cannabisnews.com: Judge Throws Out Medina's Pot-Possession Law Judge Throws Out Medina's Pot-Possession Law Posted by CN Staff on June 13, 2003 at 11:15:11 PT By Stephen Hudak, Plain Dealer Reporter Source: Plain Dealer Medina - It was, until Wednesday, almost always better to be caught with a marijuana cigarette anywhere in Ohio but here. Jail was mandatory, fines could be harsher and, if you planned to be a teacher, lawyer, or other licensed professional, your future was suddenly dimmer under Medina's marijuana law. Medina Municipal Judge Dale Chase decided Wednesday that the tough, 14-year-old city ordinance was unconstitutional because it conflicted with the law as written by the state legislature. City prosecutors have not decided whether to appeal. But they previously have argued Medina has the right to adopt local laws that address local problems - including marijuana. Last year, police cited 69 people under the city ordinance that says possessing a small amount of marijuana is a first-degree misdemeanor, the same category of offense as domestic violence. The law defines a small amount as less than 100 grams, but most of those cited under the Medina ordinance had tiny amounts - a burnt roach in a car ashtray, flakes and seeds in a bag. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/medina/1055497109109870.xmlSource: Plain Dealer, The (OH)Author: Stephen Hudak, Plain Dealer ReporterPublished: Friday, June 13, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Plain DealerContact: letters plaind.comWebsite: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/Ohio Cannabis Societyhttp://www.ohiocannabis.org/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by freedom fighter on June 13, 2003 at 22:53:38 PT Wolfgang, Please also politely point out that you also throw seeds out everywhere. Throwing the seeds out does not mean you are a grower.. You are just recycling the substance you had just consumed!Love hearing stories about folks stumbling on patches across the country.. It's everywhere!paceff [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 13, 2003 at 20:23:48 PT Letter To The Editor - Plain Dealer Adopt a Rational Policy Toward Marijuana Joseph Zoretic, LakewoodPublished: June 13, 2003Canada finally is taking the steps toward a saner mari juana policy. The Cana dian government has introduced legislation that will decriminal ize small amounts of marijuana (15 grams). This is an issue sup ported by the Canadian people, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and, surprisingly, the American people. A nationwide poll of 1,024 likely voters, conducted Nov. 27-29, 2001, by Zogby In ternational, concluded that 61 percent of Americans are op posed to arresting and jailing marijuana smokers. Ohio adopted similar legisla tion during the 1970s and has saved the state millions of dollars by ticketing people instead of ar resting and dragging them through the legal system, where police, prosecutors and judges are busy with real criminals who have actual victims. Since 1976, the government of the Netherlands has officially tol erated the cultivation, sale and possession of small amounts of marijuana, and that country has a lower marijuana-usage rate among teens. This is mostly due to the fact that the "coffee shops" that deal in marijuana don't serve young teens. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.cleveland.com/letters/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1055497045109870.xml Ohio Cannabis Society [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by SWAMPIE on June 13, 2003 at 19:56:53 PT Medina Judge... Just sentenced a guy to driving in the demolition derby in august for a ,DUI!!!!!!!!! not sure of the link,Fox 8 cleveland [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by SWAMPIE on June 13, 2003 at 13:34:58 PT Med-Dina........ I live very near there and have been involved in the demo-derbys at the fair many times,Grand champ once Pat,Pat,and have smoked many a joint there.It is a pretty rural area,but in recent years has catered to many expensive house allotments,and also many teenagers who get in trouble for being out joyriding and getting high and starting problems there.You still lose your drivers license in Ohigho for 6 months for any drug charge due to Federal road taxes,as well as the fine,plus probation and drug counseling.It is good that the judge has taken a stance on this,but he needs to address the whole law,including the suspension of licenses.There are lots of growers there too,and it is/was mainly a farming county.Thats where that steam tractor blew up awhile back,and killed a few people.You can still buy eggs from the farms there too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by WolfgangWylde on June 13, 2003 at 11:57:47 PT Ahh yes, my home state of Ohio... ...that bastion of high-powered pot smuggling. One of the arguments I get from many anti-marijuana folks is that, if I insist on smoking the stuff (and I do!), that I should have the decency to grow my own and not support the black market. I politely point out that, instead of a $100 fine, I would be opening myself up to felony charges, asset seizure, jail time, etc. They still don't get it, though. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on June 13, 2003 at 11:41:47 PT Get the drug czar in here! High-potency *crack* grade marijuana will soon be flowing out of Medina! Pedestrians will be getting run down, if they haven't been shot by their friends. Let's seal the border immediately! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 13, 2003 at 11:26:05 PT The Week Online with DRCNet http://www.drcnet.org/wol/291.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 13, 2003 at 11:20:53 PT News To Me I didn't know Medina had a harsher law. This is good news. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment