cannabisnews.com: Big Water's Lenient Marijuana Law Goes Up in Smoke Big Water's Lenient Marijuana Law Goes Up in Smoke Posted by FoM on December 19, 2001 at 13:17:54 PT By Thomas Burr, The Salt Lake Tribune Source: Salt Lake Tribune Citing police harassment, the Town Council voted Tuesday to repeal a 3-week-old ordinance making it only a $10 fine to possess small amounts of marijuana. Three of the council's four members, including acting Mayor Raymond Rankin, voted to dump the ordinance, which was passed by a unanimous council Nov. 27. Councilwoman Francine Hoover was absent from Tuesday's meeting. "We didn't undo state law with the marijuana ordinance. We just made the punishment fit the crime," Councilman Willy Marshall, who wrote and presented the ordinance, said before the meeting. "I guess it's too progressive for Utah." The ordinance had essentially decriminalized the possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana and made possessing drug paraphernalia only a $5 fine. Before the meeting, Marshall said he brought the ordinance up because penalties for marijuana should be lowered. Under state law the possession of less than an ounce is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Before the council meeting, Marshall and Rankin said harassment from the Utah Highway Patrol pressured them into repealing the ordinance. "It's not worth the damage," Rankin said of the cost of being harassed. The Highway Patrol has defended its one-day crackdown in Big Water, saying it was a "special enforcement" action planned before the ordinance came up. The council's action also came after Kane County Sheriff Lamont Smith said he would not be able to renew his contract to provide police services in the town of 400 if the ordinance stayed in place. The contract expires Jan. 1. Smith also took issue with an ordinance passed the same night creating a citizen review board for the sheriff's deputies that patrol the area. That ordinance, which allowed the town to seek penalties against the deputies, was also repealed. "With these ordinances in there, I just couldn't do business with Big Water," Smith said Tuesday. "It conflicts with state law." Apparently no one was charged with possession of marijuana under the lenient ordinance, but that does not surprise resident Lindie Fenlon. "There are no more drugs here than anywhere else," she said. "Most people I've talked to just think the marijuana ordinance is a big joke." Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)Author: Thomas Burr, The Salt Lake TribunePublished: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Salt Lake TribuneContact: letters sltrib.comWebsite: http://www.sltrib.com/ Related Articles:Town's New Pot Law May Be Short-Lived http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11593.shtmlMayor: Police Causing Hasslehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11541.shtmlTowns Lenient New Pot Law May Go Up in Smoke http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11459.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #19 posted by isobar2000 on December 20, 2001 at 19:07:12 PT The Real Reason... The real reason for the war on Marijuana is that Law Enforcement, as well as, other interested parties make big bucks on the legality of Marijuana. Think about it, in a lot of states they have a zero tolerance policy. That means if they find a seed in your car, you lose your car, and if they find anything in your home. You just lost your home. How many people have lost their savings because they were busted with just a joint. This is why the Law Enforcement around big water got so upset. They would just simply lose out on a lot of potential income for themselves. If you could take away the big prize; because that is all they (Law Enforcement) are interested in, you would see a lot more cooperation with people that have good sense when it comes to making Marijuana Laws that make sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on December 20, 2001 at 10:15:33 PT Joe That's a lot of pot! Thanks for the link! [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Joe Citizen on December 20, 2001 at 10:09:19 PT It's a Mystery??? It may be a slow news day but someone has been busy wrapping presents and it looks like Santa won't be visiting some homes this holiday season. Seems he left his cargo....Two tons of pot abandoned in parking lot. http://www.msnbc.com/local/KNSD/NBC9692I5VC.asp [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on December 20, 2001 at 09:26:43 PT Just a note Hi Everyone, I've been looking for news but it's really slow. It probably will stay slow under after Christmas or maybe the New Year. I'm sure most of you realize this is the way it is during holidays. I'll be glad when the New Year gets here and the holidays are over and we can get back on track or at least semi back on track since 9-11. I want to wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season. Until the news picks up we can just continue to talk amongst ourselves! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by greenfox on December 20, 2001 at 09:13:35 PT "Up in smoke" Haha get it? It's a pot stoner pun! We won't take this seriously at all, haha haha fuckihaha.a...a.hahha.a...up in smoke ...get it?one toke over the line, gone to pot, up in smoke, HAHAHA so funny. so funny i forgot to laugh.-gf [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Lehder on December 20, 2001 at 07:44:40 PT High Plains Drifter In the movie, nameless drifter Clint Eastwood happens into Lago, town of cowards. The townspeople fear the vengeance of three of its former criminal citizens who are soon to be released from prison. They hire Clint to protect them, offering him "anything he wants." He takes all they have: their goods, their beer, their women and their dignity. The cowards of Big Water, if they can find the courage to drive to a video store, ought to rent this movie and see their futures. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by i420 on December 20, 2001 at 04:29:13 PT Help !!! Someone post the snail mail address of Big Water's city hall and lets send em all a bunch of flyers printed off the net. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by freedom fighter on December 19, 2001 at 22:47:49 PT Would it be great if Big Water decided not to renew the contract? I mean after all, they did threatened and committed an illegal act called blackmailing.. Use the money to pay its' residents of the town to serve and protect. After all, how is the Big Water residents are going to know that Big Bad Sheriff is not going to harass them anymore?Give them an inch and take a foot away from me!Too late people, Big Bad Sheriff Brown is gonna get you wither if you do or do not smoke weed and He is gonna remind you why he is gonna bust you down at the Big Water.Sick!ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by goneposthole on December 19, 2001 at 21:38:26 PT Big Water sheriff wouldn't last two seconds in Afghanistan. Their Poppy fields would remain standing, the sheriff would be in a heap. Who is more tolerant? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Toker00 on December 19, 2001 at 21:32:56 PT Sam Adams "Again, it's sad we can't support our LEO's in this country. I really would like to, but this action is despicable." And this, my friend is what the anti's are overlooking. If Canabis were legalized, there is no doubt that respect for LEO's would double. I'm not saying that we would all jump on the Federal band wagon, because there are other issues that are equally important. But as Joseph McNamara put it,(and I'm not using his exact words), legalizing Cannabis would do more toward healing the public's relationship with the police than any other thing. And THAT, ain't no lie.Peace. Realize, then Legalize. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Sam Adams on December 19, 2001 at 20:45:10 PT there you have it The police are more powerful than the town government - they rule the town. You know damn well what the residents would have said in a poll or vote on this issue - they would have voted for the $10 fine. At least this time the influence of the police was right out in the open - usually it's behind closed doors. The politicians come out and say "more research" or "don't want to send the wrong message" but what they really mean is, I'm doing what I'm told by the law enforcement community.Again, it's sad we can't support our LEO's in this country. I really would like to, but this action is despicable. We love to ridicule the shortcomings of govt in the Third World and other countries, but stuff like this makes you realize our state govt's are just as much banana republics as anywhere in South America or Africa, etc. Corrupt to the core and controlled by thugs. Poor Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers, all those sacrifices made for freedom, all in vain.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by firedog on December 19, 2001 at 17:18:57 PT No community oversight? It's disappointing that the Big Water folks didn't stick up for the marijuana ordinance. But this part disturbs me even more...Smith also took issue with an ordinance passed the same night creating a citizen review board for the sheriff's deputies that patrol the area. That ordinance, which allowed the town to seek penalties against the deputies, was also repealed."With these ordinances in there, I just couldn't do business with Big Water," Smith said Tuesday.Hmmm... can't stand to have a little community oversight, Sheriff Smith? What do you have to fear? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by mayan on December 19, 2001 at 16:10:49 PT What A Joke Now the real criminals can breath a little easier as the pigs can go back to harassing pot smokers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on December 19, 2001 at 15:41:56 PT My sentiments exactly >>"It's not worth the damage," Rankin said of the cost of being harassed. So you, the people's elected official, were being harassed by the police, and you gave in - all because you were trying to stop the police harassment of your citizens. Ironic, isn't it?>>"I guess it's too progressive for Utah." At the moment, in this part of the state, yes. Don't stop trying! Attitudes change, and perhaps there are more lenient areas of Utah even now? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by MikeEEEEE on December 19, 2001 at 15:20:55 PT Prohibition The council's action also came after Kane County Sheriff Lamont Smith said he would not be able to renew his contract to provide police services in the town of 400 if the ordinance stayed in place. The contract expires Jan. 1.I wouldn't mind seeing him go, and prohibition along with it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 19, 2001 at 15:01:51 PT Dr. Russo Could they force people to take it? They could try. Why don't they understand the element in Cannabis that makes the "awe" is so good for a persons mind, body and spirit. Why do they want the whole world miserable. Just ranting. Don't mind me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on December 19, 2001 at 14:21:35 PT: Story Not Correct SR 141716 is not an "anti-maijuana vaccine" but rather, a cannabinoid antagonist. In other words, it blocks the effects of cannabis. People will probably not wish to take it. It in no way is likely to represent a solution to the "cannabis problem." [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by jose melendez on December 19, 2001 at 13:56:40 PT: now they will try forcing a cure for our addiction from: http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2206.html US regulators have approved clinical trials on a "vaccine" for cocaine addiction. The product is called TA-CD, and it works by generating antibodies in the bloodstream which prevent cocaine from crossing into the brain.TA-CD is produced by British biotechnology corporation Xenova Group Plc. Chief Executive David Oxlade told Reuters that a product to help cocaine users quit could command a good price, since most are "wealthy and well-insured."The vaccine could also forcibly administered in conjunction with "drug courts," as part of a program to ensure that users can't enjoy their drug of choice.An "anti-marijuana vaccine" called SR141716 is currently being tested on humans by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, as a treatment for "marijuana addiction." cocaine vaccine [ Post Comment ] Post Comment