Pubdate: Fri, 16 Feb 2007
Source: Daily Times-Call, The (Longmont, CO)
Copyright: 2007, The Daily Times-Call
Contact:  http://www.longmontfyi.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1475
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

HALT LAFAYETTE REEFER MADNESS

In a county where more than half the voters who cast  ballots in 
November wanted to do away with penalties  for possessing small 
amounts of marijuana, why is  Lafayette moving to increase the fine 
10 times for the  same offense?

Lafayette leaders next Tuesday will again consider an  ordinance that 
would toughen the penalty for possession  of up to 1 ounce of 
marijuana and drug paraphernalia  from $100 to $1,000 and up to one 
year of jail time.

Lafayette officials were acting in good, if misguided,  faith when 
they preliminarily approved the ordinance,  proposed by Municipal 
Judge Roger Buchholz, earlier  this month. The proposed punishment 
for having a few  joints is the maximum cities can levy, and the 
council was just trying to give the judge a little flexibility  to 
sentence repeat offenders more harshly.

The proposed ordinance would exceed the state maximum  for possessing 
small amounts of marijuana -- $100.  Other communities don't seem to 
have a problem with  sentencing repeat offenders under that law.

Second, council members didn't seek the input of their  constituents 
about marijuana. Fifty-five percent of  Boulder County residents 
voted yes on Amendment 44,  which would have legalized the possession 
of up to 1  ounce of cannabis. And, according to Mason 
Tvert,  executive director for Safer Alternative for 
Enjoyable  Recreation, 53.2 percent of Lafayette voters cast  ballots 
in favor of the measure.

Third, if any Lafayette tokers end up in jail, Boulder  County 
residents as a whole will be paying to feed them  three square meals 
a day. The judge has told people he  won't put someone in jail for 
smoking a joint, but  Lafayette hasn't demonstrated that smoking 
marijuana is  an epidemic in Lafayette. And people in Longmont don't 
want to pay to jail people from a city miles down the  road for a 
crime that doesn't lead to jail in their own  city.

The judge represents the judicial and not the  legislative branch of 
government. Buchholz's role is  not to put demands on the rule 
makers, but rather to  determine whether residents have followed the 
rules outlined by the legislators -- in this case, City  Council.

Lafayette leaders need to listen to reason and stomp  out this 
marijuana ordinance on Tuesday.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman