cannabisnews.com: Agents Arrest 19 at Marijuana Lobby Festival Agents Arrest 19 at Marijuana Lobby Festival Posted by FoM on September 20, 1999 at 11:53:17 PT By Dee Drummond Source: Toledo Blade PORT CLINTON An annual music festival to promote the legalization of marijuana was interrupted during the weekend when undercover state agents infiltrated the festivities in search of drugs and underage drinkers. Eight agents from Ohio's Department of Public Safety arrested 19 people Saturday evening at the Golden Eye Campground here during the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Harvest Fest .Eight of those arrested were minors. The youngest was 14.Charges included underage possession of beer, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia; drug abuse and possession of marijuana, and furnishing beer to a minor, agent Earl Mack said.From the road, agents saw youths pouring alcohol into funnels and filling cups, Mr. Mack said. When the agents entered the campground about 8:30 p.m., the marijuana smoke was as thick as clouds in some areas, he said. Numerous small baggies of mari juana and drug paraphernalia were confis cated at the time of the arrests, he said."They detected a lot of marijuana smoke and other drugs,'' Mr. Mack said. "Acid and a kind of drug made from mushrooms. God knows what else was in there. We didn't have enough agents. We could have tripled those arrests if we would have had more agents.''A man who identified himself as the father of Richard Carpenter, the owner of Golden Eye Campground, said yesterday that his son had no comment. "All of our customers were happy, and they wanted to know when they can come back,'' the man said.NORML is a lobbying group dedicated to legalizing marijuana for medical and responsible recreational use. The group's Web site says: "All drugs, including marijuana, can be abused. Our marijuana policy should discourage irresponsible use, including use by adolescents.''Between 2,000 and 2,500 people attended the three-day festival, Ottawa County Sheriff Craig Emahiser said.It is the third year the event has been held at the privately owned campground, on State Rt. 53 in Ottawa County, south of State Rt. 2. Prior to that, the festival was held in the Sandusky area.State agents said they investigated the festival, which started Friday and ended yesterday, at the request of the Ohio Highway Patrol and Ottawa County sheriff's office."At different times we've had different problems,'' Sheriff Emahiser said. "People that we've had contact with outside of the festival for traffic stops have been intoxicated."It's been our experience that some of those people are underage," the sheriff said. "That's why we notified liquor control and asked them to keep an eye on it.''Despite the arrests, the music played on through yesterday.By 2 p.m., the last few stragglers were leaving the festival but declined to comment on the weekend's activities.One young man walking across the gravel parking lot yelled "Weed rules!''A sign near the campground advertised clothes made from hemp,Because the campground, which covers between 10 and 15 acres, is privately owned, authorities have to proceed cautiously, Sheriff Emahiser said.Based on alleged past problems and complaints from neighbors, sheriff's deputies this year went to the music festival equipped with a sound meter.Though the noise is annoying to neighbors, the meters did not indicate the music was any louder than the traffic on Rt. 2, he said.Sheriff Emahiser said his department must be able to prove the festival is causing a nuisance and that laws are being broken to cancel the event.He said he will take the reports from the weekend and try to get Ottawa County Common Pleas Court to issue a civil injunction to squelch another festival."It takes time,'' he said. "We need something solid. But this certainly will help.''Those arrested who are 18 and older will be arraigned Sept. 29 in Ottawa County Municipal Court. Hearings for the juveniles arrested haven't been scheduled yet, authorities said. September 20, 1999BY DEE DRUMMONDBLADE STAFF WRITER © 1999, The Blade Related Article:The Boston RallyThousands Rally in Support of Marijuana - 9/18/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2933.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by jim phoenix on August 09, 2000 at 23:45:37 PT: agents arrest 19 at marijuana lobby festival Thick marijuana smoke posed a problem of exposing agents to a potential "contact high," Mr. Mack said. "Next time we'll have to wear some kind of oxygen masks. that is the most ridiculous statement, it just goes to show how much the governmentis misinformed. Acting as if you need to be isolated is a bit excessive. The addition of Sheriff Emahiser statment saying there havent been complaints like this in the past yet they still infiltrated a private party, all in all its these types of organized get togethers that need to be taking place more often, to enlighten everyone to what is taking place a revolution of the laws against marijuana. agents arrest 19 at marijuana lobby festival [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 21, 1999 at 14:52:10 PT: Campsite May Be Closed Over Drug Bust September 21, 1999By Jim SielickiBlade Staff WriterThe Toledo Bladehttp://www.toledoblade.com/ PORT CLINTON The campground where 19 people were arrested for alcohol and drug violations during a weekend music festival could be seized or ordered closed, a state law enforcement agent said yesterday.Eight juveniles and 11 adults were arrested Saturday during the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Harvest Fest.Earl Mack, a Toledo agent with the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said his office will forward a report of the raid at Golden Eye Campground to the Ottawa County prosecutor's office next week.The charges he will seek against the owner, Richard Carpenter, include being the keeper of a place where liquor is given away or furnished in violation of the law, and allowing possession or consumption of alcohol on private property by underage minors.Conviction on the "keeper of a place" law will allow authorities to seek the campground's closure, Mr. Mack said."With that, if we can find him guilty we can go to court for an order to seize the property," Mr. Mack said.Mr. Carpenter could not be reached for comment.State agents and Ottawa County sheriff's deputies said they raided the campground after watching alleged underage drinking from a vantage point on State Rt. 53.Two undercover agents went in after paying the $25 cover charge and initially made two arrests, Mr. Mack said.More agents were summoned from Cleveland and elsewhere to conduct a raid at about 8:30 p.m. Officers entered from the front gate and rear of the campground, he said.Sheriff Craig Emahiser estimated attendance was between 2,000 and 2,500.Thick marijuana smoke posed a problem of exposing agents to a potential "contact high," Mr. Mack said. "Next time we'll have to wear some kind of oxygen masks.Sheriff Emahiser said his office will confer with the prosecutor to determine whether a court order can be obtained to prohibit future festivals.In addition to liquor and drug violations, deputies are concerned about an alleged nuisance to the neighborhood."We've had an ongoing problem with people complaining about the noise," Sheriff Emahiser said.Previous festivals sponsored by the Sandusky County chapter of NORML have not caused the type of problems experienced last weekend, Sheriff Emahiser said.Hans Ashbaucher, president of NORML's Sandusky County chapter, could not be reached for comment. The organization is a lobbying group dedicated to seeking the reform of laws that bar marijuana use for medical and recreational purposes.The adults arrested will appear in Ottawa Municipal Court in Port Clinton on misdemeanor charges Sept. 29. The juveniles will appear in court at a later date. Sheriff Emahiser said some suspects could be charged with felonies if tests determine other drugs were found. The first-degree misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.One agent, Betty Ford from Cleveland, was injured when she twisted her knee in a wooded area. Mr. Mack said she was treated at Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton.© 1999, The Blade [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: