cannabisnews.com: 203 Would Mandate Fines for Pot Smokers 203 Would Mandate Fines for Pot Smokers Posted by CN Staff on September 25, 2002 at 14:49:57 PT By Eric Weslander, Tucson Citizen Source: Tucson Citizen Marijuana smokers in Arizona risk criminal charges, but that could change in November. Proposition 203 asks voters to decide whether possessing small amounts of pot should be reduced to a civil offense similar to a traffic ticket.The initiative also would make it harder for a court to send someone to prison for using any controlled substance, and it includes a controversial plan for state police to distribute free marijuana to sick people. A competing initiative, Proposition 302, would toughen penalties for convicted drug users who refuse treatment.Despite the many facets of Proposition 203, the image of cops handing baggies of pot to patients is grabbing the most attention."Free Pot? Dumb Idea," read campaign signs hung around Tucson by the bill's opponents.Police vow they won't take part in any such program, even if 203 passes.Supporters say police are missing the big picture."This is a referendum on the war on drugs," said Sam Vagenas, a former deputy secretary of state and a spokesman for Proposition 203 supporters. "Drug use has actually gone up since we started the drug war."Proposition 203 is partly the result of unfinished business between the state's law-enforcement establishment and a handful of wealthy reformers from around the country.Like a successful 1996 marijuana initiative, this initiative is being generously bankrolled by three people: Phoenix entrepreneur John Sperling, New York financier George Soros and Cleveland businessman Peter Lewis.The trio have donated a combined $840,000 to a campaign committee known as "The People Have Spoken."They claim their law will help sick people and save Arizona millions of dollars by keeping harmless drug users out of jail.Opponents such as Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley argue that passage of the law would cause drug abuse to flourish."Their objective is to incrementally move toward legalization of drugs," Romley said. "What does this tell our children?"In 1996, two-thirds of Arizona voters passed Proposition 200, which approved medical marijuana with a doctor's prescription and made many low-level drug users eligible for probation instead of jail.Voters later shot down two efforts by the Legislature that would have repealed parts of the 1996 law.Even so, those votes didn't achieve the desired results for Soros and company. The federal government threatened to punish any Arizona doctor who prescribed marijuana, and prosecutors invoked drug-paraphernalia laws to put drug users in jail, Vagenas said.If Proposition 203 passes, Arizona will join four other states - Maine, Nebraska, New York and Ohio - in making pot possession a civil offense.Under the proposed law, someone caught with less than two ounces of pot for personal use would be subject to a $250 fine. Possession of paraphernalia - such as pipes and rolling papers - and two or fewer marijuana plants also would become a civil offense. After two offenses, the fine would go up to $750.Note: The initiative will save state millions by keeping harmless users out of jail, proponents say; foes say passage will let drug abuse flourish. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/elect02/9_25_02pot.htmlSource: Tucson Citizen (AZ)Author: Eric Weslander, Tucson CitizenPublished: September 25, 2002Copyright: 2002 Tucson CitizenContact: letters tucsoncitizen.comWebsite: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/Related Articles:Marijuana Initiative Foes Fight 'Lie' http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13897.shtmlProp. 203: The Debate Over Pot Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13869.shtmlIt's Time We Scrap Drug Laws Mired in Failure http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13868.shtmlMarijuana Initiative Qualifies for Arizona Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13727.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by karkulus on September 26, 2002 at 12:01:25 PT to HOPE... Yeah,I'd probably take some,but if I saw the person that it came from I'd offer to split it with them.(but I wouldn't buy a seized car that was seized without having any thing to do with drug profits.)AND THANKS FOR THE "PREVIEW FEATURE" ..crappy spellers thank ye much!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on September 26, 2002 at 10:50:42 PT Santa Cruz Mayor on MSNBC NOW! He's on now! [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Hope on September 26, 2002 at 10:37:57 PT Karkulus I understand about that guilt over confiscated stuff. It's like receiving stolen property, if you ask me. Yet, when it comes to the sick, in need, it's a lot better than destroying the medicine that so many people could benefit from. If I was the guy they took it from, I'd feel better knowing it was helping someone rather than being destroyed.Saw Jesse "the Bod" Ventura yesterday in Cuba (on the news). If he doesn't get to doing some crunches he's gonna be called "Jesse "the Belly" Ventura".I think allot of cops think the old "Protect and Serve" is an outdated idea and doesn't apply to them.The review screen already helped me catch an error, too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by goneposthole on September 26, 2002 at 08:19:00 PT what needs to be done Along with distributing cannabis, they also need to hand out about a million or so 'get out of jail free' cards.The police can change their ways. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by DANA on September 26, 2002 at 07:49:16 PT Goneposthole ..I like that,,,,you see the frozen cold nightmare of blue lites in the rear view mirror!,,,you pull over,and the officer approaches very slowly,with his hand on his gun!! he shines the flashlight into your face!!!,and says;"Here's you weed sir,,we were afraid you wouldnt get it in time,so the department issued an alert to try and find you,and make sure you got it!.....remember,,no smokin' in the car!...have a good night Mister dddd.."... [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by goneposthole on September 26, 2002 at 07:22:57 PT Police distributing cannabis . To serve and protect is the job, and to distribute cannabis to those in need would be a good job for the police. They would be honored and respected. Nothing wrong with that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by mayan on September 26, 2002 at 04:40:15 PT BGreen... Thanks for the Jesse interview! Imho, he has just the right combination of intellect & common sense. For the sake of America I hope he runs for Prez. Ventura/Johnson in 2004!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by DANA on September 26, 2002 at 01:40:39 PT ...unfortunatly... ..'po' folk',,cant get Donahue on our rabbit ears............ I predict,that within ten years,people who cannot afford to subscribe to cable/satelite TV,will be out of luck!...believe it or not.It's already in the works....This means,that no analog signals will exsist,and in order to watch TV,you will be FORCED to buy cable service,,just like you are now forced to pay for access to the internet. DanB is right on!;;;"...Almost. Actually, there are people who will be violent no matter what the laws are...".... RIGHT ON!...there will always be violent people...no matter how many violent people are imprisoned,or exterminated,,there will always be people who are angry,and pissed off.,,,and there will probably be more angry and pissed off people,if the drug war continues to opress the freedom of patriots... [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Dan B on September 26, 2002 at 00:14:04 PT: Donahue, Violence and Illegal Drugs "He should have counterd the only reason they are vioelnt is because of prohabition. "Almost. Actually, there are people who will be violent no matter what the laws are. But, the reason why violent people get involved with selling drugs is that we have prohibition. Make it legal, and the violent people will have to think of other ways to express their violence.I think that was what you meant in the first place, but I thought I'd add my two cents, even if two cents can't get you much these days.Dan BP.S. I love the new preview screen. I fixed two mistakes that would have been posted had it not been for the preview. Thanks, FoM and everyone else involved in getting that installed here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by karkulus on September 25, 2002 at 20:36:18 PT About that seized pot.. I think I'd feel too guilty to take any..about like buying a seized car at one of those govt.auctions. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by p4me on September 25, 2002 at 19:50:31 PT Thanks for the support I am about out of CHOOSE A WAR, ANY WAR bumperstickers. With each gross you get a free dozen of our combination pack, SHARE THE PAIN, SHARE THE SEEDS, HAVE A THRIFTY MEAL. This combination pack lets you choose your own dozen for either stand alone or combination effect. Order now at my portal at LB&O.LBO.Pot-tv for this Wednesday was extremely uplifting. If you have 18 minutes, it may make you smile. Steve talked about the comments of the Canadian Justice Minister and said the very least that would happen in Canada. He said in Spain a person could grow a housefull of pot and be OK in the eyes of the law and aren't they the ones that like inquisitions and torture. There was a story that said 100,000 people now grow marijuana in there homes and sodium bulbs reached 50,000 through something cooperatives. France is technically a strong prohibitionist state but growing marijuana is treated lightly by the courts. The prohibitionist white flag is half way up in France. It was a good show.Maybe I can get a new run of bumperstickers in before the Tonite Show. Let's see. I better run the old standby IF IT'S FREE, ITS FOR ME. That is one good arguement for chosing marijuana to the toxins and side effects of the pill industry. Even if you are broke, cannabis is there for a LOGICAL alternative. It will sell fast so be sure and visit LB&O.LBO and place an order.Tomorrow's bumpersticker will be for the new breed of yellow overdone with green journalism. I think something with YELLOW PARROTS is coming.1,2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by BGreen on September 25, 2002 at 18:58:25 PT mayan, This is from Hardball last Wednesday Jesse Ventura was the guest. The transcript goes off line after today, so read it soon.***********************************************************VENTURA: ... I was in the Philippines the day Ferdinand Marcus-I was actually there, declared marshal law. They have a similar government to ours, where you serve two four-year terms. He was at the end of his second term and didn’t want to leave. So, what did he do? He took away the power of the Supreme Court, took away the power of Congress. He took away the people of the Philippines’ right to bear arms. In fact, he gave them a 10, I believe it was about a 10-day grace period to turn in all weapons or it was the death penalty. And yet, you didn’t see the United States voice any big concern over this because he was a puppet... MATTHEWS: Right. VENTURA: ... dictator supportive of us. MATTHEWS: I get you. VENTURA: And we have a very hypocritical double standard when it comes to that. ‘Hardball’ for Sept. 18; Guest: Jesse Ventura [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Hope on September 25, 2002 at 18:57:54 PT Just saw the ONDCP's "Stacey" commercial They left out "This is the lawmaker that made the law that caused the whole thing to happen that way." and "This is the prohibitionist that wanted the law that the lawmaker made that caused the commerce to be in the hands of people who worked out their business disagreements with the gunfire that caused the crossfire that the child was caught in." or "This is the lobbyist for the mega industry that wanted the laws, that supported the lawmaker's campaign that made the laws that caused the laws that caused the shootout that caught the child in the crossfire."They delude themselves. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on September 25, 2002 at 18:21:26 PT Dangerous Times... If these elections are allowed to go forth we could very well see all the momentum shift in the war on cannabis...especially if Question 9 wins in Nevada. The Feds know this & that is why they did everything in their power to block the D.C. mmj initiative. Their grip on power is slipping & their backs are to the wall. They are desperate. These are very dangerous times. I still believe there will be a "terror attack" by mid-October & it will be blamed on Iraq. It could even be a smallpox outbreak. The elections could be suspended & martial law most certainly would be enacted. I pray that I am wrong, but this administration has to do something to preserve it's power. They have no international support. See the link below regarding the British anti-war demonsration...only Tony Blair wants this war & he may soon be forced to change his tune. it's all relative -Does this MPEG show multiple cutter charges at the moment the WTC collapsed?(Windows Media Player - slow loading) ftp://211.106.195.117/TMP/WTC_Collapse_-_Fox_News_Network.mpgBiowarfare: CDC Issues Plan for Mass Smallpox Vaccinations - Questions Raised on MEHPA and Microbiologist Deaths - http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/092402_biowarfare_cdc_plan.htmlUS plans smallpox jab for all civilians: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=336112Cheney makes surprise visit to CDC(July 17th) http://www.athensnewspapers.com/stories/071802/new_20020718037.shtmlRamsey Clark Open Letter To UN Security Council: http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/77/58/200209251041.32f90e09.htmlRally Organisers Expecting Biggest Anti-War Demonstration(UK) http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=5231868BLAIR IS THROUGH, AND NOW IT’S BUSH’S TURN http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/09/25/37222.htmlBacklash as 50 MPs defy Blair on Iraq http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/stories/Detail_LinkStory=20304.htmlWrite Congress to avoid war!!! http://www.progressiveportal.org/letters/global/iraq/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by prop203 on September 25, 2002 at 17:50:50 PT Donnie I saw donahue Its cool! I wish I could have debated that judge!! She said make no mistake about it drug dealears are violent crimanls and their for should be locked up. He should have counterd the only reason they are vioelnt is because of prohabition. She went on to say alchol is a good exzample of why drugs should be illegal. he should have went on to say did we not learn that dosent work in the 1930's.Prop 203-YES-AZ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on September 25, 2002 at 17:22:11 PT Donahue Hope you guys are trying to support the guy by turning on his show. I seldom watch TV but when I think about it try to turn his show on. He just got through talking to a judge who was there to promote her book. They talked about the drug laws. He said they were draconian. She said they weren't that draconian. She said drug sales is a violent crime...as opposed to not being violent. He mentioned marijuana. She said marijuana is different. It should be considered differently than the other drugs. At least that's what I sort of got out of it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by p4me on September 25, 2002 at 17:05:20 PT He did not have much to say It seems like the good name before the law of good people is not important for a few more remarks. There are lots of experts that want to weigh in before the politicians are forced to say the f word. You know that f word. Not facism, but freedom. Oh my a bumpersticker just appeared. Instant printing and free shipping when you place your order at Liesbullshit&obfuscation.FBO Just You will pardon me while I am writing my bumperstickers. I know it is not relevant but I must make a living and if you cannot sell to your friends, who can you sell too.I turned the news on and off when they told the parrots to talk Attack Iraq. I get it. It cannot be confined to the AmericanPeople. That war got so big it had to be taken outside. To Columia, and even fought in Afganistan on top of another war. But no, the parrots have a script. No war in the industry that is larger than the oil industry that the peasants of the world are dying for.Well if they want to talk of war. I bumpersticker you this: THHERE ARE ALREADY 56 WARS. Now with this order you are joining those that think they should end one before they start one. Pick one. Any one. We could end two wars by just driving a few tanks across Africa. But no. They cannot stop a little war just to hold the number at 56. All we have to do is make a port say in Liberia where the rich register their ships. They could give the Air Force cadets practice bombing instead of polluting islands here. There would be no danger of them getting hit. We should drop some of these old bombs anyway instead of warehousing them. They are just going to go bad anyway. The pilots could leave out on Monday and make the West Coast and bomb to the East Coast, turn around with some of that stuff they already got and bomb West and home on Friday by 5;00.It is funny sometimes how people pick out what interest them in the paper to talk about. But one time a salesman told me about a man that had kidnapped a little girl and jabbed the knife into his leg. He said if I would do that to myself, what do you think I will do to her? We don't have to hurt ourselves. We just have to show them we are ready and scare them some. But we could end one war about any time we wanted. The war is coming, but lets end one before we start another one.I myself am in the War for Freedom and the battle concerns Logical Conclusion. Pick a War. Any war. How about the one you are already in. End this battle now, but let the War continue.1,2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by p4me on September 25, 2002 at 16:27:18 PT I did not read it I am going to say that if i were facing a trial anywhere for marijuana i would be interested in the changing climate and i would be talking about reform. The Logical Conclusion must be fought and the climate after the elections and protest will help us all. Start now and have a cause. If the college kids can't rebel over the corruption that bankrupts our treasury and overflows our prisons. Maybe they intend to go to the Camen Islands and be personal growers for the fleeing money. What does a cheap island go for these days.I would not be watching tv before my trial. I would be doing what I could to change the climate. My bumpersticker, "500 for a lawyer or 50 for freedom."I want make some coffee and talk about some bumperstickers I might could sell from my Internet portal at Liesbullshit&obfuscation.LBO1,2 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment