Just Say "NO" to Increased Marijuana Possession Penalties

Cincinnati City Councilmember Cecil Thomas, Chair of the Law & Public Safety Committee, wants to enact tougher penalties for simple marijuana possession. He has submitted the following motion:

4-200600120 MOTION, dated 2/10/06, submitted by Councilmember Thomas, that the City Administration prepare a report that explores the possibility of creating a new ordinance that addresses possession of any amount of marijuana within the limits of the City of Cincinnati.

Councilmember Thomas' ultimate goal is to raise the level of the offense to a fourth-degree misdemeanor, with a $250 fine and a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail.

Last year, former Councilmember David Pepper introduced a similar motion. With the help of the emails and phone calls to Council members and public testimony before the City Council, Pepper’s proposal was thwarted.

Under our new Mayor, most decisions are made at the committee level, and then brought before the full Council for what is usually rubberstamp approval. Therefore, the best, and perhaps only, way to stop this law is to ensure that the Law Committee does not approve it.

Please contact the members of the Law & Public Safety Committee and let them know you oppose this step backwards Councilmember Thomas claims that the higher punishment will make Cincinnati safer. Ask the Council if there is any evidence to support this claim. He also argues that this would give the police another tool that would allow them to investigate and search a suspect more than they do now. Ask the Council how tougher punishment, which comes after an arrest and conviction, would give police more power to search. A search has to occur in order for the marijuana to be found in the first place.

If you can, contact the Law Committee and give voice to your objection.

Cincinnati City Council Law & Public Safety Committee Members

Cecil Thomas, Committee Chair
801 Plum St. Rm 349
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3492
Fax: (513) 352-3218
Email: cecil.thomas@cincinnati-oh.gov

Leslie Ghiz, Committee Vice Chair
801 Plum St. Rm 354
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3344
Fax: (513) 352-3277
Email: leslie.ghiz@cincinnati-oh.gov

Jeff Berding
801 Plum St. Rm 346A
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3283
Fax: (513) 352-3289
Email: jeff.berding@cincinnati-oh.gov

Vice Mayor James R. Tarbell
801 Plum St. Rm 352
Cincinnati, OH
45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3604
Fax: (513) 352-3621
Email: james.tarbell@cincinnati-oh.gov

John Cranley 801 Plum St. Rm 356 Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979Phone: (513) 352-5303 Fax: (513) 352-4657 Email: john.cranley@cincinnati-oh.gov

Chris Monzel
801 Plum St. Rm 346B
Cincinnati, OH
45202-1979
Phone: (513) 352-3653
Fax: (513) 352-4649
Email: chris.monzel@cincinnati-oh.gov

Letters to the Editors:
www.enquirer.com/editor/letters.html

postedits@cincypost.com

letters@citybeat.com

Paul Green
Chair
Hamilton County Libertarian Party