Pubdate: Mon, 10 Feb 2003
Source: Oregon Daily Emerald (U of Oregon, OR Edu)
Copyright: 2003, Oregon Daily Emerald
Contact:  http://www.dailyemerald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1518
Author: Jan Montry

COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON POT FINE INCREASE

Eugene City Council Members Vote Tonight On Whether to Increase Fines For 
Marijuana Possession

For pot puffers getting busted this year, the current $100 fine may go up 
in smoke.

The Eugene City Council will vote tonight on an ordinance to increase the 
fine for less-than-an-ounce of marijuana from $100 to $250 -- a 
controversial proposal that sent ripples through the pot-smoking community 
and provoked heavy criticism at the City Council's public forum last month.

Supporters of the proposal hope the increase will provide an incentive for 
marijuana offenders to join a new, low-cost diversion program called 
"Marijuana and Other Drugs," run by the University's Substance Abuse 
Prevention Program. Court officials have said the program will cost $90 and 
will be open to all offenders. Without the increase, there would only be a 
$10 difference between the new diversion program and the fine, prompting 
city leaders to speculate most offenders would choose the fine.

Ward 3 City Councilor David Kelly, who represents the University area, said 
students with a drug conviction could potentially have their financial aid 
suspended, and since MOD would clear the record of first-time offenders, 
students could be given a second chance.

"Just based on comments at the last meeting, I certainly expect it will 
pass," he said.

A similar action recently was taken with alcohol-related offenses, giving 
an incentive for students to join the Beginning Underage Success Through 
Educational Diversion program, also run by SAPP. BUSTED was created two 
years ago as an alternative to the maximum $250 fine for a handful of 
alcohol-related offenses.

Municipal Court Judge Wayne Allen said at January's public forum that the 
increased fines, together with the new diversion program, will give 
offenders incentive to choose diversion.

"Our desire here is to build upon the success of the BUSTED program," he said.

But Todd Dalotto said the increase would hurt people who qualify for the 
Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.

Dalotto, who is the executive director for the Compassion Center, said many 
qualified medical marijuana patients turn to street use either because they 
can't afford the $150 fee or because they can't find a participating 
physician. He said the fine increase will ultimately affect these people, 
who need marijuana to ease medical symptoms but can't obtain it legally.

"Although the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act protects regular patients, it 
actually covers a small amount of patients," he said. "A lot of valid, 
otherwise qualified medical patients out on the street possess less than an 
ounce that they use for medicine."

Tonight's meeting will be at 7:30 in the City Council chambers.
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