cannabisnews.com: Just Say No





Just Say No
Posted by CN Staff on April 03, 2006 at 06:22:50 PT
By Larry Pozner
Source: Denver Post
Denver -- Last November, Denver voters passed a city ordinance making it legal for a person 21 or older to possess less than 1 ounce of marijuana (or 28 grams) for personal use. Last month, Denver police, ignoring both the expressed will of Denver's citizens and the law of the city and county of Denver, charged David La Goy with possession of less than 1 gram of marijuana. That is less than the amount of sugar in a single packet.
The Denver city attorney's office will now marshal its vast resources in hopes of convincing a six-person jury, each taking time from their jobs and kids, that La Goy possessed this pinch of marijuana. La Goy and many others in Denver are being prosecuted under a state law that makes it a petty offense, punishable by a $100 fine, to possess not more than 1 ounce of marijuana. But it is not just the city prosecutors who are seeking to rack up convictions in these cases, it is also the Denver District Attorney's Office that pursues these cases under state law. This prosecution is not only absurd, it is an affront to both common sense and to the notion that law enforcement and our elected leaders are accountable to the citizens who elected them. Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman's website claims the Denver police work "To Protect and To Serve." But the DPD's continued devotion of its resources to minor marijuana possession cases, in violation of the law enacted by Denver's citizens, neither protects nor serves our community. Apparently the DPD reserves the right to ignore the will of the people it serves. In my book, that isn't service, it is arrogance. As for the "protect" part: La Goy is HIV-positive, disabled, and uses marijuana to decrease the nausea that is the inevitable byproduct of the heavy prescription drugs he takes to battle infections. So I guess the DPD is protecting society by making sure this man needlessly suffers a few extra hours a day while convicted. I certainly feel more protected.  Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_3656809Newshawk: MayanSource: Denver Post (CO)Author: Larry PoznerPublished: April 3, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Denver Post CorpWebsite: http://www.denverpost.com/Contact: openforum denverpost.com Related Articles & Web Site:Safer Choicehttp://www.saferchoice.org/Man Contests Pot Busthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21689.shtml SAFER Pushing To Legalize Marijuana Statewidehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21638.shtmlPot Advocates Push Statewide Legalizationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21462.shtml
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on April 03, 2006 at 20:09:48 PT
OverwhelmSam 
Glad I made you laugh! 
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Comment #12 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 03, 2006 at 20:04:45 PT
FoM
You're so funny, but I know how to find a house. LOL
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Comment #11 posted by ekim on April 03, 2006 at 19:30:17 PT
see a Leap Event or hear one near you
Apr 6 06 The Power Hour-Let's Get Busy, WGNU 920AM Radio 09:00 PM Howard Wooldridge St. Louis Missouri USA 
 The power person for The Power Hour on WGNU 920AM Radio, St. Louis, MO, is Board Member Howard Wooldridge. Howard will be interviewed by host Zaki Baruti in regards to the failures of drug prohibition. Call in Numbers: (314) 454-0400, 1-877-920-9468. Web site: www.wgnu.net Apr 6 06 National Association of African American Drug Policy Coalition (NAADPC) 2nd Annu N/A Nina Graves Washington District of Columbia USA 
 Speakers Nina Graves and Matthew Fogg are welcomed guests at the National Association of African American Drug Policy Coalition (NAADPC) 2nd Annual National Conference. Nina and Matthew will be discussing with conference attendees the failure of drug prohibition and spreading the mission of LEAP to end the same. Visit http://www.naadpc.org/events/index.html for more information. Apr 7 06 Lawrence Cosmopolitan Club 07:00 AM Jack Cole Lawrence Kansas USA 
 Executive Director Jack Cole is a welcomed guest with members of the Cosmopolitan Club for breakfast and discussion of drug prohibition issues that affect the mid-west. Topics of discussion are sure to include methamphetamine production, the medical marijuana movement and American citizen’s growing unrest of the failures of drug prohibition. Apr 7 06 Former Narc Says: "Legalize Drugs!" Come Ask Him: "Why?" 07:00 PM Jack Cole Newton Kansas USA 
 Executive Director Jack Cole presents: Former Narc Says: "Legalize Drugs!" Come Ask Him: "Why?" to members of the public and media at the Fox Theater. Apr 7 06 WGNU 920AM Radio 10:00 AM Howard Wooldridge St. Louis Missouri USA 
 Board Member Howard Wooldridge is an in studio guest at WGNU 920AM Radio, St. Louis, MO. Howard will be interviewed by Gary Weigert, President of the St. Louis City Police Officers' Association. Visit http://www.wgnu.net/gary.htm or http://www.geocities.com/policevoice/ to learn more about Gary. Apr 7 06 "Recent, Pending and Contemplated Federal and State Legislation Impacting Africa 02:00 PM Matthew Fogg Washington District of Columbia USA 
 While attending the NAADPC 2nd Annual Conference, Speaker Matthew Fogg will present "Recent, Pending and Contemplated Federal and State Legislation Impacting African Americans". 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #10 posted by mayan on April 03, 2006 at 17:42:18 PT
Brilliant
The last half of this article points out how so much time,money and manpower are siphoned away from fighting real crime...just to prosecute a victimless activity.With the most deceptive administration in office in the history of this country it is no wonder that the citizenry is questioning everything that they've been told by this government. We are witnessing a sea-change. The fossil-people will soon be just fossils unless they wise up quick!
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on April 03, 2006 at 17:01:30 PT
OverwhelmSam 
Maybe if we wish hard enough you can start looking for a place to live in Colorado.http://realestate.yahoo.com/homes/CO.html
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Comment #8 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 03, 2006 at 16:51:01 PT
If This Law Passes in the State
I'm moving to Colorado. I've visited there several times and really like the high mountains. At least I can live in peace.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 03, 2006 at 16:24:41 PT
b4daylight 
Thank you very much.
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Comment #6 posted by b4daylight on April 03, 2006 at 15:58:54 PT
Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 03, 2006 at 09:
Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 03, 2006 at 09:31:43 PTwell cannabis news should be on everysite :)
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Comment #5 posted by Taylor121 on April 03, 2006 at 14:55:31 PT
Continue the Pressure
The marijuana law reform movement have to continue putting pressure on all fronts. With universities considering equalizing penalties here and there throughout the nation, and Nevada and Colorado considering legalization, we should be donating:https://www.kintera.org/site/c.hjJZJgMOIoE/b.980423/k.AA6C/MPP_Donation/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=hjJZJgMOIoE&b=980423&en=imKTJ7NXIhLPK6PULiJSK6PVIoK9JrM4JmJ3IiPVKfKWKaN1LAJhttps://secure.norml.org/join/
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Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on April 03, 2006 at 13:41:06 PT
Denver
Just got off the phone with my son in Denver.He said there is a mad rush to push legalization in Denver.said there was a man on Campus today by the student union saying "Legalize Pot" endlessly and most students were in favor and many had already signed the petiton.Go Colorado!!!
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Comment #3 posted by Truth on April 03, 2006 at 10:11:34 PT
What a hypocrite
Mayor John Hickenlooper is a hypocrite. He made his fortune selling a very deadly, dangerous drug (can you say "drug dealer") yet he wants to incarcerate cannnabis users while cannabis kills NO one.It helps protect his alcohol sells when alcohol is the only legal choice.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 03, 2006 at 09:31:43 PT
Christen-Mitchell 
I want to thank you for the link on your page to CNews. I really appreciate it. Good luck in the great rocky mountain high state.
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Comment #1 posted by Christen-Mitchell on April 03, 2006 at 09:26:58 PT:
Colorado - Prohibition's Tipping Point
Thousands of ballot initiative signatures are already in hand as Safers's Colorado Marijuana Iniative moves towards the November 7th ballot. For many, like myself this is the political opportunity of a lifetime. Something real to campaign and vote for.Our meritless Administration in Rome D.C. has made it clear it is only in favor of Democracy that it likes. Denver has spoken in the affirmative of relegalization of Life Greatest Gift to Mankind and it is expected that Colorado, the last state to succumb to the evil of cannabis prohibition, will be the first to make a giant leap towards helping this country and the world regain some sanity.Imagine next the utilization of hemp to replace petroleum. CANNABEM LIBEREMUS - Cleaner Minds and Skys
Hemptopia - Our Greener Future
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