REEFER MADNESS

Examining a Silly Law

Last Friday night, I met up with a buddy downtown, went to a bar and
had a few drinks. Well, let's say my friend had a few. The vodka and
tonics were tasting pretty good, and maybe I overdid it a bit too.

We both live fairly close to one another and both believe in public
transportation. While walking the four blocks to catch the bus back
home, my friend took a joint from his shirt pocket and lit it. As he
inhaled deeply and coughed, he wanted to know if I wanted a hit. I
said no. I was already feeling pretty good from the alcohol.

Now he's done this more than a few times, walking down the sidewalk
smoking grass. It always makes me nervous, but my friend knows the
law and knows what he's doing.

If a cop sees him doing it, he's going to jail. As for me and my
sort-of-drunken self, I'll be free to catch that bus, go on home and
sleep in my own bed.

Welcome to Cincinnati, where reefer madness rules.

This situation started in late March. Cincinnati City Council, on a
vote of 6-2, decided to do away with the old penalty for getting
caught with less than 10 grams of marijuana -- it was a simple
misdemeanor with a $100 fine.

Now it's a fourth degree misdemeanor with a maximum of 30 days in
jail and a fine of $250. If you get caught a second time, plan on
doing six months in jail and writing a $1,000 check.

How ridiculous, dumb and regressive. How Cincinnatish. How like our
city leaders to try to protect us from the evils of smoking a little weed.

I'm an old hippie. Back in the early 1970s, I smoked it on a daily
basis, got high at work, had a variety pack of different pot to
choose from and had so many pipes I'd give them away to those less fortunate.

This was during the Carter administration, when it appeared likely
that possession of marijuana would become legal. Then Reagan won the
presidency and everything went to hell. The good old days were gone.

Now I'm middle-aged, will sometimes smoke pot if offered to me and
don't have any idea how much a bag of dope would even cost.

I've turned to drinking alcohol -- you know, the conservative and
legal drug of choice -- but that doesn't mean I won't take up the
fight with my pot-smoking friends and point out how insane this law is.

Councilman Cecil Thomas led the way on this law, saying it would
reduce the violent crime rate in our city. Really? Getting high on
pot means turning violent? Pardon me, sir, but what the hell are you smoking?

I've never known a marijuana user to get violent. Take my friend who
smokes pot while walking down the sidewalk. He's harmless,
mild-mannered and wouldn't hurt a fly.

Everyone I know who smokes the stuff -- and I know a lot of people
who do -- are like this. Marijuana relaxes you, makes you feel mellow
and peaceful. It doesn't enrage you to carry a gun, go on a killing
spree downtown or pick up a trash can and throw it through a Starbucks window.

Come on, Councilman Thomas, get real. Don't you think our jails are
full enough without putting pot smokers in them? Wouldn't it make
more sense to save that space for those who rob us, hurt us or even
kill us? What purpose do you think this law really serves?

Councilman Jim Tarbell voted against this law, and I think Mayor Mark
Malloy knows how nuts it is, too. In March, he allowed it to become
law without his signature. He said he wanted to express his
disapproval with it but knew his veto would be overridden.

Frankly, Mayor Mallory, I would have vetoed it anyway to make a
point: Cincinnati has more serious issues to contend with than
passing a backward, silly-ass law socking it to nonviolent,
non-criminal citizens who happen to smoke a little grass.

Thankfully, the law was imposed only for one year. In about seven
months, council will review it and decide whether or not to keep it
in force. Let's hope these folks can wake up and get their priorities in order.

With the various issues facing us throughout Hamilton County and
particularly downtown -- crumbling sidewalks, business closings, high
crime and record-breaking homicide rates -- let's see if city council
realizes they have more important work to do. Let's turn this "crime"
back into a simple thing like a speeding ticket.

With all the problems we have, Cincinnati is a place where you need
to get high.