Local newspapers drop the ball on opportunities to report on marijuana reform

Nearly one out of ten voters feel the way I do, that marijuana prohibition needs to end now! As far as elections go, the state assembly district I ran consisted of Green Lake County, Waushara County, Fremont (Waupaca County), Neshkoro (Marquette County) and Ripon (Fond du Lac County). The finally results of the election yielded 9% and more community involvement, input and publicity than in years past, primarily in the newspapers by letters to the editors from supporters of my campaign. Many of the letters are archived on our website.

The three newspapers in our area are The Berlin Journal, Ripon Commonwealth Express and Waushara Argus. Each paper handled the campaign and “marijuana” issue differently, which is fine and understandable. In my opinion The Waushara Argus seemed to be the most unwilling to report on the subject, but that could just be me and my opinion.

The day after the election (November 3rd) these two stories made the front page, but nothing in the entire newspaper about the election. I know that timing may not have allowed the paper to obtain election information and print in a timely manner so I waited until the November 10th edition. The November 10th came and went, finding only the page 11 the chart box of townships and the Wisconsin Governor results and nothing else on the election coverage, including local election results.

I find it very odd the lack of reporting, both statewide and locally, on a bipartisan jobs issue that marijuana reform fundamentally is.  In this recent campaign for Wisconsin State Assembly, we found the Democratic candidate in Scott Milheiser eager to end bipartisanship showing support of marijuana reform, we found the incumbent in Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) who shown us the power of bipartisanship by showing support for marijuana reform herself and myself as the independent candidate helping them see that marijuana is a bipartisan issue and that marijuana reform is part of the solutions to every problem we currently face in Wisconsin.

In these trying times, economic recovery, creating jobs, developing alternative energy solutions and providing improved public safety are critical. I feel that legalizing Industrial Hemp, Medical Marijuana and Recreational Cannabis will help accomplish these agendas and provide funding for others.

Reading the article makes me wonder what the total damage is done in Waushara County on the tax payer dollar hard at work with a 45 day surveillance operation of 50 marijuana plants.  Will the fines he is assessed every be repaid or more importantly, will they re-coop the cost of $420,000+ (14 x $30,000/year) to house this type of criminal during his 14 year sentencing he faces.  I don’t think so.  One could even argue Waushara County is not as safe anymore by removing a domestic grower from the supply chain.  An organization called L.E.A.P. (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) points this out, that “taking out dealers and growers” does not stop demand, it only produces other dealers and growers, usually gangs and cartels.  With the increasing problems and deaths in Mexico, now traveling to our borders and public lands, marijuana prohibition and these types of continued arrests and prosecutions cannot be sustained on an already strained and broke system.  Our tax dollars cannot support the problems marijuana prohibition creates any longer.

It is time main stream media steps up to the plate and reports on the issue rather than dodging it like a the once “perceived political hot potato” marijuana reform was. Both Democrats and Republicans support marijuana reform as well as people from all walks of life. The Waushara Argus could engage it’s readers with thought provoking information and topics in my opinion. The local newspapers have the power to help put the people back into the political process and I ask you to help in that process by continuing to write letters to the editors and inform your local media of upcoming events, news items and how important marijuana reform is to you and the future of Wisconsin.