cannabisnews.com: Colorado Sheriff: Consider Prop. 1





Colorado Sheriff: Consider Prop. 1
Posted by CN Staff on March 24, 2003 at 09:10:32 PT
By Sana Syed
Source: Columbia Missourian 
Sheriff Bill Masters once believed in the war on drugs as he knocked down doors and raided homes of potheads in San Miguel County, Colo. But after attending an FBI training camp, Masters decided the war on drugs was a waste of time and resources.At the camp, Masters noticed a handful of agents on the child-abduction cases committee but a large group of young, bright drug-enforcement agents in training.
“I think that’s pretty sick,” Masters said. “It hit me right then. I said, ‘Our priorities are all wrong.’ ”Originally a Republican but now the country’s only Libertarian sheriff, Masters is a notable advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana.Masters, who wrote the book “Drug War Addiction: Notes From the Front Lines of America’s No. 1 Policy Disaster,” was scheduled to speak Thursday night at the MU Law School. He was unable to make the trip to Columbia because a snowstorm grounded his plane at a Colorado airport.The speech was one in a series of events promoting Proposition 1 on the April 8 ballot in Columbia. The issue, put on the ballot by initiative petition, would legalize the medicinal use of marijuana in the city, reduce fines for possession of 35 grams or less to $25 for a first offense and mandate that all such cases be handled in municipal court.Masters recommends that Columbia residents consider the proposition, research it carefully and understand it better.San Miguel County follows Colorado state law, which requires that a person caught in possession of less than 28 grams will be issued a summons and a maximum fine of $100. The law was adopted in the early 1980s. Other states with similar laws are Nebraska, California, Mississippi, Ohio, Georgia, New York and Maine.Masters favors the Colorado law because it frees up the courts and allows more time to focus on other cases. He says the law hasn’t increased the number of people using marijuana.“I think the people who want to smoke will smoke, and they don’t consider if it’s a citation or a misdemeanor, or a felony,” he said. “There are no more marijuana users here than in Missouri.”In 2000, Colorado approved possession of up to 56 grams of marijuana and cultivation of six plants for medicinal purposes with physician recommendation and state registration. Other states with medicinal marijuana laws include Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Hawaii.“I believe personally that we have a natural God-given right of what goes into our body,” Masters said. “I’m not going to go to my congressman and ask him what’s best for me to eat. I might consult my doctor, but I’m not going to ask the chief of police. If I ever get sick, I’m going to make the decision of what kind of medicine I’m going to take, and everybody has that right.”There have been only a “handful” of people who have sought possession approval for medicinal marijuana in San Miguel County, Masters said.There hasn’t been any action taken in San Miguel County to change the current law. Most residents have accepted the $100 fine for more than 20 years, Master said.Masters’ speech was planned by the Columbia Alliance for Patients and Education and Students For a Sensible Drug Policy. The student group was paying the expenses for Master’s trip as well as a fee for him to speak. It was uncertain Thursday whether Masters would be rescheduled in Columbia.Anthony Johnson, the founder of CAPE, and the leading force behind Proposition 1, had read about Masters and booked the sheriff, who makes about 10 appearances a year.“My goal in bringing him is that I think people get the wrong impression that everyone in law enforcement is against the drug policy,” Johnson said. “There are law enforcers behind changes.” Note: The Libertarian says there are more important priorities than pot. Source: Columbia Missourian (MO)Author: Sana SyedPublished: March 21, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Columbia MissourianContact: editor digmo.com Website: http://www.digmo.com/Related Articles & Web Site:SSDPhttp://www.ssdp.org/Marijuana Prop Prompts Police To Firm Up Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15784.shtmlSentencing Initiative a Step Forward on Pot Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15780.shtmlVoters Should Reject Misguided Marijuana Move http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15777.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by freedom fighter on March 24, 2003 at 19:59:02 PT
Pls refrain from using profanity in your msg!!!
For what's worth, I see no logic in persecution(prosecution) of any cannabis smokers.. Recent posting from FoM about the cost of "prosecution" of a human being who happened to carry an ounce in Calif. cost approx. 4,500$ a day to fine a person for 150$.Oh gee, a 25$ fine that cost the taxpayers 4500$ to spy and prosecute these evil weed smokers!! That was not it.. The cost... What will it take??Year was 2000-01, 650,000 Americans arrested for toking and only two terrorists.. What's matter with you people???ff
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Comment #2 posted by Truth on March 24, 2003 at 13:34:16 PT
Right on
A voice of wisdom.
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Comment #1 posted by i420 on March 24, 2003 at 12:53:23 PT
Holy smoke!
Maybe there is hope for change in Amerika's regime.
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