100 grams, about the size of a cigarette, or say one joint, isn't personal possession, but obviously a quantity that "dealers" would normally carry. One joint -- you're a dealer? What is wrong with these people?
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 08:34:10 PT
Oh a Happening!
Yes I agree Had Enough!
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Comment #16 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2006 at 08:29:59 PT
Freedom Jam
"If I could figure out how to have something here I sure would. My husband and I have talked about it many times. I just don't know how to do it."Don't worry, many here know how to take care of that. Done it before, would like to do it again. Although it's been awhile.
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Comment #15 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2006 at 08:26:35 PT
Sometimes.....
Sometimes the best things in life just happen. This is what you do. Thank God for that.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 08:25:40 PT
Freedom Jam
If I could figure out how to have something here I sure would. My husband and I have talked about it many times. I just don't know how to do it. 
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Comment #13 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2006 at 08:23:16 PT
HollyWood
Like it or not FoM. You are becoming celebrity status. :)It’s probably not what, you want but here it is. You will do fine.See you at the "Freedom Jam" in your back yard.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 08:21:56 PT
Had Enough 
I have wondered over the years why I am doing this. I didn't plan it. I didn't look for this to happen. All I wanted was to be able to help. I believe we must serve somebody and we should pick who we will serve. The people here are fine people and that's why I can keep going. I don't look for an end but I keep my mind on where we are now. I live with a dream of liberty for people who don't think well inside a box. I guess that is freedom.
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Comment #11 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2006 at 08:12:25 PT
Because You Care FoM
That's why many people consider you, "The First Lady of Cannabis."Thank You for all you do.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 08:08:05 PT
 goneposthole 
My goodness what a compliment. I'm not great. I just care. We all our great because we all care or we wouldn't be here talking like we do. 
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Comment #9 posted by goneposthole on March 30, 2006 at 07:58:45 PT
FoM
You know what, FoM? You're great. You should host Saturday Night Live sometime.You are legendary. You have become larger than life.You have done a great job here at cannabisnews.Hats off to you! You do deserve a pat on the back.Maybe you could run for the governorship of Ohio or something like that.You could win the race.Slowly but surely wins the race.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 07:56:19 PT
Off Topic
It is so good to see Randy McCloy talking and going home. I love victory and love stories. Rescued miner McCloy speaks out for first timehttp://msnbc.msn.com/id/12072995/
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 07:40:52 PT
dongenero 
I know that democrats are wishy washy but republicans want to lock everyone up for any little thing. Money is their god it seems and people's rights aren't even considered or if they are I sure don't see it. Since Bush got in office our country has gone down the tubes. I hope it's not too late to fix it all.
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Comment #6 posted by ekim on March 30, 2006 at 07:36:13 PT
4,100 last yr. Cincy will have to build a new jail
Thomas said drug dealers who frequent the city know exactly how much they can carry under Ohio law - up to 100 grams, about the size of a cigarette - and only be subject to a "pay out" ticket.But Crowley said studies show that 90 percent of those cited for marijuana possession were from the city and Thomas' ordinance was unneeded. Last year, Cincinnati police handed out 4,100 marijuana citations, according to Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz.
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #5 posted by siege on March 30, 2006 at 07:35:37 PT
Uncle come look   me, I'M a good little nazi
In a scene that could have been inspired by the movie "Minority Report," one North Carolina county is using a UAV equipped with low-light and infrared cameras to keep watch on its citizens. The aircraft has been dispatched to monitor gatherings of motorcycle riders at the Gaston County fairgrounds from just a few hundred feet in the air--close enough to identify faces--and many more uses, such as the aerial detection of marijuana fields, are planned.http://news.com.com/Drone+aircraft+may+prowl+U.S.+skies/2100-11746_3-6055658.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by dongenero on March 30, 2006 at 07:34:15 PT
FoM
hear, hear!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 30, 2006 at 07:12:18 PT
goneposthole 
Because this is my state it is annoying. If they tried to do that locally I don't believe it would happen. They tried in another town to raise the penalty a little and it was shot down. Why turn back the clocks on what is working? I figured it was because it bordered Kentucky and that is why the penalty was increased to stop over the state line sales I suppose. I bet they are mostly Republicans in charge of changing the law. When I vote this fall it will be the first time in a non presidential election. I will vote across the board one way and one way only. We must get back to reality.
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Comment #2 posted by dongenero on March 30, 2006 at 07:11:36 PT
oh yeah, this will work....
Council member Thomas. Make the law more stringent, that will work. Just look at all the other cities where cannabis is a misdemeanor or felony. Yep, cannabis everywhere.
It will have no effect other than the draconian punishment of our countries fair citizens. You prohibitionists are a vindictive, evil lot.There is just as much cannabis around, whether it is a citation, midemeanor or felony. It...has...no....effect....repaeat after me.Also, I wager that this regressive law will indeed be used to arrest college students,and those who use it to self medicate.
Those statements are so disingenuous. He is lying through his teeth.
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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on March 30, 2006 at 07:04:09 PT
it isn't going to work
25,000 metric tons of cannabis bought and sold each and every year in the good ol' US of A means some 70 tons of cannabis are bought and sold every DAY. That's the reality.What will work? Legalization.Prohibition gimmicks don't work and never have worked.
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