triprey
Concerned Medical Patient
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2007
- Messages
- 160
- Reaction score
- 51
C&P from Cannabis Culture Magazine
[SIZE=+2]US CA: Legalize It, Say Supes[/SIZE]
by Daniel Mintz, Eye Correspondent, (28 Aug 2007)
Arcata Eye California
HUMBOLDT Recognized as a sign of increasing public acceptance of marijuana, the county's Board of Supervisors has approved sending a letter to legislators urging them to support legalizing it.
Supervisor Roger Rodoni's proposed letter to Congressman Mike Thompson, Senate members and President Bush gained majority approval at the Aug. 21 board meeting, with the only token of doubt being an abstention from one supervisor. People speaking during public comment mostly favored marijuana liberation as well, and when Rodoni introduced the agenda item, he said it probably couldn't have been brought into a government forum until now.
Saying that "we've come a long way," Rodoni read the letter, which begins by pointing out the complications of state laws allowing medicinal use. That, and the split between state medical marijuana laws and federal ones that rank the plant as a dangerous, non-medical drug, puts police in "an untenable situation," the letter continues.
Then it moves on to more practical matters. "Local governments are in need of identifying stable revenue sources and could benefit greatly from the legalization and taxation of marijuana," the letter states. "The time has come to call upon our leaders in federal government to initiate legislation which will support the legalization of this multi-billion dollar crop."
The letter concludes by urging the passage of laws that will "legalize, regulate and tax marijuana."
Supervisor Jill Geist clarified that the letter does not signal an end to the local enforcement of existing marijuana laws. But she said that once legal, marijuana can be better regulated. "If you take a look at just the environmental damage and the illegal buildings that have been going up, the grading, the impacts to watersheds these are not things we can condone," Geist continued. "But I think it's time we bring it forward, make it a legitimate business with the same laws and regulations that apply to everything else including paying taxes."
Most of the 11 speakers in the public comment session agreed. Some compared marijuana laws to alcohol prohibition. Manila resident Rita Carlson, a member of the town's community services district, wore a "No More Drug War" t-shirt and told supervisors that supporting marijuana legalization jibes with their vows to uphold the Constitution. Arcata resident Gil Friedman said it's up to local and state governments to do the right thing when the feds don't.
But one speaker said legalizing marijuana is the wrong thing. "All you're doing this for is the money," Redway resident Fred Green told supervisors. "I've been through this at home I've got an addict for a son and how do you suppose this all happened?" He explained that before his son used meth, he started with "this funny little plant that grows -- marijuana." "You folks sitting there don't have this problem, I don't think, at your house like I do," said Green.
Supervisor Jimmy Smith was ambivalent, saying the subject is "a very difficult one for me." A supporter of medicinal use, Smith also pointed out the environmental impacts of large-scale growing and the involvement of the "Mexican Mafia." He said the letter might be "a start" toward addressing those dynamics.
But Smith represents two interests with opposite stances - he's a member of the county's Juvenile Justice Commission and is also on the board of directors of the local American Cancer Society - and he abstained from the vote.
Supervisor John Woolley said that state medical marijuana laws can't work as they should if federal laws remain as is. Commenting on Rodoni's assertion that the letter reflects trends, Woolley said legalization "has been a topic for some time and its timing makes political sense."
Board Chairman Bonnie Neely described herself as "a strong supporter of the Compassionate Use Act" and joined Rodoni, Woolley and Geist in voting to send the letter. But all realize it's not likely to move legal markers. The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors sent a similar letter to the same lawmakers last spring, and Congressman Thompson responded by saying legalization will have to wait a little longer.
In a prepared statement, he said legislators have failed to gain support for the Right to Medical Marijuana Act, a bill that seeks to allow states to legalize marijuana for medical use without federal restriction. The bill has been introduced a number of times but has failed to make it to the floor for a vote.
"Unfortunately, this bill hasn't passed and the likelihood of passing a bill that legalizes all marijuana is a real long shot at this time," Thompson said.
[SIZE=-1]MAP posted-by: Richard Lake[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]US CA: Legalize It, Say Supes[/SIZE]
by Daniel Mintz, Eye Correspondent, (28 Aug 2007)
Arcata Eye California
HUMBOLDT Recognized as a sign of increasing public acceptance of marijuana, the county's Board of Supervisors has approved sending a letter to legislators urging them to support legalizing it.
Supervisor Roger Rodoni's proposed letter to Congressman Mike Thompson, Senate members and President Bush gained majority approval at the Aug. 21 board meeting, with the only token of doubt being an abstention from one supervisor. People speaking during public comment mostly favored marijuana liberation as well, and when Rodoni introduced the agenda item, he said it probably couldn't have been brought into a government forum until now.
Saying that "we've come a long way," Rodoni read the letter, which begins by pointing out the complications of state laws allowing medicinal use. That, and the split between state medical marijuana laws and federal ones that rank the plant as a dangerous, non-medical drug, puts police in "an untenable situation," the letter continues.
Then it moves on to more practical matters. "Local governments are in need of identifying stable revenue sources and could benefit greatly from the legalization and taxation of marijuana," the letter states. "The time has come to call upon our leaders in federal government to initiate legislation which will support the legalization of this multi-billion dollar crop."
The letter concludes by urging the passage of laws that will "legalize, regulate and tax marijuana."
Supervisor Jill Geist clarified that the letter does not signal an end to the local enforcement of existing marijuana laws. But she said that once legal, marijuana can be better regulated. "If you take a look at just the environmental damage and the illegal buildings that have been going up, the grading, the impacts to watersheds these are not things we can condone," Geist continued. "But I think it's time we bring it forward, make it a legitimate business with the same laws and regulations that apply to everything else including paying taxes."
Most of the 11 speakers in the public comment session agreed. Some compared marijuana laws to alcohol prohibition. Manila resident Rita Carlson, a member of the town's community services district, wore a "No More Drug War" t-shirt and told supervisors that supporting marijuana legalization jibes with their vows to uphold the Constitution. Arcata resident Gil Friedman said it's up to local and state governments to do the right thing when the feds don't.
But one speaker said legalizing marijuana is the wrong thing. "All you're doing this for is the money," Redway resident Fred Green told supervisors. "I've been through this at home I've got an addict for a son and how do you suppose this all happened?" He explained that before his son used meth, he started with "this funny little plant that grows -- marijuana." "You folks sitting there don't have this problem, I don't think, at your house like I do," said Green.
Supervisor Jimmy Smith was ambivalent, saying the subject is "a very difficult one for me." A supporter of medicinal use, Smith also pointed out the environmental impacts of large-scale growing and the involvement of the "Mexican Mafia." He said the letter might be "a start" toward addressing those dynamics.
But Smith represents two interests with opposite stances - he's a member of the county's Juvenile Justice Commission and is also on the board of directors of the local American Cancer Society - and he abstained from the vote.
Supervisor John Woolley said that state medical marijuana laws can't work as they should if federal laws remain as is. Commenting on Rodoni's assertion that the letter reflects trends, Woolley said legalization "has been a topic for some time and its timing makes political sense."
Board Chairman Bonnie Neely described herself as "a strong supporter of the Compassionate Use Act" and joined Rodoni, Woolley and Geist in voting to send the letter. But all realize it's not likely to move legal markers. The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors sent a similar letter to the same lawmakers last spring, and Congressman Thompson responded by saying legalization will have to wait a little longer.
In a prepared statement, he said legislators have failed to gain support for the Right to Medical Marijuana Act, a bill that seeks to allow states to legalize marijuana for medical use without federal restriction. The bill has been introduced a number of times but has failed to make it to the floor for a vote.
"Unfortunately, this bill hasn't passed and the likelihood of passing a bill that legalizes all marijuana is a real long shot at this time," Thompson said.
[SIZE=-1]MAP posted-by: Richard Lake[/SIZE]
