The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Sensible Sentencing Initiative

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September 28, 2007

Dave Woods: Pot stories keep comments section smokin'

Joplin police Chief Lane J. Roberts was blunt about his past use of marijuana during a recent interview concerning the launch of the Sensible Sentencing Initiative. The SSI — an initiative petition proposed by the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws — would, if passed by Joplin voters in November 2008, decriminalize possession of small amounts of the long-outlawed plant and the paraphernalia used to smoke it.

During the interview, which is attached to this column online, the chief — a self described child of the 1960s with more than 30 years of law-enforcement experience — openly admitted smoking the leafy-green drug a few times when he was a much younger man. Roberts explained that it didn’t take long for him to discover that pot was not his cup of tea.

Roberts said he thought it would be highly unlikely the measure could pass, but, he added, if the citizens of Joplin approved the measure he and his officers would find a way to make the new ordinance work.

The interview with Roberts and two other stories explaining the proposed initiative and previewing the 2007 Cannabis Revival held a week ago in Landreth Park started the Globe’s online comments section smokin’ at joplinglobe.com.

“I feel this is an excellent article and that Joplin police Chief Lane Roberts gave an excellent interview! I am impressed! He definitely seems to have found a balance on this quite complex issue! There is room for everyone to try to meet in the middle and at the very least, agree to disagree!”

— desiderata

‘Chief, wake up!’

“The chief’s job is to enforce the laws, whether or not he agrees with them. If there are people at this event smoking or possessing pot, it’s his job to arrest them, not to turn a blind eye to it. If he can’t do that he should turn his badge in and let someone who believes in law and order take his place.”

— Steve C.

“From what I’ve heard so far from Chief Roberts, he sounds like a policeman with common smarts. Just wondering how long before the powers that be run him off. Sounds as if he may be someone who understands his job is to serve the public, not force his beliefs on others. He may be way too smart for the powers that be to handle. But, on second thought, they may not recognize how smart he is. Let’s hope the latter applies.”

— Farmer Ted

‘Move to Amsterdam!’

“I am a college-educated professional and a former law-enforcement officer. I am a law-abiding, tax-paying registered voter and a parent. I do not smoke weed. However, I would support the decriminalization of marijuana. As a former cop, I would rather the effort and funds used to enforce the current criminal laws prohibiting the use or possession of marijuana be used for the enforcement of other laws against narcotics such as cocaine, meth, heroin and alcohol — yes, alcohol is a drug and a deadly one at that.”

— Objectivity

“Objectivity: For a former police officer, you are very ignorant. Marijuana use does contribute to many social issues. We already have alcohol, so why add another drug to the mix? We may as well legalize cocaine, too? Sorry, but being a former police officer myself, marijuana does contribute to traffic deaths. You state alcohol contributes to most ... so what is the rest? Maybe pot? There is no way I or any NORMAL decent citizen should support this stupid plan.”

— Newman

“The ex-cop makes a pretty good case, but it does not change anything! We don’t want some hopped-up nut driving the same street our kids and grandkids play on! Better move to Amsterdam!”

— js

“The petition is to cut down on the severity of the charge for possession of marijuana. It’s not looking at legalizing it. However, marijuana is legal in Holland and you know what — crime is very low. The potheads aren’t out robbing everybody! We cannot control what other people do — we can only control our reaction to it.”

— p-sha

‘I signed this petition...’

“And the rationalizations continue! Dopers will rationalize anything in an attempt to maintain their state of stupor. To do otherwise would be to admit their flaws and be required to live in a world of reality, where they could see those flaws as they are, not through the mist of a mind under the influence of drugs.”

— Ralph

“Ralph, I believe you completely miss the point of why marijuana smokers want to decriminalize the drug. We do not want it decriminalized so we can get away with being stoned all the time. We want it to be decriminalized so we won’t be labeled as criminals.”

— Zachary

“Wow! When you hit the nail on the head, it makes a lot of noise, doesn’t it?

— Ralph

“I signed this petition ... at least, I think I did ... I was pretty high at the time.”

— hy

Dave Woods is new media editor for The Joplin Globe.

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Joplin Sensible Sentencing Initiative
  • Organizers say petition drive on marijuana plan near goal A petition drive to put a marijuana-decriminalization proposal before the city of Joplin is close to having the necessary number of signatures, according to organizers.

    June 18, 2008

  • Voices: Unsupported criticisms The letter by Dianne Slater (Globe, Jan. 31) is based more on a logical fallacy than actual scientific data on behavioral patterns of marijuana users.

    Naturally, critics of such a move warn that decriminalizing cannabis will increase pot use among Joplin’s young people. Such concerns, while understandable, are not supported by epidemiological evidence.

    February 10, 2008

  • <img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/breaking.gif " Border=0> 11/21/07, 2:58 p.m. Marijuana decriminalization initiative petition announced On Friday afternoon, standing on the sidewalk at Joplin City Hall, Kelly Maddy, the president of the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, flanked by Kris Krane, the executive director of the national organization, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and Ryan Denham, President of the Alliance for Drug Reform Policy in Arkansas, fired the first shot in what will be a year-long battle to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana within the city of Joplin and the paraphernalia that’s used to smoke it.

    February 3, 2008

  • images_sizedimage_028235035 <img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0> Pot-signature drive kicks into gear <font color="#ff0000">w/ links Sensible Sentencing Initiative info, audio, video & petition language</font> Four months after Kelly Maddy stood on the sidewalk outside Joplin City Hall, flanked by supporters of his effort to decriminalize marijuana use in the city, the campaign is kicking into high gear.

    Maddy, president of the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, spent several hours Sunday in front of Dillons grocery store, soliciting signatures for the Sensible Sentencing Initiative. He met with a couple of less-than-friendly responses.

    February 2, 2008 1 Photo 4 Links

  • images_sizedimage_033103148 Dave Woods: Readers fire shots in war on war on drugs I have to admit, I admire Kelly Maddy. I admire the grassroots political organizer’s commitment to the marijuana decriminalization cause and the work he has done in Joplin in support of the Sensible Sentencing Initiative.

    February 2, 2008 1 Photo 1 Link

  • images_sizedimage_033103638 Guest column: Legal marijuana would help millions Have you heard the news? There is now a low-cost drug proven to ease a cancer patient’s suffering. Not only does this drug reduce the physical and psychological pain of cancer, but, more importantly, it restores a chemotherapy patient’s appetite.

    The drug, of course, is marijuana.

    February 2, 2008 1 Photo

  • images_sizedimage_034193221 Pot petitions gaining ground It might seem unlikely that an initiative petition aimed at decriminalizing possession of limited amounts of marijuana and the paraphernalia used to smoke it could make it onto the ballot in Joplin — let alone pass muster with voters.

    But similar efforts have passed in nearby cities such as Columbia and Eureka Springs, Ark.

    “We weren’t sure what to anticipate,” said Columbia police Chief Randy Boehm.

    January 28, 2008 1 Photo

  • Voices: Give voters the choice Several letters to the editor have voiced concerns regarding the launch of our municipal initiative petition to lessen the criminal penalties associated with the possession of small amounts of marijuana. We understand those concerns and wish to address them.

    Currently, Joplin police arrest an estimated 230 people annually for violating marijuana laws.

    October 10, 2007

  • Voices: Legalize marijuana As a Christian, I wish Kelly Maddy and the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws success, but for re-legalizing, not just decriminalizing, cannabis.

    September 30, 2007

  • images_sizedimage_033103148 Dave Woods: Pot stories keep comments section smokin' Joplin police Chief Lane J. Roberts was blunt about his past use of marijuana during a recent interview concerning the launch of the Sensible Sentencing Initiative.

    September 28, 2007 1 Photo 2 Links