cannabisnews.com: It’s High Time It’s High Time Posted by CN Staff on March 08, 2007 at 09:35:22 PT Badger Herald Editorial Board Source: Badger Herald Wisconsin -- In the face of shrinking budgets, increased methamphetamine production and growing crime rates, the Dane County district attorney’s office is going on record to say the county will not file criminal charges for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard told The Associated Press early this week that state funding has not kept pace with the county’s growing population, and his shrinking staff will soon fall to its lowest level since 1988. This policy is a welcome attempt toward freeing up resources, especially as area law enforcement officials devise new strategies aimed at reducing more pressing criminal activity. The Madison community should be pleased that the district attorney’s office has its priorities straight and is more interested in protecting potential victims than creating criminals. They have correctly acknowledged that possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana does not constitute a serious threat to public safety. Thus, criminally prosecuting such minor cases would represent a gross misuse of the department’s already sparse funding. In addition to the recent announcement, Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer told a Badger Herald reporter this week the district attorney’s office has already “been following this policy in an informal way for quite some time.” We are also pleased by what seems to be a trend toward codifying unwritten policies within Madison’s public agencies. According to some sources in the city government, the Alcohol License Review Committee’s Alcohol Density Plan — though incredibly flawed — also seeks to codify unwritten policy, and the Madison Police Department released written interviewing procedures last week that have already been in use. The public deserves transparency from its civil servants and local government, and publishing public policy spurs debate and encourages policy refinement — which is always a good thing.Despite the new guidelines, marijuana possession can still attract a fine of up to $1,000 — so don’t break out the bong just yet. Further, criminal charges may still be filed against people who commit additional offenses. This policy is not meant to sanction or promote the use of marijuana; instead, it aims to give the offense a level of priority that reflects reality. This common-sense plan will help alleviate strain on the district attorney’s office and police resources, allowing the local government to focus its efforts on more serious offenders.Source: Badger Herald (Edu, Madison, WI)Published: Thursday, March 8, 2007Copyright: 2007 Badger HeraldContact: editor badgerherald.comWebsite: http://www.badgerherald.com/Related Article & Web Site:Madison NORMLhttp://www.madisonnorml.org/ No Prosecution for a Little Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22704.shtmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by Wayne on March 10, 2007 at 06:06:50 PT Re: potpal #5 The last line caught my attention:"You need to find a balance with does the medication make the child's life easier or are you prescribing it to make life easier for the adults around them."I second that. That's a choice that NO ONE in this country is willing to admit to. My guess is the majority of prescribed cases in the US of A are mostly the latter. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 09, 2007 at 20:54:33 PT Dankhank Here's another NY trailer for the archives from 1963 to 1972. It looks like it will be really good.http://www.repriserecords.com/neilarchives/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 19:49:34 PT Dankhank I'm glad you liked it. I am looking forward to the CD-DVD. I ordered it today. To get the free shipping I buy something else I want to get to $25 to qualify for the free shipping. We bought a CD by John Prine called Souvenirs. That's the first of his music we ever bought. I'm sure it will be good. http://www.jpshrine.org/souvenirs/index.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Dankhank on March 08, 2007 at 19:18:27 PT Neil just listened to Ohio ...powerful oh man ...Cowgirl in the sand is playing now ...Neil unplugged .....fantastic ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 19:15:10 PT Toker00 This is really how I look at what is important to me these days. I want to see people like them one more time.Abraham, Martin and Johnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O700tzlHoSQ [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 17:51:49 PT Off Topic: Massey Hall Massey Hall is coming out on March 13th and I am getting anxious to see and hear it. Here are some of the songs that are being played. This is from 1971.http://www.hyfntrak.com/neilyoung3/fromafriend/go.php [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 17:17:52 PT Toker00 I am really excited about the direction we are heading. I think what really makes me happy is reading Obama's blog and seeing a spirit in the people that I have always had deep inside. So many remember how bad it was when all hell broke loose and we lost JFK then MLK and then Robert Kennedy. I quit caring then and so many others did too. When you really believe in a person they get killed so why care? That's what happened back then but hope is starting to return. It's really a happening. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Toker00 on March 08, 2007 at 16:54:31 PT FoM What we are seeing is "Movement". People taking the actions necessary to promote change. We have a "Movement". Now, Congress had a movement today. Here is a chance to pick one of their "Movements".http://www.truemajority.org/iraq_poll/Only WE can make a difference because THEY ain't looking for change. THEY don't WANT change. WE do. Corporate Slavery is over, if you want it.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 15:42:31 PT Toker00 One thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt is things are changing. I have hope and I haven't had hope for such a long time. It really started when Bush was voted in this last election. I felt detached from the people in our country. Now I see the anger coming from all directions towards this administration and my faith in the people is slowly coming back. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Toker00 on March 08, 2007 at 15:38:55 PT Truth: One thing... AMEN!Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Toker00 on March 08, 2007 at 15:37:29 PT FoM. Go Vermont! Thanks for posting that. These people are barking, but they are barking up the wrong tree. Bush WILL NOT be impeached on anything less than 9-11 TREASON. The politicians are not the ones who will expose 9-11 Truth. We will. THE PEOPLE. And we are going to do it in such a way that it cannot be denied. It cannot be ignored. We must. 9-11 Truth has been simmering for a long time. It's almost Done. It's almost time to put it ON THE TABLE and serve it up to the People, to the Politicians, to the Police, to the Pope, and to the President. WE KNOW! Our government is CORRUPT to HELL! And we don't like it. So what are we gonna do about it? We're gonna change it. That's right. Uh huh. CHANGE IT. From corrupt to competent. America: From Fascism to Freedom. There is no other choice.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 14:32:48 PT Press Release From The Marijuana Policy Project New Hampshire Voters Support Medical Marijuana, New Poll Sayshttp://www.mpp.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=glKZLeMQIsG&b=1157875&ct=3641449 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by potpal on March 08, 2007 at 13:59:16 PT For the children - ot http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6425977.stm [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Truth on March 08, 2007 at 13:41:51 PT One thing..... God Bless Cannabis! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 12:57:18 PT Off Topic: Vermont Towns Seek To Impeach Bush http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/07/AR2007030700431.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 08, 2007 at 12:32:48 PT whig I hadn't seen it but I heard about the case in the UK. It just goes to show everyone this is a universal issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by whig on March 08, 2007 at 11:44:34 PT FoM Did you see this?http://tinyurl.com/yvevwb [ Post Comment ] Post Comment