cannabisnews.com: Missoula Co. Atty. Adopts Pot Policy





Missoula Co. Atty. Adopts Pot Policy
Posted by CN Staff on October 20, 2007 at 15:38:13 PT
By Tristan Scott, Missoulian 
Source: Helena Independent Record 
Missoula, MT -- Nearly a year after voters made the Garden City a little greener by asking county law enforcement to ignore adult marijuana offenses, Missoula’s top prosecutor has adopted an official policy to uphold the referendum.“In the interest of compliance with the 2006 voter initiative on marijuana ... we are asking law enforcement officers to stop arresting individuals or writing and submitting tickets (with mandatory appearance dates) where the offense committed is solely possession of marijuana in misdemeanor amounts or possession of drug paraphernalia intended for use of marijuana,” according to a draft of the policy by Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg, an outspoken opponent of the measure.
Van Valkenburg’s policy also instructs deputy prosecutors to charge misdemeanor marijuana cases on a lowest-priority basis when marijuana is the sole offense.“We will treat them as uncharged cases that will be assigned to a prosecutor and charged on a lowest priority basis,” according to the policy. “If charged, we will seek issuance of a summons with the complaint.”If a defendant is charged but has no criminal record of consequence, county attorneys will offer a deferred prosecution agreement rather than filing formal charges. No court appearance would be required.Dubbed Initiative 2 and approved by 55 percent of Missoula’s electorate in last November’s election, the countywide measure asked law enforcement to make adult marijuana possession offenses the lowest priority. It also established a community oversight committee to investigate marijuana arrests and produce a report on the initiative’s effects one year after passage. The committee will annually track and report to taxpayers how much local government time and money is being spent on adult marijuana offenses as compared to other law enforcement issues.On Friday morning, a quorum of the nine-member oversight committee met to discuss final details of the annual report, which will be available to members of the public on Nov. 14.The committee’s chairman, John Masterson, said the initial report will lack some data, and blames the shortcomings in part on the records-keeping processes at several Missoula County and state agencies.For example, the report will not conclusively show by what percentage, if any, pot busts have declined since the measure passed because many marijuana charges are “custodial citations,” meaning the discovery of marijuana was incidental to another crime and the person was booked, searched and arrested for reasons other than drug possession.Statistics where marijuana was the primary arresting offense have been difficult to come by, Masterson said.“The only statistic that really stands out to me is that people are still getting busted for adult misdemeanor marijuana offenses,” Masterson said.However, he said Van Valkenburg’s policy satisfies the committee’s expectations of how county officials should be handling personal levels of marijuana.“That’s substantial compliance,” Masterson said.In March, Missoula County commissioners voted to narrow the initiative’s scope and apply it only to misdemeanor, or personal-use amounts of marijuana, arguing that voters didn’t realize the full range of the measure when they supported it.In making his case for the amendments, Van Valkenburg emphasized that Initiative 2 is a mere suggestion to county law enforcement, and does not change any laws prohibiting marijuana use. Source: Helena Independent Record (MT)Author: Tristan Scott, Missoulian Published: October 20, 2007Copyright: 2007 Helena Independent RecordContact: irstaff helenair.comWebsite: http://www.helenair.com/Montana NORMLhttp://www.montananorml.org/ CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #36 posted by afterburner on October 23, 2007 at 21:47:54 PT
FoM
Me too. I avoid shows like CSI myself, but I know people who watch it.
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on October 23, 2007 at 17:19:31 PT
afterburner
I wouldn't like a show like that. I don't watch any shows about law and order or anything about cops and I don't worry about those things then. I'll stick to the Discovery Channel. LOL! Thanks.
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Comment #34 posted by afterburner on October 23, 2007 at 16:36:25 PT
FoM
CSI = Crime Scene Investigation.It's a mainstream TV show on CBS about forensic pathology, that is, scientifically examining a crime scene and a murder victim for medical evidence about how the victim died and how the crime was done.CSI's theme is "Who Are You?" by The Who, the subject of previous discussion.
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on October 23, 2007 at 15:56:49 PT
afterburner
I don't know what CSI is. 
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Comment #32 posted by afterburner on October 23, 2007 at 15:49:14 PT
polically: Spelling, Textspeak for 'politically'
d'oh{
The Who seem to be polically ambivalent. And "Won't Be Fooled Again" is now the theme song for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on mainstream TV.
} -afterburnerCSI's theme is "Who Are You?" by The Who, not "Won't Be Fooled Again." d'oh"Haste Makes Waste."
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on October 22, 2007 at 09:10:48 PT
Toker00
That sounds nice. The leaves here on the trees are beautiful colors. I love the smell of the air in the fall. I love the smell of fresh tilled earth in the spring too.I guess I just love nature.
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Comment #30 posted by Toker00 on October 22, 2007 at 08:57:13 PT
Who's on first...
Nature. You gotta love it. It is going from 77 degrees to 55 degrees in about one hour. Ominous dark clouds, but peaceful. No lightening.I love it.Toke.
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on October 22, 2007 at 08:37:48 PT
afterburner
Thanks. I don't know why I have never liked The Who but they seem more like the Rolling Stones and I don't really like them either in the sense that I wouldn't buy any of their music but I like some songs when I hear them.Maybe they seem to sing too much about stuff I'm not interested in I suppose.
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Comment #28 posted by afterburner on October 22, 2007 at 08:20:47 PT
FoM & Had Enough
The Who seem to be polically ambivalent. And "Won't Be Fooled Again" is now the theme song for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on mainstream TV."Hey you getting drunk, so sorry!
I've got you sussed.
Hey you smoking Mother Nature!
This is a bust!
Hey hung up old Mr. Normal,
Don't try to gain my trust!
'Cause you ain't gonna follow me any of those ways
Although you think you must"
We're Not Gonna Take It Lyrics.
Artist(Band):The Who 
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/We're-Not-Gonna-Take-It-lyrics-The-Who/0C1B3C67E44C4F4748256977002C2D12"I don't care about pollution
I'm an air-conditioned gypsy
That's my solution
Watch the police and the tax man miss 
me
I'm mobile
Oooooh, yeah, hee!"
Goin' Mobile Lyrics.
Artist(Band):The Who
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Goin'-Mobile-lyrics-The-Who/4DFE74403D245EA348256977002E8710 
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 12:10:48 PT
Had Enough 
You're welcome. I have the movie Woodstock and I've never watched The Who's performance. I've always skipped forward. I only like a certain type of music from that time. It was music with meaning ( deep inner searching types) but I didn't like a lot of glitter. 
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Comment #26 posted by Had Enough on October 21, 2007 at 12:06:55 PT
Thanks for the info
I smell money.I think maybe Pete didn’t want to endanger his deals with the mainstream nobles by letting his music be used by Michael Moore.Pete is well rehearsed in the business world.He also got busted for suspicion of possessing indecent images of children, though no such photos were found following a search of his home and computer. The authorities found where he had used a credit card to visit websites.Pete admits to going to the websites, he said it was for research purposes.He was cleared of all charges by London police, but remains on a sexual predators list.http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/petetownshend1.html
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 10:21:53 PT
Had Enough
Does this help?Pete Townshend, Michael Moore & Neil Younghttp://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/08/164046.php
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 10:17:44 PT
Had Enough
I think it was all of it.
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Comment #23 posted by Had Enough on October 21, 2007 at 10:16:02 PT
Interesting
Do you know if it was the movies content, the purpose of it, or maybe the people involved, that the who people disagreed on?
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 10:07:05 PT
RevRayGreen
It's good to step back from time to time. That's where we put things in a proper order.
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Comment #21 posted by RevRayGreen on October 21, 2007 at 10:02:04 PT
I had to step back
for a moment out of respect for Robin....."I read the news today.." type of thing.I've been thru some tough times in this fight, feeling stronger every day I have my medicine. I feel her pain, but even jailing me won't make me suicidal, I'll just have faith in all of you fighing for our rights, looking forward to my release from such injustice.being in the spotlight in the fight of course puts you in the crosshairs of the FEDS...d mn I pray these laws change soon.........until then "I might be moving to Montana soon be a dental floss tycoon."
Moving to Montana
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 09:37:38 PT
Had Enough
The perfect song to end F/9/11 would have been We Won't Be Fooled Again but they didn't agree with the movie and said no. He asked Neil Young and he said yes. That's why Rocking In The Free World plays at the end of the movie instead of The Who's song.
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Comment #19 posted by Had Enough on October 21, 2007 at 09:25:50 PT
Who
How did the who people respond to Michael’s request?Fill me in…
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Comment #18 posted by Had Enough on October 21, 2007 at 09:15:46 PT
Stones
Yeah, they looked at the Beatles as competition at the time.Kinda like who’s it gonna be, us or the Beatles? While gazing at the glittering gold instead of the twinkling stars above.Mick Jager abused his place in thought, word, and deed.Many others followed too.************I still like most of their music. We saw them about 6 yrs ago in an outdoor stadium. Good show.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 09:05:04 PT
Had Enough 
I know they aren't from here but it was how he responded to Michael Moore that made me thing that way. I feel the same way about the Rolling Stones. I saw a show on tv recently that said when the Stones were trying to make their own identity in the beginning it was said that the Beatles were the Christ so let's become the Anti-Christ. They said sure.
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Comment #16 posted by Had Enough on October 21, 2007 at 08:54:36 PT
Who & King Richard???
Who???Na.I don’t think the who are republican or democrat.In the UK where the who comes from, the 2 ruling parties are called the conservative and labor parties. Same thing different names. But I don’t think they hang with politicians though.Who knows the reason why the music wasn’t used in Michael films? But I am hearing it on TV commercials. Not sure if it is good or bad, maybe some of both… Who knows???That tune I posted was recorded in 1971. Remember who got to keep the throne in 1972. Richard Milhous Nixon, aka Tricky Dick, who claimed he wasn’t a crook.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 08:28:53 PT
Medical Marijuana Sting Targets Doctor 
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071021-9999-1m21potdoc.html
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 08:02:55 PT
Had Enough
It's funny but I never liked The Who. They wouldn't let Michael Moore use their song in F/9/11 and Neil allowed him to use Rocking in the Free World. I think The Who are more Republicans then Democrats and then I realized why I didn't like their music.
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Comment #13 posted by Had Enough on October 21, 2007 at 07:54:29 PT
Fooled Again???
We'll be fighting in the streetsWith our children at our feetAnd the morals that they worship will be goneAnd the men who spurred us onSit in judgment of all wrongThey decide and the shotgun sings the song***********Better Lyric Link than the last one….http://www.bemydemon.org/covers/fooled.htm***********This site is a public resource celebrating The Who.http://www.thewho.net/
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 21, 2007 at 07:47:05 PT
Had Enough 
I agree. I will not be fooled again. 
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Comment #11 posted by Had Enough on October 21, 2007 at 07:37:18 PT
Let's Not Get Fooled Again!!!
Meet the new bossSame as the old bossI'll tip my hat to the new constitutionTake a bow for the new revolutionSmile and grin at the change all around mePick up my guitar and playJust like yesterdayThen I'll get on my knees and prayWe don't get fooled againDon't get fooled againNo, no!************The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again - Live 8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydAs5bRW1U************Lyricshttp://www.lyricsfreak.com/w/who/wont+get+fooled+again_20146855.html
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Comment #10 posted by Toker00 on October 21, 2007 at 06:56:18 PT
The DEAth must be proud.
They must be pleased in the way they were able to keep this selfless human being beat down and her cries for mercy echoing pitifully as her life draining pain was finally squelched by her own hands. There are other hands in this world who could have silenced her cries of pain with mercy and extended her life with compassion. Why didn't they?The Drug Enforcement Agenda. Let the sick suffer and die by their own hands. Let the curious be savaged and ravaged physically, mentally and spiritually in the Dungeons and Drug Raids of our "FREE" Society. Kill innocent bystanders, mistaken identities, pets or anyone not obeying the Elite PharmCo Fascists. They could have made exceptions for the sick. Why didn't they?The job of the Politicians is to keep the People Fooled.The job of the Police is to keep the People Fooled.The job of the Media is to keep the People Fooled.The job of Religion is to keep the People Fooled.The only People more Fooled than the People, are the People who keep Fooling themselves into believing that they are still Fooling the People.We know that Cannabis is kept off the so called "Free" Market because of the desire (greed) of Industrialists and Corporatists to eliminate Natural Competition, or Real Free Trade. We realize, now, that there is NO Free Trade, only Corporate Greed and Corporate Laws which are enforced in order to keep out Cannabis Competition. We are no longer Fooled.We know that Cannabis is Medicine because only a small step back in History tells us so. We could travel that History back to the beginning of Civilization and it would still make no difference to our Masters. They simply don't care. In fact, they gather annually in celebration of the Sacrifice of Care. What do we expect from Leaders who do this? We know they don't Care. We are no longer Fooled.We know that Cannabis is much Safer than either Tobacco or Alcohol and yet for profit value only they turn their heads to the destruction of society and individuals that both of these substances cause. If they were truly concerned with our health, wouldn't we have Universal Health Care by now? Cannabis would equal a clean bill of health, for some, instead of a filthy but profitable Prescription of Pharmatoxins and unnecessary Medical Facilities expenses. We suffer so Tobacco and Alcohol and the Medical Empire may proliferate and profit. We are no longer Fooled.Electing a Democrat or a Republican will make no difference about cannabis because they will both continue to enforce the will of the Fascists and ignore the suffrage of the People. We must elect a Leader, not a Politician, if we are to ever have a chance at cannabis law reform. We must elect The People and reject The Corporations. We are no longer fooled.Our entire existence is nothing but a well structured perpetual LIE. We have been forced to live it for thousands of years because of our ignorance and fear and the ability of our Masters to manipulate us by those weaknesses. We must leave the Lie behind. There is no God, only a Creator. The Bible is nothing more than an Astrotheological Literary Hybrid like all other Religious Documents. Before Science there was only Speculation. That is what Religions are. Speculation based on Fear and Ignorance. Religion is Slavery. Face that and you face the Truth. The True Face of the Creator.Prohibition equals Profit for the Prohibitionists, Pain for the Patients,Prison for the Providers,Perpetuation of the Political Lie.All to keep Cannabis Competition out of the way.We are no longer Fooled.Toke.     
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Comment #9 posted by afterburner on October 21, 2007 at 01:18:01 PT
Remembering Robin
Marijuana Policy Project - Victims Link Content Listing - 
Robin Prosser [history]
http://www.mpp.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=glKZLeMQIsG&b=1425757&ct=2087249Goodbye, friend. Another night of sadness passes. We honor her memory by redoubling our efforts to end the cruel injustice of cannabis prohibition.
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Comment #8 posted by Dankhank on October 20, 2007 at 21:10:26 PT
Edwards ...
is on Bill Maher this week, forgot to mention it yesterday, good segment, catch it if you can ... or look for it on you tube, I guess ...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x64008
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Comment #7 posted by whig on October 20, 2007 at 18:16:36 PT
Hope
http://cannabisnews.com/news/23/thread23423.shtml#2
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 20, 2007 at 18:16:34 PT
Robin Prosser
I just found the thread. I hadn't seen it. I'm so sorry.
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on October 20, 2007 at 18:14:20 PT
The arrogant traitors!
"....arguing that voters didn’t realize the full range of the measure when they supported it."They probably should be prosecuted for such arrogance in the failure to do what they were elected to do! They most certainly should not ever be elected to public office again for that traitorous arrogance.Too little, too late!Did Robin Prosser kill herself? Where did you learn that, Whig?
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on October 20, 2007 at 18:07:10 PT
Oh my gosh!
She didn't?Oh no!
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Comment #3 posted by whig on October 20, 2007 at 18:05:53 PT
Timing
Is it a coincidence that today, the Missoula county attorney wants to respect the law, the day after Robin Prosser took her life, after her medicine was seized.
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Comment #2 posted by Dankhank on October 20, 2007 at 18:01:30 PT
smoke ...
good one Mr DA ...though truthfully, local citizens ... and citizens for tens of miles in practically any direction ... the real problem is smoke-filled air due to all the ground fires that burn all summer long. Spouse, I and grand kids were in Missoula in August and of 7 days in Missoula, two were nice, clear and smoke free.
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Comment #1 posted by MikeC on October 20, 2007 at 17:55:21 PT
Very nice
Thank you Mr. Valkenburg. 
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