Taxpayers to decide whether marijuana should be 'low priority'
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: Opinion
The group Sensible Fayetteville has gathered enough signatures to put a measure on the Nov. 4 ballot that will make a misdemeanor possession of marijuana the lowest priority for law enforcement.
Many have mixed feelings about the effect this ordinance could have on the city: Jacob Holloway, field organizer for Sensible Fayetteville, said an initiative like this sends "a message that we will no longer accept inaction," while City Attorney Kit Williams said the ordinance essentially would have "no effect" on Fayetteville residents.
What actually should bring the issue of decriminalizing marijuana to full focus, then, is the overcrowding of jails and the spending of taxpayers' money to house those charged with misdemeanors.
About 400 marijuana-related arrests were made in 2005 in Fayetteville, and the state of Arkansas spends about $30 million a year making arrests for marijuana use, said Ryan Denham, campaign director for Sensible Fayetteville.
"We have more serious fish to fry than going after someone with a small amount of marijuana," Mayor Dan Coody said.
We agree. But legalizing marijuana - or keeping it illegal - is not the issue.
The fact this measure simply is being placed on the November ballot is a significant step forward for all Fayetteville citizens. Who better to decide whether marijuana possession should be criminalized and how tax money should be spent than the Fayetteville taxpayers themselves?
Many have mixed feelings about the effect this ordinance could have on the city: Jacob Holloway, field organizer for Sensible Fayetteville, said an initiative like this sends "a message that we will no longer accept inaction," while City Attorney Kit Williams said the ordinance essentially would have "no effect" on Fayetteville residents.
What actually should bring the issue of decriminalizing marijuana to full focus, then, is the overcrowding of jails and the spending of taxpayers' money to house those charged with misdemeanors.
About 400 marijuana-related arrests were made in 2005 in Fayetteville, and the state of Arkansas spends about $30 million a year making arrests for marijuana use, said Ryan Denham, campaign director for Sensible Fayetteville.
"We have more serious fish to fry than going after someone with a small amount of marijuana," Mayor Dan Coody said.
We agree. But legalizing marijuana - or keeping it illegal - is not the issue.
The fact this measure simply is being placed on the November ballot is a significant step forward for all Fayetteville citizens. Who better to decide whether marijuana possession should be criminalized and how tax money should be spent than the Fayetteville taxpayers themselves?
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 16
Far-out Fayetteville
posted 9/10/08 @ 12:44 AM CST
"We have more serious fish to fry than going after someone with a small amount of marijuana," Mayor Dan Coody said...simultaneously while holding a hit from his bong. (Continued…)
Far-out Fayetteville is right!
posted 9/10/08 @ 8:40 AM CST
We need to prohibit all drugs including alcohol and tobacco. They are all killers! Lets lock up everyone that uses any drugs...then throw away the key. (Continued…)
Kelly Maddy
posted 9/10/08 @ 9:35 AM CST
Some other posters here will lead you to believe that arresting marijuana smokers actually makes use and availability recede. Nothing is farther from the truth. (Continued…)
Latonia
posted 9/12/08 @ 11:55 PM CST
I do not agree wit the person who said that if we want leagalized drugs in the us we should vote for obama i dont think that he would aproveof that at all and if you think that he would then you need to pick up a newspaper because you have him all wrong I dont think that marijuana should be leagal but ido agree that it should not be a top priority like cocaine or herion crack or extacy
Abel Tomlinson
posted 9/14/08 @ 5:52 AM CST
In case you are interested, I am a candidate for U.S. Congress in AR 3rd District and I strongly support the Sensible Fayetteville political statement. (Continued…)
Charles McClure
posted 9/15/08 @ 10:32 AM CST
First things first, if this initiative is codified, it will be purely representative of the will of the people of Fayetteville. The state of Arkansas is not a home-rule state, meaning no county or municipality can issue and enforce a law that goes against state law. (Continued…)
My job is done...
posted 9/16/08 @ 2:27 PM CST
(From an online source)
The Drug Czar is required by law to lie...
Most people know that the "drug czar" -- the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) -- is an advocate for the government position regarding the drug war. (Continued…)
Drug addiction
posted 9/17/08 @ 2:46 PM CST
Arresting pot smokers will do nothing, specially since it's legal in certain states of the country (with a prescription). They need to first decide what kind of threat it really is to society and then act accordingly. (Continued…)
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