AMHERST - What a difference three months make. In December, more than 24 members of the University of Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition packed the Select Board meeting to protest a town policy that would have required the group to pay for two additional police officers to cover its springtime festival. The town wanted that group and others whom the police chief determined needed additional staffing for events on the common to pay for the coverage. Each spring, the cannabis coalition sponsors Extravaganja, a daylong event featuring music, food and education about marijuana laws. The event draws more than 1,500 people. [continues 217 words]
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. [continues 266 words]
AMHERST - With more than two dozen University of Massachusetts students accompanying him, Terry Franklin brought concerns to the Select Board about the number of marijuana arrests in town. Franklin, of 1040 N. Pleasant St., questioned why town money was being spent to arrest residents for marijuana violations when the town passed a marijuana resolution that he helped bring to voters. Franklin is one of the organizers of the annual "Extravaganja," a festival that features, food, music, speeches about legalizing marijuana use. [continues 243 words]
AMHERST -- Prompted by a town vote last March, the Select Board has approved a draft of a letter that urges state and federal officials to repeal laws prohibiting the use of marijuana. The letter was drafted by board member Carl W. Seppala and approved with minor changes, mostly grammatical, by the Select Board last night. The board will sign the letter at its meeting next week and send it to all officials involved. Voters decided by a 1,659 to 981 margin to urge the board and town manager "to persuade our State Representative, State Senator, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to repeal the prohibition of marijuana." It also urged police to ease "the enforcement of laws covering the possession of marijuana." [continues 399 words]
