cannabisnews.com: Pot Activist Angry at County for Interference





Pot Activist Angry at County for Interference
Posted by FoM on September 17, 1999 at 06:10:54 PT
Source: Oregon Live
ALBANY, Ore. Bill Conde, a marijuana activist known for holding major concerts on his property, says the county is trampling his First Amendment right to peaceful assembly because officials don't like his political efforts. 
"I put faith in you people that you'd be fair," Conde told county commissioners. "I don't know what you people had in mind when you talked about a spirit of cooperation, but if this is cooperation, man, God forbid that I ever get on your bad side." Conde accused Sheriff Dave Burright of overstepping the bounds of an agreement between Conde and the board that allowed the event as long as he met conditions set out for health, safety, sanitation and law enforcement. He has vowed to sue the county and Burright personally. Conde said police presence scared people away from his Labor Day "Rock-N-Reggae" concert, costing him $50,000. He said deputies were on his land too often, in large numbers, and that roads leading to his property were full of patrol officers stopping people for minor violations. Burright said Conde was exaggerating the police presence, using it as an excuse for his problems. "He had his facts very wrong," Burright said. "He threw a bad party and people didn't come, and to blame that on the county is absolutely ludicrous." Burright said undercover officers saw countless violations of drug laws, and uniformed officers confiscated small amounts of marijuana. But police made only three arrests during the event. Burright said they were deliberately taking a "low-key" approach, realizing that police weren't wanted there and that an arrest that got out of hand could cause injuries to officers, suspects or bystanders. Pubdate: September 17, 1999©1999 Oregon Live LLCPot Activist Will Sue Over Law Enforcement Tactics - 9/08/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2796.shtml
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