News (Media Awareness Project) - US NH: Marijuana Growth, Use Hot Topic In '09 |
| Title: | US NH: Marijuana Growth, Use Hot Topic In '09 |
| Published On: | 2009-12-27 |
| Source: | Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH) |
| Fetched On: | 2009-12-28 18:43:06 |
MARIJUANA GROWTH, USE HOT TOPIC IN '09
Marijuana was in the news in New Hampshire in 2009.
Hollis farmer David Orde's arrest for growing pot drew widespread
interest, and the spotlight was later trained on the state
Legislature after it tried to legalize marijuana for medical use.
Orde, 54, was arrested in July 2008 on felony marijuana-growing
charges after a Hollis police officer went to serve him with a
complaint for failing to license his dog. After getting no answer at
the main door, the officer went around to the side of the house at 2
Blood Road and spotted 16 marijuana plants growing in pots on a deck.
His case ended up in Hillsborough County Superior Court, where Orde
waived his right to a trial by jury and put the matter into the hands
of Judge James Barry.
Barry found Orde guilty and on Sept. 15 sentenced him to 12 months in
jail, suspending all but 60 days. The judge also agreed the sentence
wouldn't be imposed while Orde appealed his conviction to the state
Supreme Court.
Orde admitted growing the plants and said he was "stupid" for doing
so. He also said police were "ridiculous" to arrest him, court records said.
Unrelated to Orde's case, the state House of Representatives passed
HB 648, a bill to legalize medical marijuana, by a 240-115 vote. But
the bill was vetoed by the governor and an attempt by the state
Senate to override the veto fell two votes short, 14-10.
State lawmakers had been following the lead of at least 13 states
that have legalized marijuana for medical use. New Hampshire's
neighbor, Maine, legalized the drug in April, but not by a vote of lawmakers.
The Legislature didn't take a position when faced with a citizen
petition to amend the state's medical marijuana law, leaving it to
the voters, who approved the measure that allows for dispensaries.
Legalization has also received tacit support from the federal
government's chief executive: President Barack Obama has said he
won't pursue federal prosecution for medical marijuana use in states
that have laws that regulate and legalize the product.
Marijuana was in the news in New Hampshire in 2009.
Hollis farmer David Orde's arrest for growing pot drew widespread
interest, and the spotlight was later trained on the state
Legislature after it tried to legalize marijuana for medical use.
Orde, 54, was arrested in July 2008 on felony marijuana-growing
charges after a Hollis police officer went to serve him with a
complaint for failing to license his dog. After getting no answer at
the main door, the officer went around to the side of the house at 2
Blood Road and spotted 16 marijuana plants growing in pots on a deck.
His case ended up in Hillsborough County Superior Court, where Orde
waived his right to a trial by jury and put the matter into the hands
of Judge James Barry.
Barry found Orde guilty and on Sept. 15 sentenced him to 12 months in
jail, suspending all but 60 days. The judge also agreed the sentence
wouldn't be imposed while Orde appealed his conviction to the state
Supreme Court.
Orde admitted growing the plants and said he was "stupid" for doing
so. He also said police were "ridiculous" to arrest him, court records said.
Unrelated to Orde's case, the state House of Representatives passed
HB 648, a bill to legalize medical marijuana, by a 240-115 vote. But
the bill was vetoed by the governor and an attempt by the state
Senate to override the veto fell two votes short, 14-10.
State lawmakers had been following the lead of at least 13 states
that have legalized marijuana for medical use. New Hampshire's
neighbor, Maine, legalized the drug in April, but not by a vote of lawmakers.
The Legislature didn't take a position when faced with a citizen
petition to amend the state's medical marijuana law, leaving it to
the voters, who approved the measure that allows for dispensaries.
Legalization has also received tacit support from the federal
government's chief executive: President Barack Obama has said he
won't pursue federal prosecution for medical marijuana use in states
that have laws that regulate and legalize the product.
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