According to the Lincoln Journal Star, the state senator representing the Dorchester area wants stiffer penalties for those who use or sale marijuana.State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber says it’s unfair that kids caught drinking beer get stiffer penalties than anyone caught smoking pot — not that either of those things is OK. Karpisek believes the fine and jail time for marijuana possession should be increased to parallel minor-in-possession penalties.
Karpisek told the Journal Star: “We’re sending the wrong message to youth ... saying if you have a little marijuana, we’ll look the other way. I’ve thought for years it wasn’t right. ... It’s always been one of those things that’s stuck in my craw.” Karpisek's bill (LB844) would raise possession of an ounce to a pound of marijuana to a Class II misdemeanor, with a maximum six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Under current law, someone caught with an ounce of marijuana or less gets a $100 fine and the possibility of attending a drug course. But a minor is possession of alcohol can be fined $500 and sent to jail for 90 days.
Considering the event that took place last week on the grounds of Dorchester Public Schools, we at the Dorchester Times applaud Karpisek for his effort. For too long, too many parents, lawmakers and judges have looked the other way when it comes to the use of this illegal substance. Karpisek's legislation shows that he is willing to take the lead as a thoughtful lawmaker -- and as a concerned parent.
Amen! It's about time.
ReplyDeleteGood job Russ. Why the potheads and stoners are a protected class is beyond me. Little pot heads grow up to be liabilities on the taxpayer and the social welfare system.
ReplyDeleteWow! Russ has become quite the moralist since our high school days.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Vested Czeck, I think comparing adult judgement to that of a juvenile is like comparing apples and oranges. Or like comparing productive members of society to pot smokers. There a 180 degree difference. I doubt Russ will be too offended by the moralist label.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that Karpisek states in the article neither drinking beer nor smoking pot is OK for kids. However, I would argue that the demographic makeup of Wilber is partly to blame for underage drinking. The Czechs brought along with them the European tradition of sharing alcoholic beverages with youngsters. (I was one of those young recipients.) Please make up your minds, are you going to stick with those “old country traditions” or are you going to all become Carrie Nation?
ReplyDeleteHey, Vested Czech! One is an illegal substance, one is a legal substance. Why do we have a much less severe punishment for the illegal substance compared to the one for the legal substance? I'm a Dorchester parent. I heard about the kids buying pot in the parking lot the other day. All those kids should have been expelled from school for the year. Or do you think that's OK?
ReplyDeleteAnother question for you. Why do you bash Wilber? Are you from Friend?
Thanks for taking on the hypocrites, Sen. Karpi!
ReplyDeleteSheriff deputies will go on hour-long foot chases in the middle of the night to track down a 20-year-old kid with a beer, but dopers with long hair and on welfare get a slap on the wrist no matter how many times the get caught with weed. Think how many times these human wastes get in the car and drive while buzzed.
That's such an interesting question as to whether I am from Friend. No, I am not and I have no animosity towards Friend. The first time I heard about the Dorchester/Friend rivalry is when I started reading this blog. However, I have always been aware of the Crete/Wilber rivalry and the almost 40-year rule that forbid the two towns from competing in sports. As for the substance abuse question, why not make one legal and tax the proceeds. Prohibition never works.
ReplyDelete"Vested" -- we will let you in on a little secret: Ron Paul has a better chance of winning the presidency than marijuana has of becoming legalized.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is a good thing -- on both counts. End of story.
AS a police officer, it has upset me for years. It goes beyond MIP of booze, how about cigarettes? If a minor, under 18 is caught using tobacco, a legal substance for adults, it is a misdemeanor, but if they have a joint, it is an infraction. It is so unfair that one can smoke pot, get a small fine, yet if you are a young adult, and get caught with a beer a couple times, you can actually get jail time.
ReplyDeleteI have been after our State Senators up here in York County for years, and they just give you a nod and a wink. I applaud Senator Karpisek, and wish he were ours!
In regard to minors drinking, I think it is a country wide problem, with binge drinking. Our culture is all about getting loose, (they used to say tight) on weekends, or after work. If you go back to the "old country" you will find that there is not near the problem with binge drinking, and that is because in the Czech Republic, you can legally drink in your early teens, when you are most likely with your parents. Germany I believe is 16. Folks in Europe are more likely to have a beverage with a meal, because the water will kill them, so it is a suppliment to a meal. Here it is just a recreational beverage. AS someone of Czech heritage, I enjoy a good Pilzner, and have an English heritage as well, and like a good ale or stout. But I have not even been tipsey in decades. I drink a fine beer on occasion because I like a good beer. What ever happened to moderation?
Na Shledanou
JR Wolfe
York
PS I ain't anonymous!!!
The boys selling dope in the parking lot of the school should get the death penalty.......... and no I ain't joking..........
ReplyDeleteCynical Richard you are a looney!!!!!!! If the parents of one boy would actually take resposibility and raise ther son and stay out of the bar maybe this boy would of had a chance in life but now its to late comment on this one Richard ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAs a resident of dorchester and a student at dorchester highschool, i would like to say. You people are so nieve. i know quite a few people in dorchester that smoke pot. Most of them are adults, people that you would never expect. I think you should all quit gossiping and get a life. If its not effecting you, dont worry about it. im 17 years old and i know what its like to make mistakes. everyone makes them. and trust me the people that got in trouble with the pot arent getting off so easily. I know who they are. you people think that because some one smokes pot they are a "liability" not so. if i were to let a few names in this town slip, it would make your head spin. thats all i have to say. peace.
ReplyDelete-Tony
Tony -- you ever consider that the silent, law abiding majority won't stay silent (or passive) forever? Go Karpisek Go!
ReplyDeleteIn response to cynical richard. Before running your mouth you should know the facts for one thing they were not dealing dope in the school parking lot nor were they smoking it if you had 1/2 a brain you would know that if they were dealing there the cops would not have let them just leave without being charged!!!!!! In response to anonymous the parents that like to hang out at the bar are hard working people, they have the right to enjoy a beer when they want at least they are not like these closet drinkers that buy their alcohol and take it home and get drunk and think they are better than everyone else, and these people who think they are so much better than others do you know exactly what your 17 year old child is doing when they go out? I doubt it!!!!!!! Also to cynical richard to say they deserve the death penalty YOU ARE JUST ONE SICK INDIVIDUAL!!!! To say that about a kid is sick.
ReplyDeleteCYNICAL RICHARD FOR GOVERNOR!
ReplyDeleteAND KARPICEK FOR HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR!
ReplyDeleteAre you aware that Oaksterdam University in Oakland, CA teaches a class on how to grow medical marijuana? Do you think this would ever happen in Nebraska? Ha!
ReplyDeletePut 'cher bong away and get a life. Pfizer and Novartis have saved more lives in two weeks than medical marijuana has provided help in two centuries. A 12 pack of Budweiser would be more helpful.
ReplyDeleteThe DEATH penalty! What kind of person are you! Did those kids hurt anybody? No they did not then why do they deserve the DEATH PENALTY? Take a second and think if they situation was reversed and it was your child who made a mistake would you wish the death penalty on them? I would hope not!And another thing you cannot tell me that when you were younger you never messed up and made mistakes everyone does!One last thing before you open you mouth about things make sure you have the facts straight it just makes you look stupid when you dont!For all of you people who agree with cynical richard you all are very SICK SICK INDIVIDUALS!
ReplyDeleteActually, I wouldn't ever say that I agree with Cynical Richard. However, I do agree with his general concept that repeat drug DEALERS, MAKERS & TRAFFICKERS should be eligible for the death penalty. We need a deterrent that discourages people from selling an illicit drug, be it crack, meth or large volumes of marijuana.
ReplyDeleteAn anonymous post says that they wre not smoking it or dealing it. So I have 1 question why would they have it then.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, i am a student of dorchester. I go to school with the kids that got caught with these things, they are not bad kids, they are kids that did bad things, there is a difference. One thing needs to be made clear, and that is the kids involved in this WERE NOT SELLING MARIJUANA!!!! These students had the drug on it, but were not selling it. You people really need to learn the facts about what you are talking about before you make accusations. In regards to cynical richard; every person has done something wrong in thier life, some more serious than others, it is human nature to mess up, nobody is perfect. So i think it is EXTREMELY HARSH to wish these KIDS the death penalty. They are KIDS and KIDS make mistakes, KIDS should not be killed for mistakes that they make. If people were put on death row for using marijuana then many people would have died back in the 60's and 70's. Cynical Richard you need to think about what you are saying before you say it, you have wished death upon 16 and 17 year old KIDS. I completely agree that the penalties for possesing an illegal substance should be more severe, but wishing the death penalty on KIDS is going way too far
ReplyDeleteIn response to all the negativity on the kids busted with reefer, marijuana, hooch, smoke, dope...whatever one wants to call it....THEY ARE KIDS THAT MADE A BAD CHOICE AND MAY HAVE TO LIVE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES WITH A BAD CHOICE...we all have made them...but to wish the death penalty on some kids??? give me a break...maybe we should go a step further...I personally remember some kids that were busted for MIP...hmmm...they were out driving around drunk...and one kid had a party last summer and a kid at this party had to be rushed to the hospital for ALCOHOL POISOININGG ...NOW...WHY ON EARTH WERE NO CHARGES BROUGHT UPON THE PARENTS THAT WERE ESSENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUINCY OF MINORS whether THEY KNEW IT OR NOT...because the law does state that an adult CAN BE HELD LIABLE FOR WHAT OCCURS ON THEIR PROPERTY...lest I remind you all...
ReplyDelete"ignorance of the law is no excuse"...so to those kids that were busted for pot I have this to say..."CLEAN UP YOUR ACT, GET FOCUSED ON YOUR LIFE and WHAT YOU WANT TO BECOME, DO NOT LET THIS ONE INSTANCE DEFINE WHO YOU ARE, ALWAYS FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT...YOU SCREWED UP...WE ALL HAVE... HOWEVER... A MISTAKE MADE CAN BE A LESSON LEARNED...WHICH WILL IT BE FOR YOU???... to certain individuals out there that have wished the death penalty on these kids...i say this to you...I asked GOD why he would send his only BEGOTTEN SON to wash away the SINS of mankind when there are already "PERFECT SAVIORS" right here among us??? I am still awaiting his answer...
wow! some of you people need to get out of your house or something!.
ReplyDeleteyou grow adults, or atleast say you are, and you come on here and talk about kids. you guys act like this website is you life. get off and go do something!.
none of you can sit there and say that you have never dont anything bad in your life. get off of it.
and, once again, i think this website needs to do better monitoring, some of the post on here are outragious! i cant believe some things can be posted.
but since they are, cynical richard, get a life.
Why don't you people leave your names so we know who is saying what about others. If you were face to face with eachother not half of this stuff would be said. The biggest problem in this town is not drugs, it is not being respectful of one another and people who are not open minded about things this is 2008 not 1950.
ReplyDeleteI don't want little potheads vandalizing my house. That's why I don't use my real name. While I'm out working my job, the potheads get free reign as they toke and live off food stamps.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I like the idea of anonymity because it helps introvertive people express themselves, David is right! Respect is something everyone deserves. Respect is not having your house vandalized by “little potheads.” For some reason there are people in this community who look down upon others for not being like themselves. People need to be more open minded and supportive. I don’t agree with doing drugs, i.e. marijuana, but maybe peaceful intervention is a little better then indignation!
ReplyDeleteDon’t look down on someone unless you are reaching out to help them up.
ANONYMOUS....Please back up those accusations with hard fact...of course I know you can't...why do I know this because none of the little "potheads" are on food stamps...how do I know this because I am one of the parents of the little "potheads"...so if you have anything to say to me personally or about any of these kids my name is this...
ReplyDeleteSHAUN S. WALTON
VANDALIZING YOUR HOUSE!?!?! You people offend me, most of these comments are posted by adults, but the ones that are posted by the kids and young people (there are some on here) are more respectful and business-like.... i was raised in a different state, and i always thought people in nebraska had better morals and were brought up better than to call KIDS degrading names, Nebraskans say they were brought up right, well your parents wouldnt approve of calling names, so why do you?
ReplyDeleteThis is in response to a post that I left earlier...
ReplyDeleteFirst of all for the record:
I apologize to any individuals that I may have offended via an earlier post...it was never my intention to hurt anyone whatsoever, or to start any kind of anomosity towards any citizens of Dorchester. I sent in a post at an earlier time that was done out of anger and pure impulse. So to those individuals that I have hurt
I truly am sorry and hope you will find it in your hearts to forgive me...Sincerely, Shaun S. Walton
Give me one reason of why marijuana should be illegal in the first place? the reason that u would get in less trouble for a mip is because alcohol is worse for your health than marijuana. U Dumbass nebraskans get a god damn brain. y dont u try to show me sum facts that show marijuana is bad for your health and no im not gna trust any government site or sites supported by the government cause it is a FACT that they have lied to us about how marijuana affects a person before. U Dumbass Gullible Bastards i think if anybody shuld get the death penalty it should be u dumfuck stupid ass redneck inbred republicans. They are so stupid i find it hilarious. i bet that most of the teengers that smoke marijuana have twice the IQ and common sense then nebraskas Dumbass redneck bullshit. the thing i find funny that us PPl that smoke and or support marijuana legalization and sensible drug policies have more facts than ur stupid ass republican brains can handle. Prove me wrong with some FACTS.
ReplyDelete