4 PROTEST DEPUTY'S HANDLING OF SURVEY ON LEGAL MARIJUANA

BRYAN - Four supporters of marijuana law reform protested outside the
Williams County courthouse here yesterday over alleged intimidation by a
sheriff's deputy last month.

But Sheriff Alan Word said his deputy did nothing out of the ordinary when
he went to the home of a member of the National Organization for the Reform
of Marijuana Laws to make sure the member's telephone survey was legitimate.

Jerald Laskey, one of the protesters, said he was surveying residents Jan.
31, asking them whether they believe marijuana should be legalized, or
whether penalties for using it should increase, decrease, or stay the same.

After soliciting about 20 options in an hour, Mr. Laskey said he got a call
from the sheriff's office advising him that a resident had complained about
the nature of his survey.

Mr. Laskey, 34, said soon after the call from the sheriff's office, Deputy
Dan Hughes arrived at his front door, asked for and checked his driver's
license and group membership card with dispatch, and left.

Though the deputy agreed with Mr. Laskey that it is not illegal to conduct a
telephone survey, Mr. Laskey said he was the victim of intimidation because
the deputy had a drug-sniffing dog in his cruiser and wasted no time in
getting to his home just north of Bryan.

Mr. Laskey said his efforts in organization to legalize marijuana in the
last seven years had given him a "bad name" in town.

He said the deputy probably was trying to catch him smoking pot.

"I was on the phone for less than one minute with the dispatcher when a K-9
unit pulled into my driveway," said Mr. Laskey. "I think the whole matter
could have been handled with just a phone call."

Sheriff Word said his deputies are obligated to check out complaints of
unusual and suspicious telephone solicitations to make sure that solicitors
are not trying to conduct a scam.

He said three cruisers patrol the evening shift when Mr. Laskey was
approached, and that one of those cruisers always has a dog. He and Mr.
Laskey said the dog remained in the cruiser while Deputy Hughes questioned
Mr. Laskey.

"People who come into contact with our office during that time have a
one-in-three chance of seeing the dog," said Sheriff Word. He said he had
never heard of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
until the group notified the media of Mr. Laskey's situation.

"A lot of calls come in about telephone solicitors because our people do not
want to get cheated," the sheriff said. "We'll call he number of the
solicitor, and if they are at that number and we're able to make physical
contact with them, then we will."

John Hartman, president of the organization's Cleveland-based chapter, said
yesterday's protest was the first in Bryan for his group.