Thousands Cited For Having Marijuana On Federal Land

[greenbuddha]

  Thousands Cited for Having Pot on Federal Land Posted by CN Staff on September 16, 2013 at 16:01:38 PT

By Gene Johnson, The Associated Press  

Source: Associated Press 

 

Tacoma, Wash. -- Karen Strand didn't think she'd get in trouble for having a small container of medical marijuana when she went hiking in Olympic National Park this summer.

President Barack Obama, she remembered, had said the federal government had "bigger fish to fry" than people who follow state marijuana laws, and Washington state had just legalized pot.

 

But a ranger pulled her over on a remote gravel road, and Strand wound up as one of at least 27,700 people cited for having pot on federal land since 2009, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal court data. The number of citations is small compared to the hundreds of millions of visitors to national parks, forests and monuments each year.

But it nevertheless illustrates one of the many issues Washington, Colorado and other states face in complying with last month's Justice Department memo that requires them to address eight federal law enforcement priorities if they want to regulate marijuana. Among those priorities is keeping marijuana use and possession off federal property.

State officials have no plans to license pot gardens or stores on federal land, but beyond that, they say, it's not clear what they can do to discourage backpackers or campers from bringing a few joints into Rocky Mountain or Mount Rainier National Park.

"It's not one of the big topics we've talked a lot about," said Jaime Smith, a spokeswoman for Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Other concerns on the DOJ's list include keeping marijuana away from kids and cartels, preventing drugged driving and pot-related gun violence, and keeping unregulated marijuana grows from spoiling federal land.

Thousands of people receive tickets every year charging them with having pot on U.S. property — a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. The charges typically don't result in jail time, but often do require at least one court appearance. They are frequently negotiated down to an infraction, akin to a traffic ticket, and a fine of up to a few hundred dollars.

Through the first seven months of this year, at least 146 people had been cited in Washington for having pot on federal land, which makes up nearly one-third of the state. At least 135 had been cited in Colorado. Washington's figure is slightly below the same period for the past few years, while Colorado's is roughly on track.

The number of people cited nationally has dropped, from 6,282 in 2009 to 5,772 in 2012, and is on pace to hit about 5,300 this year, according to data from the U.S. Courts Central Violations Bureau. The citations were issued at national parks, seashores, forests, military bases and monuments. There were even 10 tickets issued at the Pentagon.

Officials say the actual numbers are likely greater: Park rangers and other federal agents sometimes simply write on the ticket that the offender had a controlled substance, without specifying the drug.

Defendants say being prosecuted for having tiny amounts of pot on U.S. land — especially in Washington, Colorado and states with medical marijuana laws — belies the administration's assertions that going after people who comply with state marijuana laws is not a priority. The DOJ first announced that position in a 2009 memo, though the fine print also made clear that pot isn't welcome on federal property.

Strand, 36, was pulled over for having a broken taillight, and the ranger reported that he could smell fresh pot. She was ticketed for having 2 grams — far less than the ounce, or 28 grams, allowed by Washington's recreational pot law, or the 24 ounces allowed by the state's medical marijuana law.

"It is exceptionally confusing," she said.

One morning this month, Strand sat in a small, crowded room at the federal courthouse in Tacoma for her initial appearance on charges of marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia — a pipe.

Near her sat her husband as well as several other people caught with weed on federal land, including a 21-year-old man who was accused of having 0.1 grams during a traffic stop on a highway that skirts Mount Rainier National Park.

"I just thought it was legal now," Jonah Hunt said. "I didn't know I was on federal land."

Barbara Sievers, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the cases, informed the defendants their charges would not be dismissed.

"Regardless of whatever happened in the state, it's federal law, and it's federal property," she said.

Former school teacher Melanie Cease, of Seattle, said a park ranger approached her one day in June at a secluded campsite in Olympic National Park. He came to make sure her dog was on a leash, but then saw an empty pipe on the picnic table.

With his hand on his gun, she said, the ranger demanded she turn over whatever pot she had. Cease, 48, was cited for having a "trace amount," according to the ranger's report.

"I've never been arrested in my life, and now I'm being threatened with six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for using my medicine?" she said. "It was my understanding the government was not going to mess with individual patients."

Strand and Cease both pleaded not guilty, and their cases were set for trial in October.

Strand and her husband, Thomas, said they remain troubled by what they said felt like harassment from the park ranger. He repeatedly placed his hand on his gun when speaking to them, they said.

"It's a beautiful place up there," Thomas Strand said. "And I don't know if I'll ever go back."

Source: Associated Press (Wire)

Author: Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Published: September 16, 2013

Copyright: 2013 The Associated Press

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[t-pain]

yep, obama lied and eric holder and that cole guy all lied about it.

everyone who says they dont go after posession lied about it.

 

bunch of liars.

[Spartyon]

I wonder what they would do if my nephew, the first federal probationer to get approval to use medical mary j, reported and had his medicine on him?

[Wild Bill]

[cristinew]

And someone said that the Federal Government has not harnessed patients in the last 5 years,, Just dispensaries,, Wrong.

 

Just remember if your hunting or camping  on federal land this fall you could be arrested if you posses  your medicine ,

[Celliach]

MMJ is not legal on federal land in any way, shape, or form.  The justice department still has not prosecuted patients following the laws of their state, which is exactly what they said they would do.  No lies are being told.  Some people might not be able to distinguish exactly what the parsed words of our officials are, but they still haven't lied.

[Celliach]

Since the Obama administration has been so bad, maybe we should go back to the policies of Bush 42, or even better, go back to Reagan's marijuana policies.

[cristinew]

The justice department still has not prosecuted patientsfollowing the laws of their state,

 

the above article proves otherwise 

[Herb Cannabis]

And someone said that the Federal Government has not harnessed patients in the last 5 years,, Just dispensaries,, Wrong.

 

Just remember if your hunting or camping  on federal land this fall you could be arrested if you posses  your medicine ,

 

What are you hunting and what sort of illegal weapon do you use?  I learned when I was busted that I can't own a gun, bow, or a sling shot for that matter!  I wonder if they will charge me for the water balloons?

 

This is a big joke, only, the joke is on them.  I'll explain, If I'm not allowed to own a weapon, why would I spend money on hunting licenses, hotels, restaurants and everything else that is connected to the sport.  Now, multiply me by millions and do the math, the states are the ones loosing out.

[Herb Cannabis]

The justice department still has not prosecuted patientsfollowing the laws of their state,

 

the above article proves otherwise 

 

They are prosecuting patients that violated the law by having their meds on fed property, not because they are mmj patients.

[cristinew]

Yes It was just a warning to uninformed people on what to expect on Federal land,,  And it could be much worse if Mitt was in charge,

 

Do not use Federal land  go to state parks ,

Edited September 17, 2013 by cristinew

[cristinew]

because they are mmj patients.    they were charged   not because they were  on pharmaceuticals 

[Celliach]

The justice department still has not prosecuted patientsfollowing the laws of their state,

 

the above article proves otherwise 

 

No it doesn't.  It proves that if you leave state land, you have to adhere strictly to federal law.  They may still be following state law, but it doesn't matter any more because they are now under federal jurisdiction, not state jurisdiction.    We all know that we're not protected on Indian reservations too, right?

 

It's a very petty argument, and I agree that they have parsed their words to the extreme, but technically, no lie has been told.

 

....and I still honestly believe that we are better off than if we currently had a Republican president, no matter who he/she was.

[solabeirtan]

Hey I always liked the back of the Bus better anyway ...  wtf ?

[Wild Bill]

Yes It was just a warning to uninformed people on what to expect on Federal land,,  And it could be much worse if Mitt was in charge,

 

Do use Federal land  go to state parks ,

 

Or, don't smoke in public at all. Then they won't have an excuse.

 

(In 1975 I was ejected from the Porcupine Mountains by a ranger, he could smell it but couldn't find any so he escorted us 2 miles out of the woods. Thinking back I hope I didn't set a bad example for the impressionable little woodland creatures.)

[Celliach]

Or, don't smoke in public at all. Then they won't have an excuse.

 

(In 1975 I was ejected from the Porcupine Mountains by a ranger, he could smell it but couldn't find any so he escorted us 2 miles out of the woods. Thinking back I hope I didn't set a bad example for the impressionable little woodland creatures.)

 

Don't want any drug-crazed gangs of squirrels and rabbits beating up tourists for drug money.

[Wild Bill]

Don't want any drug-crazed gangs of squirrels and rabbits beating up tourists for drug money.

 

[Celliach]

lololol

[t-pain]

i wanted to see who was nibbling on my tomatoes.

so i took a half-nibbled tomato and set it on a box.

not 5 minutes after that, i'm sitting outside enjoying the last few 70F days, this big squirrel comes investigating.

he skitters around me for a few minutes. we both know where hes going. right to the tomato.

he grabs the tomato and scurries off up the tree.

 

i dont mind sharing my tomatoes with the squirrels, but theres a ton of walnuts just sitting in my yard , and i assume lots of acorns in the neighbors yard still laying there. why is he eating my tomatoes?

 

i didnt even know squirrels liked tomatoes!

[greenbuddha]

i wanted to see who was nibbling on my tomatoes.

so i took a half-nibbled tomato and set it on a box.

not 5 minutes after that, i'm sitting outside enjoying the last few 70F days, this big squirrel comes investigating.

he skitters around me for a few minutes. we both know where hes going. right to the tomato.

he grabs the tomato and scurries off up the tree.

 

i dont mind sharing my tomatoes with the squirrels, but theres a ton of walnuts just sitting in my yard , and i assume lots of acorns in the neighbors yard still laying there. why is he eating my tomatoes?

 

i didnt even know squirrels liked tomatoes!

 

 

It suddenly got the munchies???