Keene Councilors to Write Reps, Not Resolution
Melanie Plenda
October 2, 2009
The Union Leader (New Hampshire)
KEENE - Councilors voted Thursday night to send letters to state lawmakers expressing their individual opinions on decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The 9-5 vote came in response to a request made last month by retired Keene police officer and former city councilman Frederick Parsells. He had asked councilors to write a resolution advising legislators that the city backs decriminalization.
The resolution would have had no legal weight; its intent was to send a strong message to Concord, Parsells said.
A Sept. 17 vote resulted in some confusion, so the councilors took up the issue again last night.
Councilor Philip Jones made a motion to amend the question being voted on, so that sentiments about the marijuana question would be expressed by each person on the council -- not by the council on behalf of the city.
Late last night, councilors voted 9-5 in favor of Jones' motion. A crowd of about 20, some holding pro-marijuana signs, witnessed the vote.
Pro-pot advocates have been gathering each day at 4:20 p.m. on town square to smoke marijuana in protest of drug laws. The number 420 in some circles means using marijuana. | 
