cannabisnews.com: County Commissioners Amend Initiative 2 County Commissioners Amend Initiative 2 Posted by CN Staff on March 22, 2007 at 12:40:38 PT By Tristan Scott of the Missoulian Source: Missoulian Montana -- Missoula County commissioners voted Wednesday to narrow the scope of a ballot initiative that deprioritizes adult marijuana crimes, despite the unwieldy presence of community members who opposed any changes.The countywide measure, dubbed Initiative 2, was approved by 55 percent of Missoula's electorate in the November election, and calls on authorities to make all adult marijuana crimes a lowest law-enforcement priority, including felony possession, growing and selling. Until now.Following Wednesday's public hearing, which drew opposition from almost 30 residents and attracted an overflow audience more than twice that size, the commissioners approved the amendments in a 2-1 majority vote.The commissioners scheduled the public hearing in response to a contentious proposal by County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg, who urged the commissioners to amend Initiative 2 so it excludes felony amounts of marijuana, arguing that voters didn't realize the full range of the measure when they supported it.In making his case for the amendments, Van Valkenburg emphasized that Initiative 2 is a mere suggestion to county law enforcement, and doesn't change any laws prohibiting marijuana use. He argued that his amendments are true to the spirit of Initiative 2, but draw a simple distinction between misdemeanor and felony amounts - possession of more than 60 grams is a felony.“The people who advocate this initiative have chosen to turn on me as someone who is trying to thwart the democratic process. But I am trying my best to implement this initiative in a reasonable fashion,” Van Valkenburg said. “If (opponents of the amendments) really want someone in law enforcement to stand up and say they will make marijuana-related offenses their lowest priority, I am willing to do that for misdemeanor offenses. I haven't heard that from anybody else in law enforcement.”Sheriff Mike McMeekin, on the other hand, has publicly stated he won't impose a new set of priorities on his deputies, and maintains that neither the initiative nor the amendments will affect the way his department operates.But perhaps what roiled Wednesday's attendants the most was Van Valkenburg's assertion that “a gut feeling” led him to believe Missoula's electorate misinterpreted the ballot language.“Are you calling the people in this county dumb?” asked Barry Adams. “Are you saying that people didn't read this initiative?”Other speakers, young and old, implored the commissioners to uphold democracy and respect the will of the people.John Masterson, chairman of the nine-member committee that oversees implementation of the initiative, said Wednesday's hearing was about more than marijuana use or citizens' initiatives.“This conversation is about democracy,” Masterson said. “Amending this initiative at this early juncture would betray the trust of the voters. Blaming the passage of this initiative on a mistake insults the voters and the process.”But Van Valkenburg disagreed, and said his background as an elected official - both as county attorney and as a Montana legislator - has given him a firm understanding of the constituency's wants and needs.Van Valkenburg then displayed a blown-up map showing that a majority of votes supporting Initiative 2 came from within Missoula city limits, where the measure has no effect. County votes against the measure outweighed those in favor by 10 percent, according to the map.“This only applies to county officials,” he said. “The city police will go on their merry way.”The board's lone dissenter was commissioner Bill Carey, who said the county attorney's office should continue using its discretion when processing marijuana cases, and that any amendment would be superfluous.“I believe we ought to implement the initiative as approved by voters,” he said. “It cannot and does not make them do anything.”“The county attorney should continue to use his discretion in this regard,” Carey said.Source: Missoulian (MT)Author: Tristan Scott of the MissoulianPublished: March 22, 2007Copyright: 2007 MissoulianContact: oped missoulian.comWebsite: http://www.missoulian.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Citizens for Responsible Crime Policyhttp://www.responsiblecrimepolicy.org/Marijuana Initiative Passeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22365.shtmlMarijuana Initiative Qualifies for Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22114.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by whig on March 23, 2007 at 12:12:25 PT We have been inside an egg The shell is cracked and light is shining in. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by whig on March 23, 2007 at 12:09:33 PT dongenero They aren't used to democracy. It's a whole new thing to them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by dongenero on March 23, 2007 at 07:18:37 PT democratic process These folks should be looking for new jobs at this very minute. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mayan on March 22, 2007 at 17:27:34 PT Bullsh*t The commissioners scheduled the public hearing in response to a contentious proposal by County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg, who urged the commissioners to amend Initiative 2 so it excludes felony amounts of marijuana, arguing that voters didn't realize the full range of the measure when they supported it.Stupid voters. Maybe there should be pictures on the ballots for them! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Toker00 on March 22, 2007 at 15:18:11 PT potpal I like that idea. Can I be the 61st person? Seems like a good shot of their own medicine is just what these crooks need. I would never drop a dime on anyone, but I'm talking about real human beings, not these A holes. Law suits seem to be what is effective, but WAY to slow for change. We need a method of applying pressure that is unconventional. Budget cuts are effective, but we, (that's us), don't control budgets. But we CAN come to control Congress. We took a major step in that direction last November. A co-worker went to New York over Spring break and took hundreds of photos of the Iraq War protests. He is going to share, and when I have something to share, I will. I asked if any photos were of 9-11 Truthers, and again, the "caught in the headlight" look comes on his face, but a progressive conversation followed with him admitting something is wrong, but it is just too unbelievable to him now. Remember that feeling? Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by potpal on March 22, 2007 at 13:33:04 PT 61 people Mail Van Valkenburg a gram of herb, the 61st call the cops and dime him out.Prohibition, the convenient lie. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on March 22, 2007 at 13:32:29 PT Scoundrels! What a shame that tarring and feathering has fallen out of vogue. The USA: land of the free!* *unless the government doesn't like you. Then, you're a slave. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on March 22, 2007 at 13:23:27 PT Fire More Politicians and District Attorneys This is clear case of elected officials telling their constituients to shove it. The only choice the People have, is to keep electing someone else until the newly elected officials listen to the People.Until then, the only thing we can do is keep fighting charges in court and finding evidence of scandal or fraud on law enforcement and district attorneys who support marijuana prohibition. What comes around... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by whig on March 22, 2007 at 13:20:32 PT Arrest God Felonious Manufacture of Large Quantities (really large) of Cannabis in violation of FEDERAL LAW. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment