cannabisnews.com: Students Working To Decriminalize Minor MJ Offense





Students Working To Decriminalize Minor MJ Offense
Posted by FoM on March 13, 2001 at 16:43:15 PT
By Tricia Symansic, ThisWeek Staff Writer 
Source: ThisWeek
A coalition of college students has kicked off a petition drive to decriminalize misdemeanor marijuana possession in Columbus. "We're not advocating marijuana use," said Kenny Schweickart, a member of For a Better Ohio (FABO) who will officially be filing the petition. "We're advocating sensible drug policy to replace old, failed policies." The drug policy activist group For a Better Ohio will attempt to collect 10,000 signatures by June 2, the scheduled date of Hempfest at Ohio State University's South Oval and well before the August deadline for ballot initiatives. 
A project of the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism, For a Better Ohio's members are students at Ohio State, Columbus State Community College, Columbus College of Art and Design and Capital University. If FABO were to be successful, the Columbus City Council could either approve the proposed ordinance in its entirety or allow it to appear on the November ballot. The proposed ordinance aims to protect the privacy of adults who use small amounts of marijuana, allow for medical use and to keep college students from losing federal funding for misdemeanor marijuana offenses, according to the petition. "The Higher Education Act (of 1998) denies students money for school loans, grants and scholarships if they are convicted of any amount while at the same time murderers, rapists and other violent criminals are still eligible," Schweickart said. The ordinance would apply only to adults and would prohibit Columbus police officers from writing citations for any misdemeanor marijuana offense, generally possession of less than 100 grams. Officers could still confiscate or order the destruction of small amounts of marijuana found on a person, but there would be no paper trail, said Bob Fitrakis, a Columbus State political science instructor and advisor for FABO. Fitrakis also has filed as a Green Party candidate for one of the three available city council seats, but plans to withdraw from the race for professional reasons. He worked on a similar and successful initiative in Ann Arbor during the 1970s and encouraged FABO members to pursue the idea. "This is more exciting to me than my council run would have been," Fitrakis said. "It gets to the heart of the drug war." Schweickart said the group hopes to get an endorsement from the Columbus Division of Police, because the proposal in effect would allow police to spend more time on violent offenses. Fitrakis called the dedication of police efforts to misdemeanor marijuana enforcement "foolish and counterproductive." "There are plenty of criminal infractions on which we could spend our limited resources," he said. The organization also has collected 56,000 signatures over three years for a statewide initiative that would address medical marijuana use and industrial hemp, but needs a couple hundred thousand more to get on the ballot. Though polling shows public support for both parts of the proposal, Fitrakis said, seeming confusion about industrial hemp may be hindering the process. Schweickart said allies in the Ohio Patient Network and Ohio Farmers for Hemp have allowed the issue to keep moving forward. For now though, FABO will concentrate on a more local approach. "We hope that our decriminalization model can be replicated all over the country," Schweickart said. Complete Title: Students Working To Decriminalize Minor Marijuana Offenses Source: ThisWeek (OH)Author: Tricia Symansic, ThisWeek Staff Writer Published: March 13, 2001Copyright: 2001 ThisWeek Address: 670 Lakeview Plaza Blvd., Suite F, Worthington, OH 43085 Contact: editorial thisweeknews.com Website: http://www.thisweeknews.com/ Related Article & Web Sites:For A Better Ohiohttp://www.ohiohemp.org/The Green Partyhttp://www.greenparty.org/Ohio Group Writes Bill Proposal on Marijuana Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8263.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by RAS JAMES RSIFWH on March 14, 2001 at 15:05:07 PT
CANNABIS IS GOD'S SACRED GIFT TO MANKIND
Neither the Tobacco-Alcohol Drug Cartels nor the Heroin-Cocaine Drug Cartels want Cannabis Sativa legally available. Cannabis heals the mind and body; and frees the soul. Tobacco, Alcohol, Heroin, and Cocaine damage the body; imprison the body; & cast a fog over the soul.THE ALL can see Cannabis Sativa is fruiting (achenes = one-seed-fruits) on both sides of American streets each month of the year (in small growrooms)...crystal clear waters (bottled spring water) are flowing down the middle of American streets (BY AUTO DRIVERS)...and the leaves of Marijuana are being voted true medicine in state after state by the people...Yes read The Book of Revelation 22: 1&2.As Bob Marley sang, "See them fighting for power for they know not the hour." The Final Judgement has occured and  JAH RASTAFARI has established the CITY OF GOD...now here on earth. The "Holy Sign" being a plant that manifests as the Promised Tree of Life. Everyone knows and can see that plant is Cannabis Sativa."The Word shall become flesh." Queen Omega has given birth to Zion. Holy Zion! The Final Mission of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim Traditions has been accomplished. Rasta Bob Marley was right, "Rasta is the Future." and the future is now. "Have no fear for atomic energy. None of these can stop the times.""Man work is over. Fly away home to Zion." "Home is what I think about."...Marley.Give all praise and thanks to JAH RASTAFARI WHO LIVETH AND REIGNITH IN I AND I.
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Comment #3 posted by ohigho on March 14, 2001 at 10:18:04 PT:
If you like weed say yes indeed.
yeah, that is what the normal site says but in practice they yoink your license for any amount and sometimes put you on probation. as I said, true decriminalization is a good start...and is something that can begin locally.btw- Wonder if the ex prez stopped by a hash bar on his recent trip to Holland?? 
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 13, 2001 at 20:27:54 PT
I Found This Information
Hi ohigho, This is all I could find on where the law stands in Ohio now. I know there is more information but the site I was trying to check must be down temporarily. This is basic and there are exception like near schools which carries a much stiffer penalty. I by no means know very much about the laws but I think I understand this one.OHIO (C, D)Possession: >/= 100 grams: $250C Conditional release. The state allows conditional release or alternative or diversion sentencing for people facing their first prosecutions. Usually, conditional release lets a person opt for probation rather than trial. After successfully completing probation, the individual's criminal record does not reflect the charge. D Decriminalization. The state has decriminalized marijuana to some degree. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation. 
My Activist's Links Page
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Comment #1 posted by ohigho on March 13, 2001 at 19:24:30 PT:
Good start!
Getting the cops to leave us alone for less than 100g is a great start. Think of how much of society's resources can be saved! If the same tolerance is extended to growing plants...then we are really getting somewhere. Imagine being able to cultivate Actually, this sounds kind of Dutch.Let's send the message to our local legislators: **THINK**.Local initiatives like this are a great use of the local resources at our command.
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