cannabisnews.com: Light a Joint in Missoula? Groovy, Say Supporters Light a Joint in Missoula? Groovy, Say Supporters Posted by FoM on July 07, 2000 at 09:57:02 PT Police question pro-marijuana group's statistics Source: Missoulian Marijuana smokers looking for a safe haven to light up may find their refuge in Missoula County, according to a recent study by a marijuana reform lobbying group. The study from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws exposed the hot spots for marijuana arrests across Montana and the nation, and suggested that enforcement is less stringent in some places than others. "For those responsible adults who choose marijuana, they are less likely to be arrested in Missoula County," said John Masterson, the regional director of NORML. "If there is a safe county in Montana, Missoula may the one for it." According to NORML, which has about 300 members in the Missoula area, the rate of Missoula County's marijuana arrests falls below the national and state averages. Of all arrests made nationally, 4.65 percent are for marijuana violations. In Montana, 5.4 percent of all arrests are for marijuana, and in Missoula County, 3.2 percent of arrests are for marijuana. Montana is the third lowest in total number of statewide marijuana arrests. The study showed significant marijuana arrest variations in Montana, from county to county. The study tallied marijuana-use arrests from 1995-97, comparing arrest statistics by state and county throughout the nation. Subsequent studies will examine how race or gender factors into the likelihood of being arrested for marijuana use. The study was conducted by John Gettman, a public policy analyst for NORML, who examined the arrests compared to county populations. Large variances in arrest percentages compared to small variances in overall marijuana use or popularity demonstrates how different law enforcement officials have varying values and priorities when deciding which laws to enforce, said Keith Stroup, the Washington, D.C.,-based executive director of NORML. Montana marijuana users are 16 times more likely to be arrested in Toole County than they are in Big Horn County, according to the study "I think that law enforcement officers - they all recognize that marijuana is not cocaine," Masterson said. "It's a different phenomenon. It's not the terrible family value scourge of society." Toole County appears to be clamping down on smokers, according to the study, ranking No. 1 in per-capita marijuana arrests in Montana. Missoula County, on the other hand, ranking at 17, illustrates the differences in enforcement from county to county. There were 140 marijuana arrests in Missoula County in 1997, and 129 in Toole County. Based on population, however, a person is about eight times more likely to be arrested for a marijuana violation in Toole County than in Missoula County. Missoula police Detective Jeff Dobie, who works mainly drug cases, is skeptical of the findings. He said that NORML officials are pushing an agenda and that the group's numbers shouldn't necessarily be trusted. Marijuana use is a big problem in Missoula, and he has "piles of work to do" because of it, Dobie said. "You don't know if their statistics are skewed," he said. "Marijuana is against the law, and until it's legalized, we will fight it with as much vigor as we can." The fight against marijuana in Toole County is also vigorous, and even though the numbers attest to their dedication to drug arrests, law officials must prioritize what crimes they pursue, said Toole County Undersheriff Dave Robins. Toole County has no plans to increase its narcotics task force. "We don't have the manpower or the money," Robins said. "When it comes to law enforcement officers that develop information regarding criminal activity - they will go after the big things that will cause the most hurt and damage." Robins said drug violations are one of Toole County's "biggest problems." But, he thinks other parts of Montana have their share of illegal activity, too. "I think Missoula's got a big problem of their own," he said. Toole County may have been identified as a law enforcement hot spot in the study because of its proximity to Interstate 15, which brings drug operations from all over the United States and Canada. A number of Indian reservations also attract the drug, he said, but the main reason for the ranking is probably because of the numerous arrests made at the U.S.-Canadian border crossing at Sweetgrass. "We're constantly running a drug seizure at the border," Robins said. "They've smoked a joint or smoked a bowl, and they forgot they've come to the United States. Some county officials work with federal officials to stifle drug activity and are paid overtime by the federal government because the county can't afford it, Robins said. In the last two years, Toole County officials snagged smugglers trying to move 30 pounds of marijuana across the border. Often, they find the drug crammed into pop cans or hidden in spare tires. Statewide, authorities continue to grapple with ways to deal with marijuana. Ravalli County had 41 marijuana arrests in 1997, 6.2 percent of all arrests. The county historically has been understaffed, which means there was limited manpower to handle large crime caseloads, said Ravalli County Sheriff Perry Johnson. When there are major crimes - like murders that demand much time to investigate - other crimes may slip through the cracks, he said. Johnson recently assigned one detective to specialize in narcotics cases, because other officers don't always have the time needed to pursue the time-consuming cases. They are also cooperating with state and other county officials to tackle marijuana and other drug violations. "We respond to a lot of calls that we would never be there if it wasn't for those substance abuse problems," said Johnson, who explained that property crimes and domestic assaults on their own are often "symptoms" of addiction or substance abuse. "We see how invasive the drug problems are with families," he said. The NORML study also compared nationwide arrest rates. A smoker is three times more likely to be arrested in Alaska and New York, for example, than if he or she smoked in Pennsylvania, North Dakota or Hawaii. Missoula law enforcement officials vehemently reject any implication that they are lagging behind in drug enforcement. "There is nobody here that is overlooking marijuana arrests in search of something better - laws are laws," said Mike Wood, a Missoula police detective. By Lisa Livermore of the Missoulian Published: Friday July 7, 2000Copyright 1999, MissoulianNewsHawk: John MastersonMontana NORMLhttp://www.montananorml.orgCannabisNews NORML Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 08, 2000 at 15:54:55 PT Police Doubt Data of Pro-Pot Group Published: July 8, 2000Source: Billings Gazettehttp://www.billingsgazette.com/ A study by a marijuana reform group indicates that Missoula County may be a relatively safe haven for marijuana smokers, but local police are skeptical of the statistics. “For those responsible adults who choose marijuana, they are less likely to be arrested in Missoula County,” said John Masterson, regional director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. “If there is a safe county in Montana, Missoula may the one for it.” NORML, with about 300 members in the Missoula area, said its study shows the rate of marijuana arrests in Missoula County is below the national and state averages. Of all arrests nationally, the NORML study said, 4.65 percent are for marijuana violations. In Montana, 5.4 percent are for marijuana, and in Missoula County only 3.2 percent. Montana is third-lowest in total number of statewide marijuana arrests. John Gettman, a public policy analyst for NORML, studied marijuana-use arrests from 1995-97 by state and county throughout the nation. Missoula police Detective Jeff Dobie, who works mainly drug cases, was skeptical of the findings. He said that NORML officials are pushing an agenda and that the group’s numbers should not necessarily be trusted. Marijuana use is a big problem in Missoula, and he has “piles of work to do” because of it, Dobie said. “You don’t know if their statistics are skewed,” he said. “Marijuana is against the law, and until it’s legalized, we will fight it with as much vigor as we can.” The study showed significant variations in marijuana arrests from county to county. Toole County ranks No. 1 in per-capita marijuana arrests in Montana, and Missoula County ranks 17. There were 140 marijuana arrests in Missoula County in 1997, and 129 in Toole County. Based on population, a marijuana smoker is about eight times more likely to be arrested in Toole County than in Missoula County, the study said. Toole County Undersheriff Dave Robins said his county may have been identified as a law enforcement hot spot in the study because of its proximity to Interstate 15, which brings drug operations from all over the United States and Canada. A number of Indian reservations also attract the drug, he said, but the main reason for the ranking is probably the many arrests at the U.S.-Canadian border crossing at Sweetgrass. Missoula (AP) Published: Saturday, July 8, 2000Copyright © The Billings Gazette [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: