POT STORIES KEEP COMMENTS SECTION SMOKIN'

Joplin police Chief Lane J. Roberts was blunt about his past use of
marijuana during a recent interview concerning the launch of the
Sensible Sentencing Initiative. The SSI - an initiative petition
proposed by the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws - would, if passed by Joplin voters in
November 2008, decriminalize possession of small amounts of the
long-outlawed plant and the paraphernalia used to smoke it.

During the interview, which is attached to this column online, the
chief - a self described child of the 1960s with more than 30 years of
law-enforcement experience - openly admitted smoking the leafy-green
drug a few times when he was a much younger man. Roberts explained
that it didn't take long for him to discover that pot was not his cup
of tea.

Roberts said he thought it would be highly unlikely the measure could
pass, but, he added, if the citizens of Joplin approved the measure he
and his officers would find a way to make the new ordinance work.

The interview with Roberts and two other stories explaining the
proposed initiative and previewing the 2007 Cannabis Revival held a
week ago in Landreth Park started the Globe's online comments section
smokin' at joplinglobe.com.

"I feel this is an excellent article and that Joplin police Chief Lane
Roberts gave an excellent interview! I am impressed! He definitely
seems to have found a balance on this quite complex issue! There is
room for everyone to try to meet in the middle and at the very least,
agree to disagree!"

- - desiderata

'Chief, wake up!'

"The chief's job is to enforce the laws, whether or not he agrees with
them. If there are people at this event smoking or possessing pot,
it's his job to arrest them, not to turn a blind eye to it. If he
can't do that he should turn his badge in and let someone who believes
in law and order take his place."

- - Steve C.

"From what I've heard so far from Chief Roberts, he sounds like a
policeman with common smarts. Just wondering how long before the
powers that be run him off. Sounds as if he may be someone who
understands his job is to serve the public, not force his beliefs on
others. He may be way too smart for the powers that be to handle. But,
on second thought, they may not recognize how smart he is. Let's hope
the latter applies."

- - Farmer Ted

'Move to Amsterdam!'

"I am a college-educated professional and a former law-enforcement
officer. I am a law-abiding, tax-paying registered voter and a parent.
I do not smoke weed. However, I would support the decriminalization of
marijuana. As a former cop, I would rather the effort and funds used
to enforce the current criminal laws prohibiting the use or possession
of marijuana be used for the enforcement of other laws against
narcotics such as cocaine, meth, heroin and alcohol - yes, alcohol is
a drug and a deadly one at that."

- - Objectivity

"Objectivity: For a former police officer, you are very ignorant. Marijuana
use does contribute to many social issues. We already have alcohol, so why
add another drug to the mix? We may as well legalize cocaine, too? Sorry,
but being a former police officer myself, marijuana does contribute to
traffic deaths. You state alcohol contributes to most ... so what is the
rest? Maybe pot? There is no way I or any NORMAL decent citizen should
support this stupid plan."

- - Newman

"The ex-cop makes a pretty good case, but it does not change anything!
We don't want some hopped-up nut driving the same street our kids and
grandkids play on! Better move to Amsterdam!"

- - js

"The petition is to cut down on the severity of the charge for
possession of marijuana. It's not looking at legalizing it. However,
marijuana is legal in Holland and you know what - crime is very low.
The potheads aren't out robbing everybody! We cannot control what
other people do - we can only control our reaction to it."

- - p-sha

'I signed this petition...'

"And the rationalizations continue! Dopers will rationalize anything
in an attempt to maintain their state of stupor. To do otherwise would
be to admit their flaws and be required to live in a world of reality,
where they could see those flaws as they are, not through the mist of
a mind under the influence of drugs."

- - Ralph

"Ralph, I believe you completely miss the point of why marijuana
smokers want to decriminalize the drug. We do not want it
decriminalized so we can get away with being stoned all the time. We
want it to be decriminalized so we won't be labeled as criminals."

- - Zachary

"Wow! When you hit the nail on the head, it makes a lot of noise,
doesn't it?

- - Ralph

"I signed this petition ... at least, I think I did ... I was pretty
high at the time."

- - hy