MAYOR: MAYBE I AM INFRINGING ON (NORML'S) CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. I DON'T
CARE....

Ravenna Mayor Paul Jones admits he may be infringing upon the rights
of free speech, but considers protecting his constituents from certain
types of speech part of his job.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has set up
shop on North Chestnut Street, a couple of stores down from the
Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce, but Jones is keeping the group's
doors locked.

"You can't sit in this chair and not see a red flag with this," Jones
said. "The whole idea is not appropriate. It surely doesn't fit the
image of the historical district in downtown Ravenna."

The space was rented for six paid months on Sept. 27 to sell hempen
goods _ the tough fiber used from the herb Cannabis sativa, which is
also the source of marijuana. Products for sale include dresses,
T-shirts, jewelry, NORML logo products and books. The fourth shop to
open in Ohio, it specializes in educating the public about the
responsible, beneficial and medicinal uses of cannabis.

NORML spokesman John Hartman said Jones is not looking at the store's
real purpose and is playing politics to keep the shop closed.

"We don't sell or make reference to bongs, hookahs or pipes of any
kind," Hartman said. "We educate and generate revenue for that
educational process. We don't promote the use of marijuana _ it is
currently illegal. That would defeat our whole purpose."

Jones said he is merely protecting the people who put him in
office.

"The residents have concerns, I have responsibilities," he said. "I'm
sorry. I'm not going to get excited about this group coming here. I've
received calls from people in Cleveland and Kent who said they don't
like my opinion. But I'm not responsible for them, so it really
doesn't matter to me. Maybe I am infringing on (NORML's)
constitutional rights. I don't care if they take me to court because
I'm doing this for the safety of Ravenna."

Jones gave the example of a child entering the shop and reading about
NORML's views. Although there are other shops in Ravenna and in
neighboring towns that sell smoking implements that could be used for
marijuana, Jones said he was unaware of the matter.

"The issue of kids is moot, because if you're not 16, you don't get
in," Hartman said. "A person younger than 16 is not quite old enough
to understand the politics of it, I feel."

NORML passed their fire inspection, but the mayor has tabled Hartman's
second sign proposal and attempts to obtain an occupancy permit.

"When I went back to the Design Review Commission, the mayor wanted to
debate what NORML is _ not the sign," Hartman said. "Now the mayor is
telling us we have to go before the Planning Commission, but we aren't
changing the structure. Unless I am not reading the ordinances
correctly, there should be no reason to go to planning."

Hartman added he thinks the mayor "wears too many hats."

"Every department leads me to the same person _ the mayor," Hartman
said. "I am very frustrated. He's even talking to my landlord."

Eric Hummel, Hartman's landlord, refused to comment.

Jones said he has asked Hartman to provide the social security numbers
of NORML board members and anyone involved in the Ravenna store. As
safety director, he is entitled to request background checks on
potential retailers, he said.

Eleanor Ahrens, 45, the shop's manager, pleaded no contest in 1996 to
trafficking in marijuana. But there are no laws preventing convicts
from working.

A Shalersville resident since 1980, Ahrens said she began growing
seven marijuana plants on her property when her doctor recommended it
as an alternative to the prescriptions that left her financially
destitute, riddled with side effects and eventually addicted. She has
suffered from epilepsy since childhood and has developed a severe
anxiety disorder that irritates it and sometimes sends her into
seizures. Ahrens no longer mixes marijuana in her tea or food to ease
her symptoms and bring back her appetite, but she hopes for a day when
she and sufferers of AIDS, cancer, Muscular Dystrophy, glaucoma and
other diseases can find legal medical relief in marijuana.

"Our motivation to have the marijuana was to make it better for her,"
said Ted Ahrens, Eleanor's husband. "She has paid a higher price for
this than she should have. That's why we're here. Sick people don't
need these complications."

What many do not know is that members of NORML want the laws changed
to benefit society _ not hippies, Hartman said.

"We don't promote the use or legalization of other drugs," Hartman
said. "This country spends a lot of money making 700,000 arrests a
year for the possession of small amounts of marijuana. And it's not
working. Cannabis should be made available to society for its
benefits. Fiber hemp is a miracle worker. Farmers need a new cash crop
in the U.S."

Hartman said the fiber hemp crop can be grown all over the country on
small plots of land without much use of insecticides, making it more
environmentally friendly and cost efficient to grow than cotton, corn
or soy.

"We believe it should be reasonably taxed and priced to be used
responsibly," he said. "We feel there should be restrictions, we just
don't agree with the way they prosecute now.

"People are going to have to learn to accept us," Hartman said. "We're
not bad people."