* Warning – Boring Political Talk Below *
City Council has little effect on state laws, but the Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee voted to recommend that the City Council draft resolutions related to marijuana use for submission to State offices in Concord.
Wednesday evening, the Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee of the Keene City Council voted 4-1 to recommend the full council support medical marijuana legalization AND 3-2 to recommend the support of decriminalization of personal amounts of marijuana. The most vocal detractor, Mr. Greenwald, made it clear that he was voting “no” because he didn’t feel the issue to be something the City Council should be handling, and not because he disagreed with the idea. The committee acted on this due to the pushing from a seemingly unlikely source. Former KPD detective Fred Parsells submitted the letter at the bottom of this post to the Mayor and City Council, as well as spoke to the committee.
In favor of the resolution for medical marijuana: Arnold Bailey, Pamela Slack, Charles Redfern, and Ruth Venezia. Bailey opposed the decrim resolution.
If adopted, this decision still has no legal effect, but means that the City Council will draft a resolution and submit to Concord in support of these marijuana freedoms. The full council will be voting on these issues at the next meeting, September 17, 2009.
· Here is audio of Mr. Parsells’ speech to the committee. (Length – 14:17)
· Also, here is audio of blogger Nick Ryder speaking in support of Mr. Parsells’ letter, and his response to that. (Length – 02:10)
And the letter that prompted the action:
Dear Mayor and Council:
An incumbent city councilor was recently asked by an individual representing a particular point of view if said councilor would be willing to propose language to the full council which would, in so many words, direct the Keene Police Department to make enforcement of minimal marijuana possession laws its lowest enforcement priority. Even if it had the mind to do so, I do not believe that the council has the legal right to dictate such a policy. That said, the idea did prompt the councilor and me to engage in conversation regarding medical marijuana and the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal consumption.
Little did I suspect thirty and more years ago that I would ever be writing such a letter as is now before you. Some of you will know that I have the perspective of having been involved in three so-called wars in my life. Governmental actions in and against Vietnam, crime and drugs were and are all referred to by the media as wars against the noted actions. I was involved in all of them. I mean no disrespect to those I served with, both at home and abroad, but I would be remiss if I did not point out that I have yet to be on the winning side.
Focusing on the medical marijuana issue for a moment, I strongly believe that New Hampshire’s elected leaders missed an opportunity to do the right thing for those who would benefit from their ability to legally use marijuana as they confront medical issues. I urge you to adopt a resolution and communicate it to our leaders in Concord encouraging them to pass a medical marijuana usage law.
But now for the larger issue and where I believe that you as councilors can, if you have the mind to do so, have some influence at the state level. I similarly urge you to endorse a resolution expressing your collective belief that minimal possession of marijuana for personal consumption should be decriminalized.
While I don’t believe that you have the legal authority to direct the police department to act as was suggested above, I know that you have the authority, and I believe the moral imperative, to express your concern to those in Concord about the many state and local dollars being spent and the young people’s futnres being ruined by misdemeanor level marijuana drug possession criminal records for perhaps a moment’s indiscretion. Please know that I am not talking about going to jail for the noted offense as the means of ruination but rather about the criminal record that will follow the youthful offender forever.
There is much more to be said on this matter that space does not allow, but I look forward to the opportunity to come before you and express my beliefs more fully.
Respectfully and sincerely,
Frederick B. Parsells
