Gardner Oks Cable Series Promoting Pot

DdC · 08-04-2003, 02:06 AM

Gardner -- The city's Cable Commission, concerned about the possibility of a lawsuit, voted 3-2 yesterday to allow pro-marijuana videotapes to be shown on the local cable access station.

Commission Chairman Frank K. Hirons, Vincent S. Ialenti and Raymond LaFontaine voted yes. Charles R. LeBlanc, who is also on the School Committee, and James M. Walsh, who is also an at-large city councilor, voted no.

Commissioners first talked about whether the meeting would qualify for an executive session because of remarks made last week about possible lawsuits. But instead, the commission recessed and a few commissioners met privately with city solicitors to discuss a five-page legal opinion on the matter. They then met again and held the discussion and vote in public.

As Mr. Hirons made a motion to allow the playing of the tapes, he noted that tape proponents had said few people watch Gardner's access channel.

"I don't have a feeling it's going to be a gigantic issue," Mr. Hirons said.

Steve Drury, a pro-marijuana activist from Templeton, asked the city a couple of months ago to air four tapes that are part of a cable series by Jim Pillsbury of Framingham. The tapes concern potential state budget savings from decriminalizing marijuana; medicinal marijuana; a hemp clothing pageant; and the politics of pot, according to a flier.

When the commission discussed the issue last week, Mr. Drury and Mr. Pillsbury attended along with Ronal C. Madnick, executive director of the Worcester County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. The commission referred the matter back to City Solicitor Scott Graves for a second opinion - which arrived in a document, stamped "Confidential," and was handed out to commissioners before yesterday's meeting.

The letter, which was released to reporters after the meeting, says that both a representative of the state Cable Commission and a lawyer with experience in the area told Mr. Graves they believe Gardner would lose a court case if it refused to let the tapes be aired.

Gardner has a single access channel that Mr. Ialenti has said broadcasts governmental and educational material, but not material generated by the public. But Mr. Graves wrote that when Mount Wachusett Community College or the Rotary Club or a charity uses the channel to broadcast a message, then access has been given to nongovernmental users.

So, Mr. Graves wrote, there have been public uses on the channel before.

But he also wrote that he believes the city is within its rights to deny access to Mr. Pillsbury and all other members of the public, given existing facts and circumstances.

During the meeting, Mr. Ialenti talked about how broadcasting the marijuana tapes might open the door to dealing with "more distasteful and offensive" material.

But if the city did not air the marijuana tapes it also would not be able to air broadcasts involving the American Cancer Society and other community groups, Mr. Ialenti said.

After a discussion of the cost of fighting the issue in court, Mr. Hirons said he did not see the worth of trying to fight at this point. He might have differing personal feelings on the subject, but logically it seemed commissioners should let the tapes be aired, he said.

"I don't see what great harm can come from it," Mr. Hirons said.

Mayor Daniel J. Kelley voiced some options, including taking the access channel off the air right away and developing bylaws to protect against offensive material being aired and then putting the channel back on.

Mr. LeBlanc said he agreed with that because he was afraid someone later might claim discriminatory practices if he was not allowed to broadcast material after the marijuana tapes had been aired. By putting the marijuana tapes on the air, the city is opening Pandora's box, he said.

Before the meeting, Mr. Graves said that because the ACLU and Mr. Pillsbury had "threatened to sue" over the matter, the commission had the right to meet in executive session.

When a reporter said the situation did not qualify for an executive session, Mr. Graves asked, "What law school do you go to?"

After the meeting, when reporters questioned the decision not to hand out Mr. Graves' legal opinion until after the vote, Mr. Kelley vociferously defended the choice.

"Scott did what he did to protect the city and citizens," Mr. Kelley said.

If the commission had voted not to air the tapes, language in the letter could have endangered the city's position in a lawsuit, and he would not have given out the document after the meeting, he said.

Note: Threat Of Lawsuit Over Access Heeded.

Gardner Oks Cable Series Promoting Pot
Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
Author: Mary Jo Hill
Published: Friday, August 1, 2003
Website * Contact: letters@telegram.com

Background: Framingham Resident Advocates Marijuana Use

Ashland -- Jim Pillsbury is a pothead, and he doesn't care who knows it. "We're all labeled in some way," he said yesterday. "So I don't mind having my name associated with drug reform. "I play guitar, write, drive, make love, and do everything humanly possible after I've consumed cannabis. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

The Framingham resident and spokesman of MetroWest's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, said he won a victory of sorts last week when he and the town of Ashland settled a lawsuit over liability insurance for a pro-marijuana rally.

In spring 2002, Ashland imposed a $1 million liability insurance on a rally Pillsbury had planned to collect signatures at Stone Park to support a 2002 state ballot question to decriminalize marijuana.

Backed by NORML and the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, or MassCann, Pillsbury brought a free-speech lawsuit against the town.

The two parties settled last week, with the town agreeing to allow Pillsbury use of any recreational facility for $150 liability insurance. Ashland can also charge $25 per hour for use of the park. Continued...

Related Articles & Web Sites...

U.S. law enforcement spends $7.5 to $10 billion annually enforcing marijuana laws.
According to the FBI, 720,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges in 2001.
Keith Stroup, NORML

In 2000, there were 1,579,566 drug arrests in the US. Of those,
46.5 percent -- 734,497 arrests -- were for marijuana.
There were 646,042 arrests for simple possession of marijuana in 2000.
Drug War Facts

MassCann

Marijuana Advocate, Town Settle Park Suit
Voters to Weigh in on Decriminalizing Pot
Commission Weighs Televising Marijuana Programs
Framingham Resident Advocates Marijuana Use
Marijuana Advocate, Town Settle Park Suit

Cannabis Films

* America's War On Marijuana * Assassin Of Youth * Cisco Pike * Emperor Of Hemp
* Grass * Half Baked * Harvest * High Times Potluck * Homegrown * Initiation
* Lock Stock * Marihuana * Marijuana * Midnight Express * Nice Dreams
* Next Movie * Pit Of Despair * Pizza King * Reefer Madness * Saving Grace
* Scarfies * She Shoulda Said No * Still Smokin * The Camarena Story
* The Chemical Tomb * The Harder They Come * The Money Tree * The Open Road

Dope Fiends Bookshop VHS Videos

* Ready-Set-Grow! * Sea of Green I * Outdoor Grower * Just Say Grow
* Introduction To Indoor Growing * Sea of Green II - Closet Cultivator
* Cooking with Marijuana: The Gourmet Menu * Grow Dutch II
* Cooking with Marijuana: The Sweets and Treats Menu
* Cooking with Marijuana: The Vegetarian Menu

Amazon.com Search: Hemp

* The Hemp Revolution* Cannabis Rising* Hemp It-Art of Knotting

Emperor of Hemp Video * Comments

Hemp Hemp Hooray * Cannabis News Article

The Hempen Road
Mardi Grass
Green Britain double video

Free Speech TV * FSTV Guide * FREE SPEECH TV and Affiliated Stations

Community TV (SC) * Links

Alliance for Community Media * Pacifica Radio

The Best Cannabis songs of all time!

Sureshot · 08-07-2003, 03:39 AM

God damn.

Local cable channels....

If there's even this kind of feeling at this level....

My God....

Scary.

08-04-2003, 02:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
DdC Decade Yahookan Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Santa Cruz,CA,USA Posts: 2,088 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 47 Thanked 570 Times in 378 Posts	Gardner Oks Cable Series Promoting Pot Gardner -- The city's Cable Commission, concerned about the possibility of a lawsuit, voted 3-2 yesterday to allow pro-marijuana videotapes to be shown on the local cable access station. Commission Chairman Frank K. Hirons, Vincent S. Ialenti and Raymond LaFontaine voted yes. Charles R. LeBlanc, who is also on the School Committee, and James M. Walsh, who is also an at-large city councilor, voted no. Commissioners first talked about whether the meeting would qualify for an executive session because of remarks made last week about possible lawsuits. But instead, the commission recessed and a few commissioners met privately with city solicitors to discuss a five-page legal opinion on the matter. They then met again and held the discussion and vote in public. As Mr. Hirons made a motion to allow the playing of the tapes, he noted that tape proponents had said few people watch Gardner's access channel. "I don't have a feeling it's going to be a gigantic issue," Mr. Hirons said. Steve Drury, a pro-marijuana activist from Templeton, asked the city a couple of months ago to air four tapes that are part of a cable series by Jim Pillsbury of Framingham. The tapes concern potential state budget savings from decriminalizing marijuana; medicinal marijuana; a hemp clothing pageant; and the politics of pot, according to a flier. When the commission discussed the issue last week, Mr. Drury and Mr. Pillsbury attended along with Ronal C. Madnick, executive director of the Worcester County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. The commission referred the matter back to City Solicitor Scott Graves for a second opinion - which arrived in a document, stamped "Confidential," and was handed out to commissioners before yesterday's meeting. The letter, which was released to reporters after the meeting, says that both a representative of the state Cable Commission and a lawyer with experience in the area told Mr. Graves they believe Gardner would lose a court case if it refused to let the tapes be aired. Gardner has a single access channel that Mr. Ialenti has said broadcasts governmental and educational material, but not material generated by the public. But Mr. Graves wrote that when Mount Wachusett Community College or the Rotary Club or a charity uses the channel to broadcast a message, then access has been given to nongovernmental users. So, Mr. Graves wrote, there have been public uses on the channel before. But he also wrote that he believes the city is within its rights to deny access to Mr. Pillsbury and all other members of the public, given existing facts and circumstances. During the meeting, Mr. Ialenti talked about how broadcasting the marijuana tapes might open the door to dealing with "more distasteful and offensive" material. But if the city did not air the marijuana tapes it also would not be able to air broadcasts involving the American Cancer Society and other community groups, Mr. Ialenti said. After a discussion of the cost of fighting the issue in court, Mr. Hirons said he did not see the worth of trying to fight at this point. He might have differing personal feelings on the subject, but logically it seemed commissioners should let the tapes be aired, he said. "I don't see what great harm can come from it," Mr. Hirons said. Mayor Daniel J. Kelley voiced some options, including taking the access channel off the air right away and developing bylaws to protect against offensive material being aired and then putting the channel back on. Mr. LeBlanc said he agreed with that because he was afraid someone later might claim discriminatory practices if he was not allowed to broadcast material after the marijuana tapes had been aired. By putting the marijuana tapes on the air, the city is opening Pandora's box, he said. Before the meeting, Mr. Graves said that because the ACLU and Mr. Pillsbury had "threatened to sue" over the matter, the commission had the right to meet in executive session. When a reporter said the situation did not qualify for an executive session, Mr. Graves asked, "What law school do you go to?" After the meeting, when reporters questioned the decision not to hand out Mr. Graves' legal opinion until after the vote, Mr. Kelley vociferously defended the choice. "Scott did what he did to protect the city and citizens," Mr. Kelley said. If the commission had voted not to air the tapes, language in the letter could have endangered the city's position in a lawsuit, and he would not have given out the document after the meeting, he said. Note: Threat Of Lawsuit Over Access Heeded. Gardner Oks Cable Series Promoting Pot Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) Author: Mary Jo Hill Published: Friday, August 1, 2003 Website * Contact: letters@telegram.com Background: Framingham Resident Advocates Marijuana Use Ashland -- Jim Pillsbury is a pothead, and he doesn't care who knows it. "We're all labeled in some way," he said yesterday. "So I don't mind having my name associated with drug reform. "I play guitar, write, drive, make love, and do everything humanly possible after I've consumed cannabis. It's nothing to be ashamed of." The Framingham resident and spokesman of MetroWest's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, said he won a victory of sorts last week when he and the town of Ashland settled a lawsuit over liability insurance for a pro-marijuana rally. In spring 2002, Ashland imposed a $1 million liability insurance on a rally Pillsbury had planned to collect signatures at Stone Park to support a 2002 state ballot question to decriminalize marijuana. Backed by NORML and the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, or MassCann, Pillsbury brought a free-speech lawsuit against the town. The two parties settled last week, with the town agreeing to allow Pillsbury use of any recreational facility for $150 liability insurance. Ashland can also charge $25 per hour for use of the park. Continued... Related Articles & Web Sites... U.S. law enforcement spends $7.5 to $10 billion annually enforcing marijuana laws. According to the FBI, 720,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges in 2001. Keith Stroup, NORML In 2000, there were 1,579,566 drug arrests in the US. Of those, 46.5 percent -- 734,497 arrests -- were for marijuana. There were 646,042 arrests for simple possession of marijuana in 2000. Drug War Facts MassCann Marijuana Advocate, Town Settle Park Suit Voters to Weigh in on Decriminalizing Pot Commission Weighs Televising Marijuana Programs Framingham Resident Advocates Marijuana Use Marijuana Advocate, Town Settle Park Suit Cannabis Films * America's War On Marijuana * Assassin Of Youth * Cisco Pike * Emperor Of Hemp * Grass * Half Baked * Harvest * High Times Potluck * Homegrown * Initiation * Lock Stock * Marihuana * Marijuana * Midnight Express * Nice Dreams * Next Movie * Pit Of Despair * Pizza King * Reefer Madness * Saving Grace * Scarfies * She Shoulda Said No * Still Smokin * The Camarena Story * The Chemical Tomb * The Harder They Come * The Money Tree * The Open Road Dope Fiends Bookshop VHS Videos * Ready-Set-Grow! * Sea of Green I * Outdoor Grower * Just Say Grow * Introduction To Indoor Growing * Sea of Green II - Closet Cultivator * Cooking with Marijuana: The Gourmet Menu * Grow Dutch II * Cooking with Marijuana: The Sweets and Treats Menu * Cooking with Marijuana: The Vegetarian Menu Amazon.com Search: Hemp * The Hemp Revolution* Cannabis Rising* Hemp It-Art of Knotting Emperor of Hemp Video * Comments Hemp Hemp Hooray * Cannabis News Article The Hempen Road Mardi Grass Green Britain double video Free Speech TV * FSTV Guide * FREE SPEECH TV and Affiliated Stations Community TV (SC) * Links Alliance for Community Media * Pacifica Radio The Best Cannabis songs of all time! __________________ Al Capone and Watergate were red herrings to divert the countries attention from the Fascist acts of eliminating competition. Booze/Ethanol then Ganja//Hemp.

08-07-2003, 03:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sureshot Can't-Get-Right Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Surrounded by the unimaginative Posts: 6,445 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 16 Posts	God damn. Local cable channels.... If there's even this kind of feeling at this level.... My God.... Scary. __________________ - The information in the above post is conjecture and the poster a figment of your imagination. - All images are computer generated or were taken in nations with forward thinking laws. o GrowFAQ o Add A Canna Grow Tip o Other Highs FAQ o Inquiring Minds FAQ o

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