Marijuana.com

Buzzby

Council OKs Tougher Pot Penalty
Joe Wessels | Cincinnati Post | 03/30/2006

In a move that supporters claimed would give police more crime-fighting powers, City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday to make possession of small amounts of marijuana punishable by fines and jail time.

For first-time offenders, the measure makes the possession of less than 200 grams a fourth-degree misdemeanor, with maximum penalties of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. Subsequent offenses would be a first-degree misdemeanor, with maximum penalties of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Until now, those caught with less than 100 grams of the drug in the city were only ticketed and not subject to arrest.

Elevating the offense to a misdemeanor enables police to arrest and then subsequently search suspects, said Council Member Cecil Thomas, chairman of the Law & Public Safety Committee and sponsor of the ordinance.

Police Chief Thomas H. Streicher Jr. said the expanded search powers the ordinance affords would likely lead to seizure of other contraband, such as guns. The new law would also require defendants to go to a judge who could sentence them to drug rehab programs.

Councilman David Crowley, who with Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell opposed the ordinance, called it "regressive."

Mayor Mark Mallory said he would allow the measure to become law without his signature, as a show of his disapproval. But to veto it would be an "an exercise of futility," he said, since supporters had sufficient votes for a veto override.

Thomas said drug dealers who frequent the city know exactly how much they can carry under Ohio law - up to 100 grams, about the size of a cigarette - and only be subject to a "pay out" ticket.

(BuzzNote: They roll huge cigarettes in Cincinnati. )

Streicher said marijuana possession laws in Kentucky and Indiana are much stiffer. With Cincinnati's proximity to those states and easy access, drug dealers find the city a haven to ply their trade, he said. "If I was going to buy a lawn mower and in two places it costs $400 and in one it cost $250, guess where you are going to go."

But Crowley said studies show that 90 percent of those cited for marijuana possession were from the city and Thomas' ordinance was unneeded. Last year, Cincinnati police handed out 4,100 marijuana citations, according to Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz.

Tarbell said he'd heard from no one expressing support for the law, but several people had contacted his office opposed to it. No one spoke in favor of the legislation at Wednesday's meeting, but several spoke against it.

Thomas said neighborhood groups were willing to come and speak for the ordinance, but he told them he had the votes to get it passed.

Though the ordinance, as well as Ohio law, does not distinguish between those who use marijuana for medical or recreational reasons, Thomas does not expect police to target college students or those who use it to self-medicate.

"That's not who they'll be going after," he said. "I'm not concerned about that because crime is occurring in our troubled neighborhoods."

In fact, Thomas said he is not totally opposed to legalizing the drug, though Council does not have the authority to do that. His main concern with that would be the negative impact on public health.

__________________

 

StonerDyl

I'm new at this site and still figuring out how to surf the forums and find the info and stuff.
But anyways. I have a question. I Found Some Green in a jar that has been closed up for a long time, proably about 4 years old, i just found out my step-dad used to grow, But anyways, i found at least a twin of dried up pot, it still smells like it, but smells kinda stale-ish, Can i revive it by sticking an orange peel into a sandwhich bag and moistureizing the pot? And can it go stale in the first place? I dont wanna have to throw it out, i wanna know if it can be revived and still smoked with no harm done to me like getting sick, etc..

nerphroll

Way off base man.
Try the Search feature and try browsing the Methods forum for what you need.

__________________
HELP ME IVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 13 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!
PURIFY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!