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Protesters
in
District
of
Columbia
Call
for
Release
of
I-59
Results
11/13/98
Over 50 protesters turned out
in front of the DC Board of Elections and Ethics on Tuesday (11/10) to
demand the release of the results from last week's vote on Initiative 59,
which would allow marijuana to be used in the District for medicinal purposes.
The results were never released due to an amendment in the DC appropriations
bill by Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) that prohibited any money being spent by the
District of Columbia on the initiative and future marijuana reform initiatives.
The protest, organized by Wayne Turner of DC ACT-UP, was an effort to show
support for the democratic process as well as an attempt to get Alice Miller,
chair of the Board of Elections and Ethics to commit civil disobedience
and release the results before the matter is decided in the courts.
Several local politicians, community activists and drug policy reformers
were on hand to speak to supporters and spectators.
Included among the speakers
was Phil Mendelsohn, just elected to the DC city council, who urged other
elected local office holders to come forward and show their support for
democracy. During the campaign season every major politician running
for office in DC, including Mayor-elect Tony Williams, voiced their support
for Initiative 59.
In the background of the
protest, a court battle is going on between lawyers representing the federal
government, the District and the local ACLU. The first hearing was
held on Monday (11/9), where Judge Richard Roberts denied a motion to release
the results at this time. During the hearing John Ferren representing
the District argued that it would cost $1.64 to tabulate and release the
results and thus the Barr amendment forbids it. But city officials
are caught in a tight spot between what Congress dictates and their own
urge for more home rule. Said Ferren, while arguing that DC cannot
release the results, "Every single moment this vote is not counted is an
injury to you and me and everyone in this room." Another hearing has been
scheduled for December 18th.
A Freedom of Information
Act has also been filed by the ACLU to learn the results of the initiative.
If the results are released by the courts and certified, congressional
debate on medicinal marijuana is almost a certainty. Under federal
law, the new 106th Congress will have a thirty day review period to decide
whether any initiative passed in DC will be implemented or blocked.
-- END --
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Issue #67, 11/13/98
84% of Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences in Massachusetts Served by 1st-Time Offenders | Protesters in District of Columbia Call for Release of I-59 Results | Students Fight Back against Higher Education Act Drug Provision | Medical Marijuana Signature Gatherers Harassed by Sheriff in Florida | Oregon Police Illegally Tapped Agricultural Supply Store's Phones -- Perhaps for Years | British House of Lords Committee Calls for Medical Marijuana Access | New German Government to Consider Legalizing Cannabis | Quote of the Week | Editorial: Remembering Veterans, Ignoring Lessons
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