Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
SWAT raids might happen with less frequency if police departments were required to be more transparent about how they conduct them, said Radley Balko, an editor at the Libertarian magazine Reason. Balko delivered his remarks to about 50 people from Missouri NORML, the state branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Balko said the nation’s war on drugs has led police departments to become militarized. He suggested that relatively minor offenses — such as marijuana possession — increasingly are triggering unnecessary drug raids, as more and more communities have boosted their SWAT capabilities.
Balko tracks controversial raids across the nation and has written about the Columbia raid that occurred Feb. 11 at the home of Jonathan Whitworth. Only a small amount of marijuana and some paraphernalia was found, but two dogs were shot during the incident.
“What happened in Columbia was remarkable in a lot of ways,” Balko said, adding that he feels the anger directed at the Columbia Police Department is “misplaced” because people don’t understand that such raids are common.
Balko said it’s unlikely the drug war will end anytime soon. But he suggested NORML could advocate to lawmakers that raids should be videotaped and police departments should be required to annually report more detail about the raids they conduct.
In response to the Whitworth raid, Columbia Police Chief Ken Burton made SWAT policy changes, including removing the narcotics sergeant and SWAT commander involved in the investigations from the decision-making on how a drug search warrant will be served. One of the department’s two captains makes the call instead. Also, the policy says the captain will assess the potential danger to officers, bystanders and suspects, and what law enforcement purpose would be served by a search warrant.
Columbia Attorney Dan Viets serves as the coordinator for Missouri NORML. He said he shares Balko’s concerns about the inappropriate use of SWAT teams. “It’s a mistake to introduce violence where there is none,” Viets said.
Yesterday’s conference was a chance for people who care about marijuana legalization to network, discuss strategies and promote their viewpoint. Many attendees discussed California voters’ recent rejection of Proposition 19, a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.
“The vote in California was 46 percent in favor,” Viets said. “It would’ve passed in a presidential election year.”
Viets said he is confident the youth vote will alter the outcome when the issue reappears on the California ballot in 2012.
“It will absolutely be legal in California,” Viets said. “There’s no reason to doubt that. The question is: How many more states will follow?”
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Columbia Daily Tribune
Author: Kris Hilgedick
Copyright: 2010 The Columbia Daily Tribune
Contact: Newsroom Staff Directory | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri
Website: NORML speaker criticizes reliance on SWAT | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri
Balko said the nation’s war on drugs has led police departments to become militarized. He suggested that relatively minor offenses — such as marijuana possession — increasingly are triggering unnecessary drug raids, as more and more communities have boosted their SWAT capabilities.
Balko tracks controversial raids across the nation and has written about the Columbia raid that occurred Feb. 11 at the home of Jonathan Whitworth. Only a small amount of marijuana and some paraphernalia was found, but two dogs were shot during the incident.
“What happened in Columbia was remarkable in a lot of ways,” Balko said, adding that he feels the anger directed at the Columbia Police Department is “misplaced” because people don’t understand that such raids are common.
Balko said it’s unlikely the drug war will end anytime soon. But he suggested NORML could advocate to lawmakers that raids should be videotaped and police departments should be required to annually report more detail about the raids they conduct.
In response to the Whitworth raid, Columbia Police Chief Ken Burton made SWAT policy changes, including removing the narcotics sergeant and SWAT commander involved in the investigations from the decision-making on how a drug search warrant will be served. One of the department’s two captains makes the call instead. Also, the policy says the captain will assess the potential danger to officers, bystanders and suspects, and what law enforcement purpose would be served by a search warrant.
Columbia Attorney Dan Viets serves as the coordinator for Missouri NORML. He said he shares Balko’s concerns about the inappropriate use of SWAT teams. “It’s a mistake to introduce violence where there is none,” Viets said.
Yesterday’s conference was a chance for people who care about marijuana legalization to network, discuss strategies and promote their viewpoint. Many attendees discussed California voters’ recent rejection of Proposition 19, a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.
“The vote in California was 46 percent in favor,” Viets said. “It would’ve passed in a presidential election year.”
Viets said he is confident the youth vote will alter the outcome when the issue reappears on the California ballot in 2012.
“It will absolutely be legal in California,” Viets said. “There’s no reason to doubt that. The question is: How many more states will follow?”
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Columbia Daily Tribune
Author: Kris Hilgedick
Copyright: 2010 The Columbia Daily Tribune
Contact: Newsroom Staff Directory | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri
Website: NORML speaker criticizes reliance on SWAT | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri
