From norml at montananorml.org Fri Nov 2 14:13:01 2007 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Fri Nov 2 14:13:49 2007 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Butte reporter wants to hear from you Message-ID: <1940.216.220.25.58.1194034381.squirrel@webmail.modwest.com> Hi all, There's a reporter in Butte doing a piece on the possibility of a marijuana-as-lowest-priority policy in Butte, similar to the one we now have in Missoula. He'd very much like to speak with some locals in Butte. If you live in Butte or thereabouts, please give him a call (today!): John 496-5511 More information about the Missoula policy is here: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/initiative2/ http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/20/news/local/news02.txt Thanks! - MT NORML Team From norml at montananorml.org Wed Nov 14 20:00:44 2007 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Thu Nov 15 09:46:38 2007 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Missoula Initiative #2 First Report Message-ID: <473BB65C.1010208@montananorml.org> Friends, I'm happy to announce that the Initiative 2 committee released its first report today, evaluating the degree to which county government accepted the voters' recommendation that adult marijuana offenses be treated as the lowest priority for law enforcement. The report is available here: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/initiative2/reports/2007/ As chair of the committee, I was the lead author, and provided in the report some historical and scientific context which I hope will be educational for government officials and the community. Additionally, of course, we presented our findings: that one person in Missoula County will be busted for a minor marijuana offense nearly every day in 2007. In my brief presentation today, I also hit on the committee's primary recommendations: - *the city and university should implement a low-priority policy as well* (this is the big one) - data collection on arrests needs to be automated - future reports should look at ALL effects of the initiative - the county should report on these effects to the legislature - future reports should explain all the agencies involved in busting people - the county should provide a small budget for the committee to offset administrative costs County Attorney VanValkenberg was there to congratulate himself (and the commissioners) for amending the voters' recommendation to apply only to misdemeanors this spring. He also endeavored to illustrate the gravity of felony marijuana offenses by pointing to the recent case of violent gun-toting criminals robbing and beating a man in a house which also contained marijuana. Amendments: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/03/24/news/local/news04.txt Violent Criminals: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/13/news/local/news02.txt Though I'm clearly biased, I think the report is quite good, and I hope you'll check it out and tell your friends about it. http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/initiative2/reports/2007/ Much work is yet to be done to establish a sane adult marijuana policy in Montana. We are forging ahead, unafraid of the challenge and invigorated by recent successes. Spread the word, will you? John Masterson Montana NORML From norml at montananorml.org Thu Nov 15 09:45:14 2007 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Thu Nov 15 09:46:39 2007 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Missoula Initiative #2 First Report Message-ID: <473C779A.9040602@montananorml.org> Friends, I'm happy to announce that the Initiative 2 committee released its first report yesterday, evaluating the degree to which county government accepted the voters' recommendation that adult marijuana offenses be treated as the lowest priority for law enforcement. The report is available here: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/initiative2/reports/2007/ Some news: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/15/news/local/news02.txt As chair of the committee, I was the lead author, and provided in the report some historical and scientific context which I hope will be educational for government officials and the community. Additionally, of course, we presented our findings: that one person in Missoula County will be busted for a minor marijuana offense nearly every day in 2007. In my brief presentation to the commissioners yesterday, I also hit on the committee's primary recommendations: - *the city and university should implement a low-priority policy as well* (this is the big one) - data collection on arrests needs to be automated - future reports should look at ALL effects of the initiative - the county should report on these effects to the legislature - future reports should explain all the agencies involved in busting people - the county should provide a small budget for the committee to offset administrative costs County Attorney VanValkenberg was there to congratulate himself (and the commissioners) for amending the voters' recommendation to apply only to misdemeanors this spring. He also endeavored to illustrate the gravity of felony marijuana offenses by pointing to the recent case of violent gun-toting criminals robbing and beating a man in a house which also contained marijuana. Amendments: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/03/24/news/local/news04.txt (and associated outcry: http://www.grupthink.com/topic/5605 ) Violent Criminals: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/13/news/local/news02.txt Though I'm clearly biased, I think the report is quite good, and I hope you'll check it out and tell your friends about it. http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/initiative2/reports/2007/ Much work is yet to be done to establish a sane adult marijuana policy in Montana. We are forging ahead, unafraid of the challenge and invigorated by recent successes. Spread the word, will you? John Masterson Montana NORML