cannabisnews.com: Mendocino Sheriff: No Stance On Pot Vote





Mendocino Sheriff: No Stance On Pot Vote
Posted by CN Staff on March 11, 2008 at 06:51:16 PT
By Mike Geniella, The Press Democrat
Source: Press Democrat
Ukiah, CA -- An escalating war of words is being waged over Mendocino County's Measure B, which if passed in the June primary will repeal the nation's first initiative to legalize personal marijuana use. By refusing to take an official position on Measure B, Sheriff Tom Allman had hoped to stay out of a divisive debate. Emotions are running high over an underground marijuana economy that now dwarfs legitimate agriculture production including timber harvesting.
But because a pro-medical marijuana group decided to include past Allman comments in its ballot argument against Measure B, the sheriff has reiterated his stance:"I am not taking any position. That's not my job," Allman said.At issue are Allman quotes in a ballot argument submitted by opponents of Measure B.Allman is quoted as saying that if county voters were to adopt more restrictive state standards, it "would be a burden on law enforcement."Allman is also quoted as saying his deputies "will not be able to focus on any other public safety issue."The sheriff doesn't deny making the statements reported in The Press Democrat a year ago. But he said they've since been taken out of context."We've already stepped up our enforcement against major marijuana growing. It's already a burden," Allman said.Measure B proponents argue that marijuana cultivation in the county is "clearly out of control." They want Measure B passed in hopes of keeping crime-related problems in check, while erasing the county's national reputation as a haven for marijuana growers.Measure B would repeal a 2000 initiative that legalizes personal use of marijuana, and makes enforcement of pot-related laws the "lowest priority" for local law enforcement.The 2000 pot initiative was passed by a large margin, which led medical marijuana advocates to lobby former Sheriff Tony Craver and the late District Attorney Norman Vroman. Craver and Vroman eventually agreed to adopt a local standard allowing up to 25 plants per individual for medical use. In comparison, state standards called for no more than six plants per person.Since 2000, marijuana production has soared in Mendocino County, as it has statewide despite continuing state and federal efforts to crack down.The ballot argument in support of Measure B contends that the relaxed county standard "has made us a magnet for get-rich-quick growers who hide behind medical marijuana as a cover for commercial marijuana production."Opponents in their ballot argument said they fear Measure B "is a backward step towards marijuana re-criminalization that targets small-scale, personal use growers."Note: Official's statements used by opponents of measure to repeal marijuana law.Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)Author: Mike Geniella, The Press DemocratPublished: Tuesday, March 11, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.comWebsite: http://www.pressdemo.com/Related Articles: Measure B: Voters To Set Marijuana Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23744.shtmlMost Mendocino Voters Favor Pot Law Repealhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23593.shtmlCouncil Supports Repeal of Measure Ghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23580.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on March 11, 2008 at 14:00:00 PT
Press Release From The Drug Policy Alliance
 Jersey Residents: Help Bring Medical Marijuana to Our StateTuesday, March 11, 2008The time has come for New Jersey to join the 12 other states that allow seriously ill patients access to medical marijuana! Help make it happen by asking legislators to support the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. 
URL: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/031108nj.cfm
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Comment #16 posted by Dankhank on March 11, 2008 at 11:14:51 PT
great links ...
today, thanks to allEkim, good to see you ... and Mayan popping in here again ...Peace to all who would heal ...
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Comment #15 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 11, 2008 at 10:57:40 PT:
This judge mathis guy almost sounds like a
cannabis advocate. Another case is on right now and in one guys opening statement he mentioned that the defendant was a drug user and an alcoholic. Judge Mathis then asked what kind of drugs he was using. He said just marijuana. Then the judge said" I'll tell what, from the studies I've been seeing lately, alcohol is just as bad as marijuana if not worse for person." "People abusing alcohol are the ones who are driving around drunk killing people". "They are the ones getting violent and abusing their spouses". then he goes to say something like "Now, I'm not an advocate for marijuana use, but to me alcohol is right up there next to marijuana.
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Comment #14 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 11, 2008 at 10:48:49 PT:
Here's a direct link to a clip
of that health segment about marijuana and alzheimers on CNN today.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9aZPbYcIX8
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Comment #13 posted by ekim on March 11, 2008 at 10:48:22 PT
this is the right site for Woolsey story
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n272/a05.html?397
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Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on March 11, 2008 at 10:46:58 PT
Spitzer
I"m not a big fan of this guy, just observing that he was a rare politician in that he went directly after the corporate corruption epidemic over the last 10-15 years, and this looks like retribution.Of course, Larry Craig getting busted and the gay evangelist were quite likely setup as well.yes, the bottom line is that Spitzer presided over a huge criminal justice system that attacked prostitutes with armed men and yet he was partaking himself.that's the rub with prohibiton laws, they are passed by rich politcians that know damn well the law will likely never apply to them, just like "drugs" and military service
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Comment #11 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 11, 2008 at 10:40:15 PT:
Judge Mathis
I was just watching a case on judge Mathis where this oxy addict stole some money from girl. Anyways the addict mentioned how the girl's boyfriend was a marijuana user. So the Judge was like "Yeah, so what?" "Marijuana is a totally different drug than oxycontin." "Oxycontin is a very powerful, highly addictive drug that has a hold on people that use it, Marijuana is not the same". "You cannot compare the two". Even the judges agree that it's not harmful.
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Comment #10 posted by ekim on March 11, 2008 at 10:40:13 PT
hey Denver see this
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/industrial+hempFORMER CIA DIRECTOR WOOLSEY WEAVES CASE FOR LEGALIZING HEMP Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey is scheduled to address a meeting today at the Canadian Consulate in Denver. But he won't speak about terrorism. Woolsey, who has served under former President Clinton and has been an adviser to President Bush, will hold court via telephone on another of his favorite topics: industrial hemp. 
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 11, 2008 at 10:39:17 PT
Dankhank
Double standards don't sit well with me either.
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Comment #8 posted by Dankhank on March 11, 2008 at 10:19:50 PT
Spitzer
should go straight to ... obscurity ...for his moral failing ... and the operative word is hypocrisy.W snorted, then as Gov allowed young, mostly black kids to be locked up for years for the same behavior.it's hypocrisy that can't be tolerated in public life.I would argue that Spitzer is especially stupid in that he failed to realize he should be "comped" for his occasional use of the service he patronized since he was engaged in putting competitors out of business.Then there wouldn't be a paper trail.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 11, 2008 at 09:57:55 PT
Sam
It would be helpful if victimless crimes were legalized. There is a victim in this case but it's a family matter. When a politician takes money from lobbyists I find that more offending that if the guy has an overpowered sex drive.PS: I don't like Spitzer but that's just how I feel and means nothing.
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Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on March 11, 2008 at 09:37:03 PT
spitzer
what do you guys think of this story?  Definitely looks like the Cheneyites are realizing their time is up in 6 months, taking all their parting shots now.let's see, the prostitution "ring" had 50 Corporate executive & VIP clients, yet only Spitzer is being busted & outed? And the feds got him. What a coincidence! this is after years of Spitzer going after the biggest players on Wall Street for greed and corruption.Also, he was probably going going to take away another Republican Senate seat this fall, can't have that! Maybe he's lucky he didn't get the Wellstone treatment.I bet we're going to see even more Republican/ultra-conservative skullduggery before November. I see that Larry Craig is still a practicing Senator. Will be interesting to see if this incident takes Spitzer down.The whole Puritanical thing is so revolting. It's ridiculous that Prostitution is illegal, this should wake everyone up to that fact.  The only effect of this prohibition is to make the women suffer.Let's save the girls from exploitation by arresting them, throwing them in jail, and forcing them to work for criminal pimps and the mafia! Very similar to....let's save the youth from cannabis by arresting them and throwing them in jail and making sure they can't go to college or get a job! Same perverted Puritan logic, it has no place in enlightened society.
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Comment #5 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 11, 2008 at 08:48:19 PT:
Thanks for the link august
It didn't work for me, but I went to the website and found it.Maybe this one will work. It won't take you directly to the video but you will see the cannabis video on the left side of the page.http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/
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Comment #4 posted by augustwest on March 11, 2008 at 08:36:49 PT:
cnn
cnn has a videoup on their health website about research using cannabis to treat memory loss in the uk I assume from the accents.
cnn.com/health
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 11, 2008 at 08:08:40 PT
runruff
I am so tired too. I can't believe the corruption I have seen in that party. 
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Comment #2 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 11, 2008 at 07:56:25 PT:
You won't hear this come out of many sheriffs'
mouths!"I am not taking any position. That's not my job," Allman said.
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on March 11, 2008 at 07:55:17 PT:
O.T.
I can't believe how slimey these GOPs can be in their starched white shirts. They seen to have no integrity and they win elections that way. They are amoral yet they want to tell us how to live even criticize us for living according to our constitution as if we were criminals and low lifes for doing so.Oh, I am so tired!
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