[Mtnorml-list] Missoula County Amends Initiative, Overrides Voters

[Montana NORML]

Friends,

Despite dozens of people who showed up to voice their support (over 
several hours) for keeping the initiative as-is, Missoula County 
Commissioners voted 2-1 to change the initiative to only apply to 
misdemeanor offenses tonight.

County Commissioner Bill Carey was the dissenting vote, and spoke 
eloquently on the need to respect the voice of the people as enacted in 
the November vote.

Thank him: bcarey at co.missoula.mt.us

Thanks to all of you who attended and testified. Do not be disheartened.

The initiative passed. Nobody can change that now. And the Community 
Oversight Committee shall proceed with their duties (with yours truly as 
Chair), tracking marijuana arrest statistics, and accepting grievances 
from anyone who believes they were treated in a way contrary to the 
spirit of the initiative.

What can you do right now? How about letters to the editor of our local 
news, right now:


Independent: btyer at missoulanews.com
Kaimin: letters at kaimin.umt.edu
Missoulian: oped at missoulian.com
NewWest.net: courtney at newwest.net


My remarks from the hearing are below. Mine them for ideas or write your 
own, but please speak your mind.

We are disappointed, but not defeated. Not even close.


In liberty,

John Masterson
Montana NORML



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Let us say what this conversation is really about. It is not about 
marijuana. It is not even about the initiative, really. The initiative 
has already passed. This conversation is about democracy.

So if any person here has come to talk about the virtues or evils of 
marijuana, or how to deal with problems of drug abuse in our community, 
save your breath and our time. Those are important topics worthy of 
debate, but this conversation, today, is about democracy.

I understand that some of you (Commissioners) probably did not vote for 
the initiative in November, and that you may have even actively opposed 
it, and that you may disagree with the public policy it represents.

However, your personal lack of support for the initiative alone is 
simply not good enough to amend the initiative today. Not good enough to 
alter the voice of the voters. Not good enough to change the vote. 
Not.   Good.   Enough.

JFK said “The basis of effective government is public confidence.”

Amending the initiative would be a violation of the trust of the voters, 
a disintegration of that public confidence.

The county attorney says that either the voters did not read the 
initiative, or maybe they did, but if so, they made a mistake.

To claim that  the voters – we, the people – weren't able to understand 
what we were voting for, or if we did understand, that we made a MISTAKE 
– insults the voters and the process.

So we are to believe these amendments care a “correction” to our (yours 
and my) mistake. What will “corrections” like this do for public trust 
and confidence in the process? In the validity of their vote?

Finally, I call your attention to the fact that the initiative is 
permissive in nature. It provides recommendations. It does not dictate 
law enforcement or prosecution policies, but simply encourages an 
adjustment in priorities. Law enforcement and the county attorney can 
continue arresting and convicting people for any and all marijuana 
offenses, without any amendment at all.

So the proposed amendment is not only a violation of the trust of the 
voters, it is also completely unnecessary.
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