Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Most voters in Fayetteville believe enforcement of misdemeanor marijuana possession should be the lowest priority for police.
Fayetteville's police chief says that doesn't matter because state, not city, laws establish marijuana offenses, and city laws cannot counteract the state's.
Residents expressed their opinions during Tuesday night's general election by voting for an initiated ordinance establishing policy for adult marijuana misdemeanor offenses. The ordinance passed by 8, © votes.
Unofficial results were as follows: For 16, 951 65. 87 % Against 8, 782 34. 13 %
The initiative was sponsored by Sensible Fayetteville, a coalition of the Alliance for Drug Reform Policy in Arkansas, The Omni Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology, the Green Party of Washington County, the University of Arkansas student branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas Inc.
Sensible Fayetteville Campaign Director Ryan Denham said he and fellow coalition members collected more than 3, 686 signatures in August to get the initiative on the ballot. The group launched various campaigns throughout the year to gain publicity.
"We think these election results send an extremely important message," Denham said. "I'm not surprised since national statistics say that 70 percent of Americans feel that misdemeanor marijuana offenses should be a low priority. It clogs courts and jails and puts a burden on taxpayer resources."
The amendment is similar to the one approved in Eureka Springs and seeks to make "investigations, citations, arrests, property seizures and prosecutions for adult marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the city of Fayetteville's lowest law enforcement and prosecutorial priority."
Similar laws have also been passed by communities in Missouri, Montana, Washington, California and Colorado.
Fayetteville Police Chief Greg Tabor said approval of the ordinance won't impact law enforcement related to marijuana possession because state law remains in force.
"Like I've said many times, I just don't see that it will change much," he said. "Misdemeanor marijuana possession is already low priority for us. I'm not saying we don't arrest people for it. It's a Class A misdemeanor and by law, you have to be ticketed and finger-printed for it, which means you'll have to go to jail."
Tabor said Fayetteville police officers often receive special assignments, in which officers patrol for DWI and seat belt enforcement.
"We don't do that with misdemeanor marijuana arrests," he said. "We may have 20 years ago, but it's become a lower priority since then."
Denham said his group's focus is on adults who fall under misdemeanor offenses, which is possession of 1 ounce or less. He said enforcement of the law, as written, only serves to increase law enforcement expenditures and overcrowd jails.
"It's a failed public policy," he said of the state's existing law. "Marijuana use has increased since 1937, when we started the war on marijuana. The millions of dollars that we're pouring into this war haven't done anything to deter marijuana use or availability. We're spending upwards of $ 70 million to arrest, prosecute and jail otherwise non-violent offenders. In Fayetteville, we're spending $ 4 million for the full justice package. It just doesn't make sense."
In Arkansas, Denham said, citizens have the right to petition local, county and state government for changes in law. Approving the ordinance locally, he said, could prompt support for similar legislation in other cities, eventually influencing state law.
"This builds public support for future efforts," he said. "We want to continue to educate the public about marijuana policy in the United States. We also expect to see the number of arrests decrease for adult marijuana possession.
In addition to making marijuana possession the lowest priority for police, the measure requires the city clerk to submit letters to state and federal legislators, the governor and the president stating: "The citizens of Fayetteville have passed an initiative to de-prioritize adult marijuana offenses where the marijuana is intended for personal use and request that the federal and Arkansas state governments take immediate steps to enact similar laws. "The letter would be submitted annually until state and federal laws are changed accordingly.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times
Author: KATE WARD
Copyright: 2008 Northwest Arkansas Times
Contact: NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source
Website: NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source
Fayetteville's police chief says that doesn't matter because state, not city, laws establish marijuana offenses, and city laws cannot counteract the state's.
Residents expressed their opinions during Tuesday night's general election by voting for an initiated ordinance establishing policy for adult marijuana misdemeanor offenses. The ordinance passed by 8, © votes.
Unofficial results were as follows: For 16, 951 65. 87 % Against 8, 782 34. 13 %
The initiative was sponsored by Sensible Fayetteville, a coalition of the Alliance for Drug Reform Policy in Arkansas, The Omni Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology, the Green Party of Washington County, the University of Arkansas student branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas Inc.
Sensible Fayetteville Campaign Director Ryan Denham said he and fellow coalition members collected more than 3, 686 signatures in August to get the initiative on the ballot. The group launched various campaigns throughout the year to gain publicity.
"We think these election results send an extremely important message," Denham said. "I'm not surprised since national statistics say that 70 percent of Americans feel that misdemeanor marijuana offenses should be a low priority. It clogs courts and jails and puts a burden on taxpayer resources."
The amendment is similar to the one approved in Eureka Springs and seeks to make "investigations, citations, arrests, property seizures and prosecutions for adult marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the city of Fayetteville's lowest law enforcement and prosecutorial priority."
Similar laws have also been passed by communities in Missouri, Montana, Washington, California and Colorado.
Fayetteville Police Chief Greg Tabor said approval of the ordinance won't impact law enforcement related to marijuana possession because state law remains in force.
"Like I've said many times, I just don't see that it will change much," he said. "Misdemeanor marijuana possession is already low priority for us. I'm not saying we don't arrest people for it. It's a Class A misdemeanor and by law, you have to be ticketed and finger-printed for it, which means you'll have to go to jail."
Tabor said Fayetteville police officers often receive special assignments, in which officers patrol for DWI and seat belt enforcement.
"We don't do that with misdemeanor marijuana arrests," he said. "We may have 20 years ago, but it's become a lower priority since then."
Denham said his group's focus is on adults who fall under misdemeanor offenses, which is possession of 1 ounce or less. He said enforcement of the law, as written, only serves to increase law enforcement expenditures and overcrowd jails.
"It's a failed public policy," he said of the state's existing law. "Marijuana use has increased since 1937, when we started the war on marijuana. The millions of dollars that we're pouring into this war haven't done anything to deter marijuana use or availability. We're spending upwards of $ 70 million to arrest, prosecute and jail otherwise non-violent offenders. In Fayetteville, we're spending $ 4 million for the full justice package. It just doesn't make sense."
In Arkansas, Denham said, citizens have the right to petition local, county and state government for changes in law. Approving the ordinance locally, he said, could prompt support for similar legislation in other cities, eventually influencing state law.
"This builds public support for future efforts," he said. "We want to continue to educate the public about marijuana policy in the United States. We also expect to see the number of arrests decrease for adult marijuana possession.
In addition to making marijuana possession the lowest priority for police, the measure requires the city clerk to submit letters to state and federal legislators, the governor and the president stating: "The citizens of Fayetteville have passed an initiative to de-prioritize adult marijuana offenses where the marijuana is intended for personal use and request that the federal and Arkansas state governments take immediate steps to enact similar laws. "The letter would be submitted annually until state and federal laws are changed accordingly.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times
Author: KATE WARD
Copyright: 2008 Northwest Arkansas Times
Contact: NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source
Website: NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source
