Two municipal election results from yesterday ought to come as no surprise.
In the cities of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Tacoma, Washington, municipal voters overwhelmingly favored local ballot measures to mandate that the criminal enforcement of cannabis possession offenses be law enforcement’s “lowest priority.”
In Tacoma, voters decided in favor of Initiative 1, which states that minor marijuana offenses shall be “the lowest enforcement priority of the City of Tacoma.”
In Kalamazoo, voters approved a similar ‘deprioritization’
measure by a margin of almost 2 to 1.
Given that one out of two Americans now favor outright legalizing the adult use of the marijuana plant, and given that voters have consistently voted in favor of similar ‘deprioritization’ measures before (e.g., Seattle, 2003; Oakland, 2004; Columbia, Missouri, 2004; Santa Cruz, 2006;Denver, 2007; etc.) last night’s results are hardly surprising.
Equally unsurprising is the response from local law enforcement, whose public comments once again belie the myth that ‘police just enforce the laws; police don’t make the laws.’
Marijuana amendment will have little effect on law enforcement in Kalamazoo, chief says
via The Kalamazoo Gazette
Little, if anything, about how his officers do their job will change, Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said Wednesday, less than a day after city residents voted to make possession of a small amount of marijuana the lowest priority for police.
“I certainly respect the democratic process,” Hadley said. “It certainly gives you an insight to what some of the voters are thinking in terms of their views on marijuana. However, it really has little to no impact on how we operate at Public Safety.”
The ballot measure, which amends the city charter, was overwhelmingly endorsed by voters Tuesday, with 65 percent giving their approval.
The ballot question voters approved Tuesday was: “Shall the Kalamazoo City Charter be amended such that the use and/or consumption of one ounce or less of usable marijuana by adults 21 years or older is the lowest priority of law enforcement personnel?”
Hadley reiterated Wednesday what he has said previously about the ballot measure, which is that it will have no effect on his agency because the city charter only addresses ordinances and marijuana possession and use are illegal under state and federal law, which will continue to be enforced.
“The charter amendment only has an impact on city ordinances, which we do not have any existing city ordinances relative to the possession or use of marijuana and we still have every obligation to enforce state and federal laws,” the chief said.
For further analysis on law enforcement’s resistance to marijuana law reform, please see NORML Outreach Coordinator Russ Belville’s excellent, archived commentary on The Huffington Post here.
” it really has little to no impact on how we operate at Public Safety.” …huh? well then i guess you will not arrest dang near anyone for cannabis possession then will you?
What a shock.. another douche bag cop. But you know, keep playing their game. If they come for me, I will shoot back.
This is exactly why everyone hates cops; they hide behind the guise of “all we do is enforce laws, not make them” just so they can make money for the state. What is wrong with them using their consciences for once and not busting someone who is no threat to “public safety” at all?
In other words what he is saying is “Dear citizens, though you pay our wages, fuck you. You guys are not really our bosses.”
That means its time to drive these worthless cops out of your town .if they dont care about the voters wishes they are just rogue cops .and this notion that local cops must uphold federal law at local level is bullshit. drive this bastard out now.
Frequently, the Mayor of a City appoints a public safety director. With that in mind, here’s Mayor Hopewell’s contact information, and the email I just sent him.
Mayor Bobby J. Hopewell
241 W. South Street
Kalamazoo , MI 49007
(269) 337-8046
(269) 337-8182 fax
bobbyhopewell@borgess.co
Dear Mayor Hopewell,
My dad was a cop. He taught me that the police are there to serve and protect the people, not to make the laws themselves.
I write to you today to express my displeasure and dismay with Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley.
The people of your town have spoken with their ballots, voted to tell you… their Mayor… what they want.
With (I’m hoping) the best of intentions, Chief Hadley is prepared to ignore their vote and continue to treat marijuana possession as a serious crime.
Honestly, I’m much rather see the police arresting violent criminals – a rapist is much more of a threat to the Community than people who smoke marijuana. Home invasions, arsonists, child molesters, and drunk drivers seem to be much more dangerous and deserve a higher law enforcement priority. I could go on, but I do think you get the point.
These are his exact words: “I certainly respect the democratic process,” Hadley said. “It certainly gives you an insight to what some of the voters are thinking in terms of their views on marijuana. However, it really has little to no impact on how we operate at Public Safety.”
I do not know how he came to hold that position, but if it was an appointment and you have the power to fire him, I strongly suggest you do so. People who hold office do so only with the permission of the people.
The ballot measure, which amends the city charter, was overwhelmingly endorsed by voters Tuesday, with 65 percent giving their approval. That is a SIGNIFICANT majority, especially considering that National Polls only indicate a 51% approval rating Nationwide.
I strongly urge you to explain to the Director the error of his ways.
We are not prisoners, we are free people. That freedom includes the reasonable expectation that municipal officials and politicians respect the voice of the voters.
I thank you for your time,
Sincerely
Maggie Ahrens
Hadley & the thousands like him will be the reason people will say, ” enough is enough ” & will rise up against the United States . In turn there will be massive arrests, civil disobediance & those that are arrested will be put into FEMA camps . They are building & have them now because the Government knows it is enevitable .
http://fight4truth.com/concentrationcamps.htm
While i applaud you in getting sponsors for your site, Liberty Law group is undoubtably another Law firm that supports prohibition .Follow the money ;
http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=5032&gclid=CLG5-sCwk6wCFQtthwodanFprQ
The politicians we are handed to us on a platter so we can vote for them . This is the Government’s way of saying we are a democracy by given our stamp of approval through our vote . They do not work for us . They work for the highest bidder .
It is time to end the MADNESS!
The statement of police forces who say “We don’t make the laws, we just enforce them.” seems tantamount to “We don’t think, we just do.” I don’t want people like that “protecting” or “serving” myself or my community.
What a DICK! His sorry commie ass should be taken out and tared & feathered. We live in a democracy and Chief you better look again, it’s not SOME voters it’s 2 to 1. I can’t help it but your a freak’en Idiot!!! Vote his commie ASS out!
The pig chief of Kalamazoo should be fired immediately.Anyone going against the voters wishes is a nazi facist PIG.
Did’nt they just vote it in to law???
Hadley Needs to go!!!
Hadley should be fired immediately.Anyone going against the voters is a facist pig.
Essentially, these Local LEOs are going to ignore Local statutes just because they can, since State & Federal statutes contradict Local ordinances. Nice, regarding observance of their primary obligation to uphold Local statutes — so, why are these Local LEO officials still in office, instead of recalled and / or fired?
Observation of such miscreant behavior on the part of Local LEOs is hardly surprising. Ask the question, ‘Cui bono?’ or ‘Who benefits?’. This directly applies to civil & criminal asset forfeiture, and the Local LEOs share of that ‘booty’. Local and State LEO organizations, including prison guard unions, have tremendous political influence far beyond their numbers in membership because they invest union funds heavily into Local & State political campaigns to perpetuate Right Wing Authoritarian candidates.
We the People in California see a similar proprietary interest in undue undemocratic political influence. Pressure must be applied to Local and State politicians and the LEO organizations that support them — through recall referendums and otherwise voting them out of office, permanently. This very same political activism needs to be applied to our Federal elected representatives, regardless of their nominal political affiliation. Both Right Wing Authoritarianism and Fascism are undemocratic, and know no political party boundaries.
How can they be right when the law and truth are seperated? In the real world Aren’t they enforcing genocide? Crimes against humanity. Treason against the Republic by controled competition and free enterprise.
Their war. War crimes? What’s going on What’s the Truth. How much do we need? ppp
While yes the Chief has a point.
A city ordinance or resolution has zero bearing on enforcing state/federal law.
However that being said, I’m not sure why he feels the need to be so arrogant, and unreasonable
The people of kalimizoo are not asking you to ignore marijuana, just asking you to spend less time on it.
I would think as a police chief he would be happy being enabled to spend more time on violent crime. Our nations closure rates on violent crime is horrendous.
But who cares about violent crime? Rape and murders are just an annoyance compared to consenting adults smoking something they grew out of the soil.
Just keep nabbing those pot-heads and prostitutes on the corner. Its easier than shooting fish in a barrel, its like shooting them in your lawn! Keep creating victims for an otherwise victim-less crime.
Canada looks better and better by the day
What a bunch of control freaks we have, even in our local government. Vote the bought & paid for crooks out!
We, as a movement, cannot afford to
lose our momentum. Everyone who wants
pot-hibition to be repealed should wear an wristband with the image of a cannabis leaf on it.
If literally, millions of us do
it the media will not be able to ignore it. The business world will
regard us as a financially significant demographic. It will also send a
clear message to the politicians that the time has come to repeal
prohibition. Local groups could sell these at a minimal price
and still be raising funds to do their work with. Join in
getting the word out to as many people as we can. If each of us contacts
5 people there will be millions of us. Please do what you can
think of to make sure it’s widely understood that wearing the
(420Bandz™) only means you want an end to pot-hibition, not necessarily
that you, yourself, are a consumer.
Every single arrest should never be prosecuted, and everything about be completely disregarded. No fine whatsoever should be levied or collected. The lowest priority means that NO FUCKIN MONEY GETS SPENT ON IT! Any officer, including their supreme commandant, should receive a letter of reprimand in their personnel file for spending money on cannabis prohibition.
god forbid we have any level of government that would actually care about what the people want
“I certainly respect the democratic process”….I just don’t abide by it! This guy has clearly never heard of the notion of the spirit of the law. The voters are telling him they don’t want arrests for marijuana possession. But what do they know they only pay and employ him,
This doesn’t make sense. I thought we were a democracy? So pretty much what this guy is saying, (I’m sure alot more in these states think the same way) is that the majority vote does not matter and so we will just do the opposite of what the people want.
This just shows how dictatorship is taking over the USA!!! The people vote & then the overwhelming results are shot down & overshadowed by the rising police state that “We the People” have no say over. Your community should only be policed as much as it wants to be policed, the election results followed by the remarks made by Hadley should be investigated & Hadley should be charged with a crime himself or made to resign from his position for not honoring the residents request as verified by a public vote. This type of behavior should not be tolerated by “We the People”. Vote this goon out if possible, I live in Louisiana so I’m not sure how this GOON got his job, is it by election if so fire this guy in the next election, if he was appointed to his job, fire the elected official that appointed him in the next election. This also follows in the footsteps of the Obama admin. with all the phony antics being played over legal dispensaries. We need to fire Obama & hire Ron Paul. We need to rise above the establishment, not be held down by the man.
RON PAUL 2012
This idiot doesn’t get it that the voters who fund him have the right to tell him what priority it gets regardless of where the law comes from.
Here we come, Police State.
Jeff can say what he wants. It sounds good from a cop point of view. The fact is, Kalamazoo PSO’s have much better things to do than worry about someone with an ounce or less and they pretty much ignore it from what I have observed (and I’ve lived here for 0ver 30 years).
From WE THE PEOPLE to WE THE FEDS and now WE THE COPS. As long as their is MARIJUANA PROHIBITION, law enforcement will always come up with no brainer statements like marijuana possession and use are illegal under state and FEDERAL law. You don’t have to be a 21ST CENTURY INQUISITOR to know that, look at our prison system of the UNICORNIZATION OF AMERIKA. You can already see what the other ideas are and they sure as hell are not FOR THE PEOPLE but for themselves. Just another segment of the NEW WORLD ORDER and the ORWELLIAN MENTALITY and the aid of BIG BROTHER TECHNOLOGY. THE BARBARIANS ARE AT THE GATE OF MARIJUANA PROHIBITION!
cops are nazis and bullies, end of subject
hey ass hole pig, the stoners get stoned and pay to eat at mc donalds, burger king, taco bell, wendys, and other fast food you eat for FREE for being a fat fucking lazy pig…. bight the hand that feeds you and you will face a smashing boycott against these establishments from their primary customers.
What is going on with America? Were spending billions of tax payer money to fight wars not only in other countries but the war on drugs. Which everyone realizes has never acheived any kind of victory or even been productive. Why are we the people allowing these things to occur now a days.
“We need to stop this its TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS were spending!” – Ron Paul
“Don’t steal the government hates competition” – Ron Paul
RON PAUL 2012. Lets “We the people” end this foolishness.
“It certainly gives you an insight to what some of the voters are thinking in terms of their views on marijuana.”? Excuse me? If it passed then it wasn’t “some” of the voters, it was the “MAJORITY” of voters.
The police say, “We don’t care what you say.”
Nice 🙁 not!
What is wrong with these people? And they give them guns? What is wrong with the tests given to potential police officers? They clearly don’t work at removing abusive individuals from becoming law enforcement…
One of the reason my Dad went to war (ww2) Was to respect the voters and what they vote on. This Cop has proven there intent and must be stop. The Cops are going to get real mean on us. They have proven they are anti American and must be stop at all available means.
Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley should immediately be fired! He obviously has his own agenda and doesn’t care what his bosses, the people, have clearly stated… Him and others like him think like dictators but they are in fact just stupid little bullies that deserve a serious beatdown!
We truly need a government that is legally obligated to put the PEOPLES interests FIRST,then concern themselves with big businesses.
It’s really too sad to see some cop-douche spouting at the mouth, taking things into his own evil hands.
Hello:
In Portland, Oregon the voters overwhelmingly approved a law which puts marijuana as low priority for law enforcement. The police do abide by this law as far as I have seen. Local municipal police may inform state and federal officers of state and federal violations, but do municipal officers have the right to enforce state and federal law—I doubt it.
Sincerely,
James Shields
If God is part of state and government, and marijuana grows naturally, doesn’t this mean God wants us to have it for our personal use? I would say yes. The G-men have way to much sway on our lives and need to be put down as rabid.
Cops believe in lying
God bless America – Please
What a dick. I’m so glad I finally decided to get a gun. It just seems like we’re creeping closer and closer to the edge of disobedience by the day. I don’t want to see people hurt by police or vice versa, but it just seems like these politicians and other officials are forcing us into unrest.
[Editor’s note: Guns? Disobedience? The ballot is more powerful than the bullet….people and votes for reform is what is needed, not violence that will beget more state violence, which beget more violence, etc….
Did it take guns and violence to end Alcohol Prohibition or angry mothers and an organized vote?]
They are doing what THEY want and are NOT listening. Why do we die for democracy when we can’t even get it ourselves?
Missouri- Two Initiative Petitions Approved for Circulation for 2012 Ballot
http://www.sos.mo.gov/news.asp?id=1027
The local police could choose to stand with the people and let the FBI or DEA come into town and make the minor marijuana arrests…something that would likely never happen.
– Albert Einstein quote on Hemp
“The illegality of cannabis is
outrageous, an impediment to full
utilization of a drug which helps
produce the serenity and insight,
sensitivity and fellowship so
desperately needed in this
increasingly mad and dangerous world.”
– Carl Sagan quote on Marijuana
actually Arrogant Officer, you have no obligation or standing in enforcing Federal law, only state and local laws, stupid cop.
[Editor’s note: Guns? Disobedience? The ballot is more powerful than the bullet….people and votes for reform is what is needed, not violence that will beget more state violence, which beget more violence, etc….
Did it take guns and violence to end Alcohol Prohibition or angry mothers and an organized vote?]
It didn’t take 75 fucking years to end alcohol prohibition.
[Editor’s note: It will take 150 years to legalize if yahoos start taking up arms simply so they can smoke cannabis. Cannabis remains illegal certainly not because citizens need to shoot law enforcement for enforcing bad laws, it remains illegal because well under 1% of cannabis consumers are involved in cannabis law reform. Violence begets violence and cannabis consumers should never be violent in pursuit of more peaceful laws.]
In a year or two there will be another issue on the ballot, this one asking for increased funds for the city’s police department. They may get turned down.
If you “serve” the people, you’re dependent on the people. And if you’re dependent on the people, you better listen to them because they can put you out of a job. Besides, isn’t that what democracy is all about?
All of you blasting Jeff Hadley missed the point entirely. He didn’t mean they were going to ignore the mandate….he meant that enforcing the law for small amounts of marijuana ALREADY IS a low priority. Therefore, the there will be no change in how they deal with it. Good grief.
We are all angry, frustrated, and disillusioned by the political system; but, still peaceful at this point. I do not think that our vote is doing it for us due to all the changes made to the electorial college and redistricting we are subjected to. Every vote counts? That was then. Now, they have redrawn the maps so that they will virtually have control over our votes for MANY years to come. We need to REFORM our political system. Go back to Popular vote, so that they cannot absorb our votes into meaningless paper. What we have now is NOT a democratic system – it is manipulation of its people by use of laws which are changed in back rooms and disguised so that half the people don’t even know what they actually mean. They use the media to lie – all of them – corporations, banks, political parties. There is NO truth in advertising – where the heck did that go? Dear Editor – thank you for keeping a lid on those of us that want immediate action – Revolution! BUT, please remember that our votes are not being heard. We cannot reverse what they have done – not for decades. We are the American People and we are not like our Canadian neighbors. Our principles have always been that Revolution makes change – NOT Evolution. Their main argument is VOTE – WE DO! It just doesn’t count nor does it matter. The more they dismiss us, shoot us, disarm us, violate our rights, the more we will fight. I know that we can’t support that attitude; but, you tell a veteran who has risked his life for our democracy to come back home to a country that manipulates HIS vote and turns its back on him — that he must sit still and watch our American Dream turn into a Capitalist venture – that HE can’t raise his fist to defend what we believe in……..It will come to pass if no one takes up arms — we will sit and watch the fall of the American Empire. Least we all still believe in the UNITED States of America. These jokers that represent us (lol), vote for their own payraises, benefits, perks, pensions – they secure their own; but, take ours away — Every meeting we conduct should START with “I pledge allegiance to the flag” and end with “God Bless America”. We Are the American people and those that do not agree with our particular interest must be shown that it is MORE than our corner of the building – it’s for ALL of US.
Why is anybody surprised by this?
The police benefit greatly, in both money and power, from the war on drugs. It is their secret gravy train.
Fact: You can never convince a dishonest man to derail his own gravy train.
Janis says:
I know that we can’t support that attitude; but, you tell a veteran who has risked his life for our democracy to come back home to a country that manipulates HIS vote and turns its back on him — that he must sit still and watch our American Dream turn into a Capitalist venture – that HE can’t raise his fist to defend what we believe in……..It will come to pass if no one takes up arms — we will sit and watch the fall of the American Empire
EXACTLY.
[Editor’s note: Exactly stupid to advocate for violence to bring an end to Cannabis Prohibition. The idea of citizens violently revolting against the government to legally smoke cannabis is ridiculous. The ballot is more powerful and lasting than bullets fired by angry citizens who will only draw 10X the fire power from the government to their deaths, not their political success.]
#6 Maggie – You wrote an excellent letter! I hope you will let us all know what, if any, response you get.
Thanks!
[Editor’s note: Exactly stupid to advocate for violence to bring an end to Cannabis Prohibition. The idea of citizens violently revolting against the government to legally smoke cannabis is ridiculous. The ballot is more powerful and lasting than bullets fired by angry citizens who will only draw 10X the fire power from the government to their deaths, not their political success.]
Your opinion.
75 years of passive resistance has so far = FAILURE.
Eventually people will get fed up. Perhaps the DEA will pull a Columbia Missouri on someone they know one day, someone they know who is unarmed. Someone who died because they had no way to defend themselves against an intruder enforcing an unjust law that has been allowed to ruin the lives of millions of people over the past 75 fucking years.
Like your views on Ron Paul, you think you know it all and that only your point of view is right. I think you are in for a rude awakening, as my mother used to say.
[Editor’s note: Hard to know what makes you look more foolish, believing in armed violence against the government to bring about peace or believing that such an unpopular and old politician could ever win the GOP nomination, and then a general election.
In either case, you’re entirely wrong and neither will happen.]
The idea of a democracy and the right to vote has little to no meaning anymore. We DO vote, it just doesn’t matter. They have redrawn the districts to one parties advantage and it will take decades to undo. While this might not impact the vote for a President, it DOES impact on the Senate/Representatives we elect. There is too much supporting data out there for me to attach. They continually try to manipulate us for their own end. The fight to legalize marijuana is just one of MANY thorns in our side. Alone, it is NOT worth one single death as any other dispute with our government. Unfortunately, there are just too many things wrong with our political system, justice, and enforcement, no jobs, no health insurance, no home left – for us not to be prepared. It’s not just our corner of the building (Marijuana), it’s the whole that we are resisting. It’s the Whole that we fight for. At 62, I do not pretend that I can take up arms against the gov’t. Remember; however, just how this country started and remember those that have died for OUR Freedom to Assemble, protest, and revolt.
[Editor’s note: You’re way too jaded as votes do count, they change laws and lives. Tens of millions of Americans cannabis consumers enjoy freer lives because citizens organized the vote to reform Cannabis Prohibition laws.
Undoubtedly voting for alternatives to prohibition laws in cities/states works and is continuing to erode public support in Congress for the failed policy.
With well under 1% of cannabis consumers involved in cannabis law reform efforts, a reefer ‘revolt’ is right around the corner if more and more supporters of reform simply employ the levers of power availed–peacefully and effectively.]
[Editor’s note: Hard to know what makes you look more foolish, believing in armed violence against the government to bring about peace or believing that such an unpopular and old politician could ever win the GOP nomination, and then a general election.
In either case, you’re entirely wrong and neither will happen.]
Foolish? Who’s gonna look foolish when the DEA breaks down YOUR door on an erroneous tip. Your condecending attitude of anyone who disagrees with you is gonna bite you in the ass one day. Do all the mods at NORML march lockstep to your agenda?
Entirely wrong? Well, you have a right to your minority opinion.
[Editor’s note: The DEA does not pursue individual cannabis consumers (if you’re in the ‘biz’ of growing, moving or selling large amounts of cannabis for profit, you might get a visit from the feds; however over 98% of all cannabis arrests are from our local cops), but trying to scare people into believing that the feds kick down doors of consumers and then the consumer therefore has the right to kill the DEA agents is grasping for the rationale to kill others…and certainly does not promote sane or responsible reasons to legalize cannabis.
Promoting violence against the government to legalize cannabis is immorally stupid and will not be promoted on NORML’s webpage by frustrated and angry citizens. Period. Posts that encourage or sanction violence will be highlighted as the OPPOSITE of what reformers are achieving and/or deleted.]
The mere fact that anyone could believe that violence is the only way to get our Govt to listen to reason is an example of just how badly our Govt is performing it’s job! Most people in this country to do seem to believe that our Govt represents them and that our Govt doesn’t listen to them.
For that reason, I give our Govt a grade of “F”; a complete failure!
Mr. Boehner and Mr. Obama, you two are the primary reason that our Govt is failing. I wonder how much longer our civilization can last with leaders like you… My guess is no more than 25 to 50 more years.
Correction to my post #62 (since I can’t edit it once I hit Submit…
“Most people in this country to do seem to believe”
should say
“Most people in this country to don’t seem to believe”
Bottom Line is: Our current crop of leaders are failing us miserably! I know there are a few rare exceptions but they are in the minority.
If I had an employee who refused to follow orders, I would fire that employee. The mayor needs to be told to either fire the police chief or get fired.
Again, it isn’t that the chief of police is going against the new ordinance. The new ordinance is redundant. Arresting people with less than an ounce of marijuana on them has ALWAYS been the lowest priority for the KDPS. So all the ordinance does is make official what the police were already doing.
And yes, I DO know what I am talking about. I have lived here for over 30 years and worked for the police department as well as having many friends in the department. They don’t care about some guy with a joint in his pocket. They DO care about the guy on the street corner selling oxycontin and the folks with meth labs in motel rooms or apartments.
#6 Maggie – That email addy for Hopewell is a bad address. Have tried twice. No problem – just goes along with the rest of the spineless politicians that open their mouths and shove their crap down ours. Try sending an email to politicians and see how far you get. If you are not a resident in their district, you can’t even send one. It’s ridiculous how they can “protect” themselves from our comments. Oh; but, we wouldn’t want to flood their mailboxes now, would we? Just another example of how they shut us off and refuse to listen to the people – even if their judgements or rulings are against the entire state.
#67 Janis, It’s a bad address because whoever posted it posted it incorrectly. How is that Bobby’s fault? Bobby is on FaceBook. Contact him there or at his real email: bobby@bobbyhopewell.com
How DARE you attack someone you have never met and have absolutely NO KNOWLEDGE of? Makes you a major a$$wipe in my book. Why don’t you try minding your own darned business? Those of us who know Bobby and LIVE in Kalamazoo love him. He does a great job as evidenced by the fact that he was just re-elected by an overwhelming majority.
And turning this forum into an attack on someone who has NOTHING to do with the original story is so low rent. Not to mention the fact that you ALL are attacking Jeff Hadley based on false and erroneous assumptions (you DO know what they say about assuming, don’t you?). Why don’t you try educating yourself before spouting off? Oh wait, that would require a modicum of intelligence and some effort. I see you would much rather just fly your flag of ignorance for all to see.
#68..when you take a public office you assume not only the office; but, are held accountable for your rhetoric. If Bobby Hopewell or Jeff Hadley have disputes with what was in that article, WHERE, oh where is their rebuttal? Sorry; but, you are being paid to work in that office, are you not? I’d say that your opinion is far from impartial. Let them speak for themselves as I have spoken for myself and I will continue to DARE to scrutinize any person(s) that holds an office which has a bearing on my life and how I live it – Thanks for your reply at any rate – you have the right to speak.
Do not expect the individuals holding office to obey the law they demand you obey because they have exempted themselves as being above the law and are only responsive to the ones who sign their paychecks.
We must be vigilent and smarter than them and not react with dispersions, threats, or violence, as that is the excuse they are attempting to create to justify their adamant crackdown on all marijuana use. Our power was realized in the voting booth. We must hold all elected officials accountable to the voters, and vote out anyone who ignores or condemns the safe and common sense use of marijuana. This issue is essentially about the freedom of an individual to choose what he or she will put or not put into his or her own body; this choice does not belong to the government, but has been hi-jacked by the government- all three branches are guilty- and we the people need to vote it back to the individual.
“It is the duty of every patriot to protect HIS country from it’s government.” Thomas Paine
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” Patrick Henry
I was always under the impression that marijuana prohibition laws are not laws. They are statutes, in order for marijuana prohibition to become federal law it would need to be amended to the constitution. Alcohol prohibition was a real federal law as it was ratified and became the 18th amendment, then it was removed by ratifying the 21st amendment. So why do we spend tax money to fund federal agencies to enforce “laws” that are not recognized by Congress the constitution and the majority of the population.
When the government fears the people, it is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny. – Thomas Paine
Pleas some one declare war on this cop’s