cannabisnews.com: Oak Hill to Crack Down on Marijuana Smokers





Oak Hill to Crack Down on Marijuana Smokers
Posted by FoM on February 27, 2002 at 09:14:56 PT
By Linda Walton, News-Journal Correspondent
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal
City officials were made aware of a problem with marijuana use by older teen-agers at one of the city's most heavily used family parks Monday night. "We're not going to stop them from smoking pot. We just don't want it there," Mayor Bob Jackson said after the problem was outlined by Vice Mayor Darry Evans. Evans serves as the commission department head over parks and recreation and, with his children, uses Cummings Park. 
"That's why I wanted lights at night for the park. When you can smell marijuana, something had to be done," said Evans, who helped get the park lighted. "For a while, the police department had officers going by every few hours to make sure there were no illegal activities. I know it is a hard task," the commissioner said. He also advised parents to supervise children who play at the park. He told the commission he stopped by one evening and there were 25 to 30 young children riding their bikes at the park. "We've got to stop the pot smoking there," Jackson said. Jackson suggested that commissioners keep an eye on the park when they can in an effort to catch the culprits. "That won't stop the problem. Most are 18 to 20 and don't work. They have more time than we do," Evans said. Police Chief Gus Beckstrom said his officers routinely patrol the area, but haven't been able to catch the pot smokers. "Some (officers) even go over there to eat their lunch," he said. "It's not that we are not aware of the problem, but we don't have the manpower for surveillance now." But, he said, the department would give surveillance a shot when new officers complete training and the new video camera arrives. "It's the hardest way to work drugs. It's not as easy as it sounds." For now, the park will be receiving unofficial monitoring from City Commissioner Abraham Jackson, a retired New Smyrna Beach policeman. "I'm around more than some commissioners. I'll try to get a handle on it." Former City Commissioner-Mayor Toreatha Wood expressed concerns that the pot problem was being blown out of proportion. "From my understanding, it involves four boys and we have many more good kids in Oak Hill. Let's not just stick them in jail, but get some programs going and try to turn them around." Beckstrom said, if caught, the pot smokers would not be facing felony arrest, but rather misdemeanor charges. Complete Title: No Pot in Park: Oak Hill to Crack Down on Marijuana SmokersSource: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)Author: Linda Walton, News-Journal CorrespondentPublished: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 Copyright: 2002 News-Journal CorpContact: letters news-jrnl.comWebsite: http://www.news-journalonline.com/CannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by i420 on February 27, 2002 at 11:29:39 PT
Adults need a park too!
Why don't they designate a park for "adult use" we have a right to use the parks too after all we pay TAXES and VOTE too. When i was in hawaii there was several parks the police looked the other way in but it was adults partying not kids.
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on February 27, 2002 at 09:55:52 PT
What?
These cops and politicians actually sound reasonable! I didn't think that was possible down in Florida.Think about some more, and you'll realize why: these people all know firsthand that alcohol is the drug that really causes problems, after decades of seeing their city plundered by hordes of drunken college kids.MJ smokers are peaceful, don't fight, loot, or riot, and perhaps most importantly, don't litter. In Daytona they seem to have figured that out.Even though MJ is illegal in my state, there is a park very near to my house that is basically an open-air cannabis market, people are always lighting up there. They usually hang out on benches and talk quietly. I've never seen a cop there, but I'm sure they know about it. Most cops are not fascists.
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