(Jacksonville.com) A proposed Jacksonville Beach amendment is taking aim at the current marijuana laws, with hopes to make part of them vanish into a puff of smoke.
The nation’s largest marijuana advocacy group is pushing a plan to make possession of less than 20 grams a civil infraction instead of a criminal misdemeanor. If the group’s petition receives 1,442 signatures from registered Jacksonville Beach voters, a decriminalization amendment would be added to the ballot in the November 2010 general election.
If it passes, it would be the first of its kind in Northeast Florida, and organizers say they would push it in the other Beaches communities and Jacksonville. Nationally, similar amendments have passed in several other cities, including Denver, and a handful of states.
“It’s the will of the people and a product of our grandparents,” said Ford Banister, chapter president of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, who’s spearheading the proposition. “It’s a political hot potato, and nobody wants to touch it. We’re out to change that.”
The proposed amendment would call for a civil fine of $100 for the possession of 20 grams or less –– enough for about 10-15 joints. The marijuana would also be confiscated. State law calls for up to a year behind bars and $1,000 in fines. Jacksonville Beach police would have the option to enforce either law.
The Jacksonville Beach police would likely enforce the state law and the city decrim ordinance would be symbolic. However, if the city and state are in enough financial trouble, maybe they would opt for not spending the money on the trials and jails and just making the $100 on the civil fine. Regardless, passing these sort of municipal ordinances is exactly the sort of thing NORML Chapters around the country have been doing for decades now. It was passage of many of these symbolic ordinances all throughout Massachusetts, for example, that laid the groundwork for passing decriminalization statewide.
My Neighbor Hates Pot
One of the biggest hurdles we face is something I call “My Neighbor Hates Pot” Paradox. When you ask Americans their opinions on decrim or medical marijuana, by about 3-to-1 they are on our side. Then when you ask them whether their neighbor supports decrim or medical marijuana, by about 3-to-1 people think their neighbor is not on our side. That means the government’s successful propaganda campaign has made the reefer madness lies three times more powerful than the truth. The two out of three pot-supporting neighbors believe the one guy who hates pot is actually three guys.
This is only possible when your neighbors – and you – are closeted marijuana smokers.
I am soo glad that finally someone is getting NORML going here.We’ve had a couple of false starts.I am so on board I don’t understand why more people aren’t.I am a blue collar man I work at the shipyard at Mayport so I don’t have much $ and very little xtra time but, I do what I can.I even made up some flyers (handmade I have met w/ Amy a couple of times as well.Let me know what I can do.I know someone with a small sports bar and he’s on board also! I f you like I can give you my phone number.I would love to talk to you and find out your ideas.Let me know if you want it. I am looking forward to speaking with you! Thank you so much for getting this started!!
when is yall comen to caly county :)
Florida needs to wake up!!!! We are losing millions of dollars!! How can we claim to be a number one vacation state when you cant enjoy the things you love!! Beach communities are losing the most! Think about it when you go to the beach a nice joint makes the day and if I was a tourist i would go to some other state that i didnt have to worry about it. Shoot I love florida and have been here for 25 years but if we dont wake up soon Im not going to be able to stand it. I just wish i lived at jax beach so I could sign the petition. PLEASE PASS IT AND MOVE TO VOTE FOR IT IN CLAY AND DUVAL COUNTIES!!!
I believe in this reform with all my hart ! Then they they could concentrate of the crack and meth heads and leave us honest hard working americans who smoke a blunt once in a while alone we should not live in fear because the government has their head up ther arse but then again wats new the government is the DEVIL in every way we should boycot them and get this country back on track
We are waiting for the Jacksonville Beach City Clerk to respond to our request for a charter section number to include in the petition. There is a protest planned for this Sunday, August 2 in front of Jax Beach City Hall. Come on out and let your voice be heard!!
[...] Jacksonville NORML proposing Jacksonville Beach marijuana decriminalization amendment [...]
Bastions of civility are breaking out in what has been the worst state with respect to cannabis laws, eclipsing even the federal government’s archaic and unconstitutional prosecution and persecution of cannabis consumers, regardless of their health.
That’d be some beautiful irony — cannabis-friendly beaches in one of the most anti-cannabis states.
banister posted on the jacksonville.com site and said the clerk of the courts at jax beach were dragging their feet in isssuing them a ‘section’ number for the initiative. protest rally planned next sunday at jx beach city hall.
[...] Ford Banister from JAX NORML on the amazing news coverage of the Jacksonville Beach decrim initiative [...]
Please let me know where and how to join this petition. I would also like to help make sure this is on the 2010 ballot.
A couple of houses down is 1 of the 21 police( 21 sworn and 7 non-sworn employees ) in our city of 8,800.Thats counting the state prision
I havn’t talked to him yet.
For the rest of the neighbors; more than 75% are supportive of some type of cannabis law reform.
From medical law all the way to re-legalization(me).
How do we sign the petition? I don’t have time to come to meetings, but would be willing to sign it. I have seen all kinds of info on this initiative…but nothing about how to get your signature on it! HELP!!!! I want to help!
Where can I sign the petition?
LOL, my neighbor hates pot, he told me he did. Makes it hard to talk to someone so closed minded!!