Pubdate: Tue, 04 Dec 2007
Source: Republican, The (Springfield, MA)
Copyright: 2007 The Republican
Contact:  http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Author: Diane Lederman
Cited: UMass Cannabis Reform Coalition http://umasscrc.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

POT FEST MUST PAY FOR POLICE

AMHERST - It looks like the Extravaganja festival held on the common 
in the spring could turn into a real bummer for its organizers.

The town wants the UMass Cannabis Reform Coalition to pay for a 
police detail to watch over the festival, which seeks to promote 
awareness about marijuana laws.

And that's not sitting well with members of the coalition, and last 
night more than two dozen members crowded the Select Board meeting to 
fight the measure.

Officials had told the group recently they would have to pay for two 
police officers to cover a full day of activity at the April event. 
Town Manager Laurence R. Shaffer said officials have discussed at 
length charging when a private group reserves the common for an event 
that would require a police presence.

Shaffer said he attended the festival last year and that "a crowd of 
that size requires a police detail." He estimated about 1,500 people attended.

"The Select Board does have some responsibility for the common," said 
board member Anne S. Awad, who wanted to know what criteria would be 
used to determine when a police detail is needed. "I'm very concerned 
about the liability if this group saw it as a violation of their 
civil liberties," she said.

"We're going to apply it across the board," Shaffer said. "It has 
everything to do with budget constraint."

Shaffer said the town is letting all organizations that apply to use 
the common know fees will now be charged and that groups can apply 
for a waiver for this year.

This way, the town could "set the table, and transition ourselves," he said.

Coalition member Terry Franklin of Amherst said the group would not 
be applying for a waiver. He said the "town has no right to impose a 
fee." He said he's been in contact with the American Civil Liberties 
Union whom he said "is very interested."

"You can't charge (for coverage) of a political event. The 
Extravaganja is a political event," said coalition president Jonathan Werner.

But Shaffer said the town was not targeting the group. "We're looking 
to pay for services," he said.

Members of the group will meet with Shaffer later this week and board 
members want to look at legal documents before scheduling the group 
to return for a more in depth discussion. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake