cannabisnews.com: Officials Mull Effect of New Pot Law 





Officials Mull Effect of New Pot Law 
Posted by CN Staff on November 06, 2004 at 10:24:02 PT
By Dave Moore of the Tribune’s Staff 
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune 
Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Crane sees an immediate consequence of voters’ approval this week of a Columbia proposition that reduces penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.If someone is on parole for an offense such as rape, murder or trafficking in drugs, Crane said, he or she wouldn’t be at risk of having his or her parole revoked should police in Columbia find him or her in possession of up to 1¼ ounces of marijuana.
On Tuesday, Columbia voters approved two marijuana-related ordinances. Proposition 1 allows seriously ill people to possess up to 1¼ ounces of marijuana if they have approval from physicians.Proposition 2 requires police in the city to refer any marijuana possession involving the same quantity of the controlled substance to Columbia Municipal Court, where offenders will face a maximum fine of $250. Suspects will not be arrested and will only be given summonses to appear in court. Violations of the ordinance will not result in criminal records.The ordinance strongly encourages that fines be suspended in favor of drug counseling, community service and education.The ordinance won’t take effect until after Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren certifies the election results in about 1½ weeks.Until then, Crane said: "If you have an offender who has habitually broken the law, we’ll view that frequent flier differently than the younger, first-time offender. We were already doing that.""I think" the new Columbia marijuana ordinance "does reduce our ability to address the habitual offender," Crane said.The fact that people on parole will be effectively immunized from state prosecution doesn’t bother Allen St. Pierre, executive director the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Foundation."There appears to be a social threshold regarding what triggers a revocation of parole," St. Pierre said. "If you punch someone in the face, for example, you shouldn’t be walking the streets. But if you get caught for a small amount of marijuana … or if you let a parking meter expire, you shouldn’t lose your parole."The new ordinance won’t affect Crane’s ability to prosecute state law. It does, however, steer cases away from his jurisdiction. That’s because city police are required to follow the ordinance. Rose Wibbenmeyer, a city prosecutor, fears her already-loaded docket will overflow with the additional marijuana cases."I think we’ll see a big increase in the number of cases we’ll be handling," Wibbenmeyer said.Since Jan. 1, Columbia Municipal Court handled 223 misdemeanor marijuana cases; another 228 misdemeanor marijuana cases were referred to Crane’s jurisdiction in state court by Columbia police, Wibbenmeyer said."In the short term, we’re going to figure out where to put these files and when and how and when we’ll deal with" the additional caseload, she said."We’re short on people and short on space, given the caseload," Wibbenmeyer said. "I’m routinely borrowing people from" Columbia city attorney Fred Boeckmann, she said.Wibbenmeyer said the city has budgeted $36,000 a year for part-time lawyers and other staff."I’m not sure if" the request for additional help in the 2006 budget "will be for a three-quarter-time prosecutor or full-time," Wibbenmeyer said. "I’ve been working 60 to 65 hours a week, and I don’t have any more time."Last year, Wibbenmeyer earned $56,349.54, according to city payroll records.St. Pierre said that steering misdemeanor marijuana cases to municipal court would ultimately save taxpayers money because it’s cheaper for taxpayers to handle cases in municipal court.Boeckmann said it’s likely that he, Wibbenmeyer and Police Chief Randy Boehm will meet next week to decide how misdemeanor marijuana arrests will be handled when the ordinance takes effect.Boeckmann said one possibility is to defer prosecution of first-time marijuana offenders. If someone arrested didn’t get another marijuana summons within the year, the original citation would be forgotten.St. Pierre said Columbia is the first city in the Midwest to approve ordinances that reduce penalties for marijuana use or possession.Note: Prop 2 will send more cases to municipal court.Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)Author: Dave Moore of the Tribune’s Staff Published: Saturday, November 6, 2004Copyright: 2004 Columbia Daily TribuneContact: editor tribmail.comWebsite: http://www.columbiatribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Missouri NORMLhttp://www.gstlnorml.org/Marijuana Measures Pass Handily http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19765.shtmlBoth Pot Propositions Pass by a Large Marginhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19763.shtmlPot Advocates Hope Third Try Proves Charm http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19696.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on November 06, 2004 at 19:37:28 PT
ending the policy of revoking probation and parole
US CO: PUB LTE: Not So Free (3 Of 3)http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1302/a05.html?181228 Pubdate: Thu, 28 Aug 2003Bravo to the Boulder Weekly calling for Americans to make ending the War on Drugs and lowering incarceration rates political priorities. Hopefully the Democratic Party will take heed! To escalate that complex process, superior citizens must work harder to bring credible drug-law reform. At the very minimum, that includes ending the wicked practice of caging humans for using cannabis, which isn't even a drug, but rather a plant to begin with. That would also include ending the policy of revoking probation and parole for failing a pee test for THC. It means stopping the irresponsible, discredited U.S. government-directed planetary extermination and persecution of cannabis. While lying, murderous, thieving, uncompassionate feds insist cannabis is bad, the spirit of truth says cannabis is a superplant. Who are you going to believe? Ignorant cannabis prohibitionists should get a clue, and allow progress and peace on earth. Civilized society must re-legalize cannabis because caging humans for using a plant is sick and is contributing to overuse of the incarceration system. Do you hear that, Mr. President? It's just plain sick! Refered: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1269/a07.html
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Comment #4 posted by siege on November 06, 2004 at 16:13:19 PT
0ver with
All they have t0 d0 is burn them and it is 0ver with.
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Comment #3 posted by global_warming on November 06, 2004 at 16:12:40 PT
Crane is an Idiot
"Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Crane sees an immediate consequence of voters’ approval this week of a Columbia proposition that reduces penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.If someone is on parole for an offense such as rape, murder or trafficking in drugs, Crane said, he or she wouldn’t be at risk of having his or her parole revoked should police in Columbia find him or her in possession of up to 1¼ ounces of marijuana. "If this little man named Crane cannot distinguish the difference between a rapist ( a diseased and violent human being) and someone who use marijuana (a person who usees such an herb or plant to chill and relax), he has got to be the dumbest idiot on the planet.gw
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on November 06, 2004 at 13:12:05 PT
Filing Cabinets Wanted!
{"I think we’ll see a big increase in the number of cases we’ll be handling," Wibbenmeyer said.{Since Jan. 1, Columbia Municipal Court handled 223 misdemeanor marijuana cases; another 228 misdemeanor marijuana cases were referred to Crane’s jurisdiction in state court by Columbia police, Wibbenmeyer said.{"In the short term, we’re going to figure out where to put these files and when and how and when we’ll deal with" the additional caseload, she said.}For the love of Jah, somebody donate a few extra filing cabinets to the city of Columbia. Mr. Soros? MPP? John Kerry's warchest?
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Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 06, 2004 at 12:19:04 PT
That's Right!
They wouldn't be up for parole violation for marijuana. That's because they shouldn't be up for parole violation for marijuana in the first place! They wouldn't be up for parole violation for smoking a cigareete either. These guys just don't get it do they? What a bunch of imbeciles.
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