ACLU weights in on Louisiana ganja forum

[Sir X]

Louisiana lawmakers hear case for legalizing medical, recreational marijuana
Marijuana Legislative Hearing
Louisiana Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Malcolm Broussard (right) addresses a legislative committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 21) regarding medical marijuana laws in Louisiana. Also shown are state Rep. Dalton Honore, D-Baton Rouge, who requested the hearing, and Department of Health and Hospitals Assistant Secretary Rochelle Head-Dunham. (Lauren McGaughy, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Print Lauren McGaughy, NOLA.com | The Times Picayune By Lauren McGaughy, NOLA.com | The Times Picayune
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on January 21, 2014 at 8:21 PM, updated January 22, 2014 at 9:59 AM



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In the most open debate on Louisiana's marijuana laws to date, citizens came en masse to Baton Rouge on Tuesday (Jan. 21) to tell state lawmakers why they believe the drug should be legalized for medical or recreational use. But in a state that still allows repeat offenders to be incarcerated for life for simply possessing the drug, there are few legislators who support outright legalization.

Tuesday's meeting of the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice was meant to be informational only, and was convened at the request of state Rep. Dalton Honore, D-Baton Rouge, to discuss the feasibility of legalizing marijuana for medical use.

No vote was taken and no bills were up for debate. But over the course of nearly four hours, officials, law enforcement and the public passionately portrayed their sides of the debate on legalizing the drug. By the end of the hearing, state Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, said the possibility that Louisiana lawmakers would rally behind legalization was slim.

"I'm not sure if the Legislature is ready for any kind of legalization," said Badon, who is again sponsoring a bill to lessen the penalties for those convicted on repeated charges of simple marijuana possession.

Chairman Joe Lopinto, R-Metairie, agreed. However, he said he would still be amenable to discussing medical marijuana, and thinks age makes a huge difference when it comes to responsible marijuana use.

Of the 1,372 Louisianans currently incarcerated on marijuana possession charges, over 78 percent are black. The average sentence is 8.4 years.
"For a 50-year-old who smokes marijuana in his backyard, I could care less," said Lopinto, adding the caveat that there is "no right age" for responsible marijuana use.

Lopinto added if lawmakers want to legalize medical marijuana use in Louisiana, legislation would need to be passed to tweak the current statute, which already allows doctors to issue prescriptions for marijuana for certain ailments. The Louisiana Board of Pharmacies would need guidance on dispensaries, he noted.

Much of the public debate Tuesday focused on medical marijuana. Honore said it was time state lawmakers talked openly about the drug and its possible beneficial uses for those with serious illnesses.

"I'm here today not advocating the legalization of marijuana," he said. "I've requested a study and the committee has done an excellent job in gaining information for me. This state is behind on medical marijuana use. If I had my choice today, I'd say let's put it to the people of the state of Louisiana to vote on. And I would assure you it would pass."

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Assistant Secretary Rochelle Head-Dunham enumerated the potential health pitfalls of using marijuana, citing studies she said show an increased risk for schizophrenia in adolescents and heart attacks in adults.

Tulane assistant professor of clinical medicine MarkAlain Déry later criticized her remarks, noting that as the head of an HIV/AIDS clinic, he wishes he could prescribe marijuana for his patients suffering from chronic pain and nausea.

Two HIV-positive members of the public later said they have used the drug to ease the side effects of their illness, while retired firefighter and New Orleans resident Ron Hotstream said he has been using the drug since permanently injuring his back on the job.

Atasha King said she is planning a move to Colorado with her daughter, Armani, who suffers from chronic seizures. She said only there will her daughter have open access to specially-grown marijuana with low levels of the active ingredient THC and high levels of CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid shown in some studies to reduce the frequency of epileptic attacks.

But the political calculus of state lawmakers could hinge on testimony from law enforcement and the powerful state District Attorneys Association. While the latter will likely support Badon's reduced sentences legislation, the group's representative said Tuesday it was staunchly against going any further.

"Please think very carefully before you amend the current provisions," said Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles R. Scott. "You have to conclude that marijuana, that THC, has some very bad characteristics. We do not need in Louisiana our workforce to be impaired any further."

Marjorie Esman, executive director of the Louisiana chapter of the ACLU, said there are other options short of legalization that could bring Louisiana's marijuana laws more in line with its regional peers. But, Badon's penalty reduction bill and others like it are only the first step, she said.

She urged lawmakers and law enforcement to look at the current rates of incarceration broken down by race for simple marijuana possession.

Marijuana Offenders Sentences
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Louisiana Department of Corrections

According to numbers given by Esman at the hearing -- and confirmed by state Department of Corrections officials -- as of June 2013, 1,372 Louisianians were serving sentences for simple marijuana possession. The average sentence is 8.4 years, with 10 people serving life sentences.

More than 78 percent of these offenders are black, while only 32.4 percent of the state population is black, according to 2012 U.S. Census numbers. This should cause pause, Esman said, because national studies have shown marijuana use is roughly equal among white and black people.

"We are arresting our friends and neighbors in racially disproportionate numbers for simple possession of marijuana," she said.

A fiscal note for Badon's 2013 legislation noted the state could save $1.6 million in the first year after the passage of such legislation. Savings would ramp up after that, with a total of $8.1 million in reduced incarceration costs predicted in subsequent years.

Lawmakers will convene the 2014 legislative session on March 10. While Badon's bill is currently the only one dealing with the subject of marijuana, other bills addressing marijuana penalties and medical use are expected to be filed

[Sir X]

Knight chides ganja group......Glad to enforce colonial doctrine for Queen and Country.


WESTERN BUREAU:

NATIONAL SECURITY Minister K.D. Knight yesterday blasted the commission that is probing the feasibility of legalising marijuana.

"I don't make any bones about it. The lobby talking about the legalisation of drugs ... I am personally against them," Mr Knight said.

"I don't believe that it can be to the benefit of the society to have people smoking ganja, taking cocaine, next thing heroin, next ecstasy, because they are at home. Are they confined to their homes at all times? Don't they come out on the streets? And when they come out on the streets with their impaired judgements am I not at risk? Are you not at risk?" he asked participants at Jamaica Police Federation's 58th annual conference in Montego Bay.

Minister Knight was speaking against the background of several criticisms that had been levelled at his administration's treatment of the issue of the illegal drug trade.

"People are saying there is a lack of will on the part of the police, the political directorate and the community. If there is a lack of will then we need, all of us, to rededicate ourselves to the fight against the drug trade because there is no doubt in my mind that it is having a terribly debilitating effect upon our society, upon our young people in particular our young men. They have become marginalised," he said.

"Some people don't believe that this ganja thing is drugs because is Jah weed and I and I weed, but some of these young people who are walking around talking to themselves whoever's weed it is that is a contributing factor to their condition," he said.

In the same breath, he blasted Amnesty International for characterising the police force in the international arena as a brutal force and white collar criminals.

"They say there is a human rights crisis in Jamaica arising from police excesses, the fact that capital punishment is still on the books and there are still (no) gay rights," he said.

The minister declined to comment on the issue of capital punishment and gay rights but said there was a need to curb police excesses.

On the issue of white collar criminals, Minister Knight pointed to a need to bring them to justice.

"For too long white collar criminals continue driving around in their Benz and Lexus (motor cars) and invite people to party and you gone to party. Dance up to music, drink up their liquor. If ever you hear about pot cuss kettle black is that," he said.

[Rockman]

Can you imagine if KD was a weed smoker how quickly his contradictions would be attributed to smoking weed,let us ban whatever he is taking.
Blasts the human rights group to only later concur.What capital punishment and lack of gay rights( rights enjoyed by a specific sect)have to do with excessive force by the police?
Why characterize the ganja initiative as a cross the board drug initiative?

Mr Knight impressive degrees(yeah I am alluding to Portia unfairlybeing the focal point of criticism..)displayed on a wall somewhere have not made any difference,mere decorations....

[Sir X]

'Rastafarian-looking' man who ran into the vicinity of Orange Villa.....The Implication for every Rasta with a ganja spliff,or anyone Rasta whom the police had a grudge against ?

Bunting, Ellington meet with upset Orange Villa residents
BY TASHAUNA TAYLOR Observer writer editorial@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014

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A resident of Orange Villa (centre) makes a point to security minister Peter Bunting (back turned) while Member of Parliament for West Kingston Desmond McKenzie (right) looks on. (PHOTOS: KENYON HEMANS)

POLICE Commissioner Owen Ellington, National Security Minister Peter Bunting, and Member of Parliament for West Kingston Desmond McKenzie yesterday responded to the demands of disgruntled residents of Orange Villa in downtown Kingston to grant them audience.

These demands stemmed from the police shooting of 27-year-old cook shop operator, Nakiea Jackson, on Monday.

Sister of the dead man, Shackelia Jackson, expressed her appreciation for the visit but said it was long overdue.

She even expressed pity for the police officer who fired the shots that took her brother's life.

"I am good; even just for the officer I sympathise. What becomes of your family? What becomes of your children? What becomes of the persons who are now looking to you as their breadwinner?" she asked.

Bunting, Ellington and McKenzie, flanked by other high-ranking members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), engaged in dialogue with the grieving residents and assured them that action will be taken to ensure that they are not intimidated in any way.

"We have assured the residents that the incident will be thoroughly investigated. INDECOM (Independent Commission of Investigations) has processed the scene; there will be no intimidation of anyone who wants to give statements to INDECOM," Bunting said.

Jackson, meanwhile, seemed resolute in her efforts to get justice for her brother — even in the form of legislation that will compel police officers to use their firearms as a last resort.

According to Jackson, she is envisioning a 'Nakiea Act'.

"We have secured a lawyer and I will get the guidance of my lawyer. I will also do my own research to see what channels I can go through to understand how laws are passed; to understand what evidence I need to produce to ensure that ...it will be something that will go to Parliament and I might be like a Shanique Myrie where a new precedent is set," said Jackson.

McKenzie was also uncertain about the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and questioned why the police officers from outside the Kingston Central Division were operating in the community without the knowledge of the leadership of the division.

"This is a questionable killing," he said.

Police report that they were on patrol when they got wind of a robbery carried out by a 'Rastafarian-looking' man who ran into the vicinity of Orange Villa.

They claimed they accosted a man fitting the description given to them. They alleged that the man pointed a firearm at them, which forced them to take evasive action and fire two shots in the man's direction. They also alleged that a Smith and Wesson 9-mm pistol was recovered.

The residents mounted two fiery roadblocks on Monday and Tuesday to voice their disgust at the killing and accused the officers of lying about the incident and planting a gun on the dead man.