Champaign County

by NORML

WASHINGTON, DC — Nearly six out of ten US adults support legalizing the consumption of marijuana, and slightly more than half believe that the substance ought to be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol, according to national polling data released last week by YouGov.com and The Huffington Post.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents said that the adult use of cannabis ought to be legal. Among those favoring legalization, 51 percent supported taxing and regulating the retail production and sale of the substance in a manner similar to alcohol. Six percent of respondents said that they opposed imposing any taxes or regulations on legal cannabis production or sales.

Only 33 percent of respondents said that marijuana should not be legalized.

Seventy-four percent of respondents said that they believed that marijuana would eventually be legal in the United States.

On April 17th, as audience members and consultant Dr. Al Kalmanoff talked about criminal justice in Champaign County and the needs assessment Kalmanoff's ILPP is carrying out, ...

Chris drew out this beautiful summary of the meeting on the fly, on page by easel page:

by Tori Field and Beverly Bell

Heather Retberg stood on the steps of the Blue Hill, Maine town hall surrounded by 200 people. “We are farmers,” she told the crowd, “who are supported by our friends and our neighbors who know us and trust us, and want to ensure that they maintain access to their chosen food supply.”

Blue Hill is one of a handful of small Maine towns that have been taking bold steps to protect their local food system. In 2011, they passed an ordinance exempting their local farmers and food producers from federal and state licensure requirements when these farmers sell directly to customers.

Below is a re-broadcast of a News-Gazette article that appeared recently, covering a new 160-unit housing development to be located in far-west Champaign, where luxurious suburbs have enjoyed the quiet farmland that surrounds them.

The process, or lack of process, in how land is to be governed, used, and accepted is given a rare vetting in the series of comments below the article.

Taking into account the "by-the-way" council action regarding new business developments in the campus core area, there appears a future plan, (created by those who can influence land-use the most,) to establish a central core of trendy, upscale developments.

Following events and proposals for the last several years, we see plans for baseball stadiums, parking garages, hotels, condominiums, urban high-rise apartment living, research parks, another $160 million dollar capital renovation project for a sports arena, retail spaces, and  magazine-cover parks and sculptures to be congealing to the center of Champaign-Urbana.

Who will be the main beneficiaries of all these exciting changes?

On Wednesday, April 17, there will be a meeting with Dr. Alan Kalmanoff at 6:15 p.m. at the Urbana Free Library (210 W. Green St.).

Dr. Kalmanoff is the Director of the Institute for Law and Public Policy (ILPP), the firm hired by Champaign County to conduct a needs assessment regarding the county jail and related criminal justice issues. Dr. Kalmanoff has been interviewing people and gathering data for his assessment since November. This meeting will be an opportunity to hear some of his findings and to present your concerns to him in person. Come and be heard!

For more information contact: briandolinar@gmail.com or carolammons@gmail.com

by Thomas H. Clarke

WASHINGTON, DC — Bills to legalize the possession and adult use of marijuana have been introduced in several states since voters in Washington and Colorado approved similar initiatives in the November elections.

Other states are in contention to become the 20th jurisdiction in the United States to allow medical marijuana, many states have introduced legislation to decriminalize or reduce criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and a few have taken steps in the opposition direction, attempting to increase penalties for small time marijuana offenses.

But as the 2013 legislative session continues, where do those bills stand, what are their chances of passing, and which ones have already been tabled, killed, or left forgotten?  Lets take a look, state by state, at the progression (and regression) of marijuana laws at the State House.

The point is to resist falling into the familiar game of optimism vs. pessimism and to minimize that tempting blame-game within the Left...

by William E. Connolly

Immigration. Yes. Chicago Youth Violence. Yes. Education. Yes.

On this spoken word project titled ILL POETS SOCIETY, six (6) poets from across the great state of Illinois were brought together to expound on the modern day issues facing America. The crown jewel of this project is a spoken word piece titled "Chi City Youth" by Jazmine McKinney. From the outset, she captivates audiences with her wordplay as she expresses the grief in her soul for her family, friends and community. To download the album for free, visit www.TheShow1045.com.

The film is available for checkout at local public libraries and cultural centers within the Champaign-Urbana community. This project was funded by SORF and supported in part by a City of Urbana Arts Grant.

Meanwhile, back at the Rabid Republican Ranch in Illinois, they fuss and fume at fellow Republicans who support the same thing...Will the human Republicans please stand up?

by Sheryl Gay Stolberg

WASHINGTON — Dozens of prominent Republicans — including top advisers to former President George W. Bush, four former governors and two members of Congress — have signed a legal brief arguing that gay people have a constitutional right to marry, a position that amounts to a direct challenge to Speaker John A. Boehner and reflects the civil war in the party since the November election.