MARIJUANA LAWS ARE NOT CITY COUNCIL'S BUSINESS

Let's clear this one up right away: The Duluth City Council should not
- repeat, not - take up any measure having to do with legalizing marijuana.

Local units of government have no authority to change existing laws on
its use, and to even allow a public hearing on a resolution supporting
efforts to legalize marijuana use in the United States would be a
waste of time.

Stay away from it.

It's strange that the Duluth council would even be asked to take a
stand on this issue. But it has, by local representatives of groups
called the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and
the Community Cannabis Coalition.

They have strong opinions on the benefits of recreational marijuana
use and also its therapeutic use for certain medical conditions. They
are welcome to their opinions -- we are not expressing ours on the
benefits or perils of marijuana use at this time.

But we are imploring the City Council to stick to local issues
directly affecting our citizens. Heaven knows there have been recent
diversions from the nuts and bolts of local government in recent
months. While the Ten Commandments monument on city property was
decidedly a local issue, it became so inflamed that it took an
inordinate amount of council time and concentration, and contributed
to divisions in the community and on the council.

The indoor smoking ban continues as an issue that is divisive and
time-consuming, with the possibility of a referendum on the city's
latest smoking ordinance looming in the fall, extending that
controversy into the several years range. At least it's city business.

We need to continue to fix the streets, resolve sewer problems, work
up a comprehensive plan, decide housing issues, keep our parks up,
and, most importantly, pay for those things. That is the business of
the City Council.

Often in the past, the City Council has engaged in what were called
"memorializing" measures. They carry no weight, other than to inform
higher units of government or anyone who will listen about the
consensus of the City Council on this issue or that.

They are a colossal waste of time.

Councilors are free to decide what goes on their agendas outside of
direct city business. To memorialize courts or state lawmakers or
Congress or the president or the King of Norway or the Almighty
herself on the consensus of the Duluth City Council concerning
marijuana laws signifies nothing. Drop it.