YOUR COMMENTS

Budd, it's you who have been totally deceptive about the intent of the drug leagalizers. It's never about health, it's about being able to carry pot and get wasted on it.

Testing is great, but in a lab, not in a 24-year-old's lungs, "freelancing." That's drug ABUSE, not testing by qualified doctors under observation in strictly controlled conditions. They have said (and I believe) that one day, THC may be able to have SOME use. But not by legalizing it for average Joes to get stoned on a Saturday night (or nightly.) Sorry, pal. Nice try. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
- Stpehen, Manchester

Stephan, your argument shows you are either being deceptive or know little or nothing about Marijuana. Smoking isn't what is banned. Possession is. If you care to take five minutes to do a little research you will find that there are MANY methods of ingesting Pot, including vaporization. This method delivers the cannabinoids to the lungs as a vapor without ANY combustion and therefore without ANY smoke. It is completely harmless to the lungs. If that still doesn't satisfy you then there are tinctures, oils, food or even topical ointments. So the dangers of smoking are not a valid reason to continue prohibition.
- Budd, Henniker

Budd in Henniker: The "Other stuff is legal" strategy is not an argument for legalizing this mind-altering psychoactive drug. And it's not me lumping sick people in with idiot potheads, it's the potheads themselves, trying to sneak a law into existence that is de facto legalization for all, not just sick people.

While there's some interest in medical circles for testing the THC ingredient in pot for its supposed pain-reducing effects, NO ONE in the medical community accepts smoking ANY substance as an effective medical treatment for anything. NO ONE.
- Stephen, Manchester

All you need to know is its not something that should be illegal. I personally do not support my tax dollars arresting someone for smoking pot. I do not feel that person is hurting anybody except themselves. Which people do every day by running up their credit card bill and that is not illegal. By the way the people who were supporting tax evaders were very likely NOT the people supporting decriminalization or I see no link there.
I also support my police department and look forward to the day when they are no longer at odds with people who smoke pot and who can spend their time persuing decidedly more dangerous crimes.
- New Day rising, Londonderry NH

Just had to defend the Brown's. I believe they did pay all their local property taxes just not their portion of the Federal Income tax because they felt it was unjustified and not even constitutional.

As far as pot I wrote the politicians many times just to have them give me their propaganda about it. Legalize this already and I would like to not see taxes on it but everyone is so money and tax hungry at this point I would rather suffter the taxes then prison!
- Big D, Bow

Stephan of Manchester. You really think that keeping pot away from sick people is a good way to punish stoners? Why do you lump medical patients with those of us who would just rather have a joint than a beer? Do you really think people are turning down the oxycontin and valiums that their doctors offer and asking for Pot just so they can get high? Why would they do that if all they want is the drug effect? Just exactly how much can logic bend in your reality?
- Budd, henniker

You people crying 'Foul!' at the protesters ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Do you think that you own their bodies? Do you have the audacity to think that it ought to be you who tells them what they can or can not do? Do you think that because some people have written down words on paper declaring the actions of the activists 'illegal' that those actions are morally wrong?

You people complaining have no idea what liberty and freedom are, and certainly lack the fortitude to stand up and excercise your will against that of the state. May your chains rest lightly upon you as you beg government for permission to do what they will let you.
- Eli, Keene

We should have just paid that stupid tea tax instead of throwing it all into Boston Harbor, too.
- Michael Hampton, Manchester

I love libertarian-minded people urging us all to fall for the lie that they would lay back and accept taxing pot. These are the same people who praised the anarchist Browns who holed up in a heavily-armed fortress for months while threatening cops and neighbors because they wouldn't pay ONE THIN DIME in taxes to help support their community or nation.

These same folks are openly defying a law against smoking dope, portraying themselves as if they were Nelson Mandela. This cause isn't worth fighting for, kids. Even adults who toked up a few times on a lark when they were kids are now saying "Dang, this is going too far."

All talk about this being "medicine" should cease until these potheads stop defying the law, because they're proving it has nothing to do with that. It's all about narcissism and rebellion.
- Stephen, Manchester

Tom from concord has a good point the keene police should have arrested all 130 of those protesters with possession so they could spend a year in jail at 30 grand per person it only would have cost us 3900000.
- Bob, Henniker

If government could just figure out how to tax marijuana, it would be legal in a second.
- Rob, Conway

Stoned or straight, some of you need to re-read the article. It was not the Keene PD that arrested Mr. Hart, it was the Troy PD. Who is misaligning the Keene PD now?
- Mari, Mont Vernon

Only in America
- Steven Chesterfield, Pembroke

Thank you Michael Layon, Derry

If New Hampshire has low taxes on marijuana for people who are at least 18 years old, New Hampshire might make a lot of money. Many people might be able to spend less money on prescription drugs and be healthier. Many prescription drugs have serious side effects possibly including death.

Article 1, Section 8 of the United Constiution gives Congress the power

"To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes"

Congress has the power to regulate commerce that starts in one state and ends in another state. Congress does NOT have the power to regulate commerce that takes place entirely within a state.

The State Legislature could allow marijuana to be grown in New Hampshire and sold entirely in New Hampshire. Congress would have no say on marijuana grown in New Hampshire that is entirely sold in New Hampshire. Federal drug laws would NOT apply to marijuana grown in New Hampshire which is entirely sold in New Hampshire. Federal drug laws apply when marijuana is grown in one state and then sold in another state.

The State Legislature could allow hemp to be grown in New Hampshire and entirely sold in New Hampshire. Hemp may be used to make food, paper, clothing, ropes, and many other things. Hemp may benefit many of our farmers.

Cancer patients should be allowed to smoke medical marijuana.

New Hampshire's legislature should legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana for people who are at least 18 years old.

Penalties dealing with marijuana should be similar to penalties for alcohol.

If most non violent drug offenders are released from prison, New Hampshire will have more room for violent criminals.

If most non violent drug offenders are released from prison, New Hampshire will be able to spend more money on education and other things.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

1. Can college kids have student loans if they do drugs?

2. Why wasn't Hart arrested by Keene Police prior to now? They had his name. Sounds like they failed to do their job. Shouldn't they be checking names of the protesters, maybe a little background information would be nice to know prior to sending the cops down to watch. There should be someone looking into what's going on at Keene PD. Tax dollars seem to be wasted. I do not want to walk downtown and see people breaking the law, while KPD stands around and watches.

3. Who was the kid in the first article that is now identified as giving a false name? So these protesters are liars as well? They want to make a stand but lie.

This sounds like a bunch of people stirring the pot. They break the law and KPD lets them. Maybe a Trooper will come in and take some action one of these days.
- Jimmy Justice, Keene

Attention Keene Police! Please read the following:
318-B:2 Acts Prohibited. –
I. It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, possess, have under his control, sell, purchase, prescribe, administer, or transport or possess with intent to sell, dispense, or compound any controlled drug, or controlled drug analog, or any preparation containing a controlled drug, except as authorized in this chapter.


IV. ""Cannabis-type drug'' means all parts of any plant of the Cannabis genus of plants, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin. Such term does not include the mature stalks of such plants, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plants, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil or cake, or the sterilized seeds of such plants which are incapable of germination.

Hey Keene PD, do your jobs. Maybe that's why all the good Officers leave your agency for other agencies.
- Tom, Concord

"Protesting doesn't change laws and neither does continuing to perform an act that is currently illegal."

Actually, Mr Smith, history would suggest otherwise. Rosa Parks broke the law by refusing to ride in the back of the bus and popularized a movement that resulted in the civil rights act that criminalized race discrimination in our country. Decades earlier, women organized voting groups and many were imprisoned for their illegal actions. Subsequently the 19th amendment was passed to grant suffrage to women.

Civil disobedience has played a significant role in the development of our country and will hopefully continue to do so.
- Dan, Auburn

"There's no such thing as the prioritization of the enforcement of laws."

William Smith, the world is not so black and white. Every day law enforcement officers make decisions about enforcement, lawyers make decisions about prosecutions and judges make decisions about punishment.

Perhaps the behavior of the police in this situation tell us something about how THEY feel about the appropriateness and importance of this particular law.
- Dan, Auburn

It's obvious from the demonstration that these kids want it full legalized, not for "sick people" but for general use by stoners.

The fellow who, in these comments, attacks both conservatives AND liberals for keeping pot illegal shows how far out of the mainstream these people are.

This is a sad and pathetic display. I can sympathize with the police there, though, since I'm sure they don't want to wade into a crowd of angry, heavily armed thug "Free Staters" and college-aged stoners who think they know better than the rest of us what's right and wrong for our communities.

Promoting drug dealers and enabling pot heads toking up in public is the productive and family-friendly New Hampshire they want to build for us. NO THANKS!
- Stephen, Manchester

It is about time the Police Officers of Keene act like Police Officers and start to enforce the laws and stop being walked on by the "Free Staters". The Keene Police look like idiots ignoring these protests and asking people they arrest to autograph their copy of the Union leader. Maybe Police Standards and Training should take a look at the Keene Police Department and bring in some Police Officers that can handle the problem. They appearently can't.
- D.S., Manchester

Gary, Swanzey, NH someone has already brought pot to the police station I think in Manchester and guess what they did NOTHING about it.
- John, GA

I went to the Boston Freedom Rally, also known as the Hempfest last weekend and guess what. 80,000 people stoned off their feet and not one violent incident. How many violent incidents have happened at the Keene gatherings? Any cops want to sound off on the differences between arresting drunks and stoners? I hope it keeps happening because non-smokers need to see that they've been lied to. Pot is not a threat to society and neither are the people who use it.
- Budd, Henniker

We should try an experiment and have the same number of people show up at a different time of the day and supply them with a keg of beer. Then compare over time the number of fights,arrests and fatalities of the two groups.

My money is on the drunks to win in all 3 categories.

p.s: i love the comment:
"Prohibition didn't end because people kept drinking.", You may be partially right, most of the reason was huge cost of upholding the law and also the murderous mobsters/violence that came of it. If no one wanted to drink then there would have been no profit for it.
- mike d, pembroke

Civil disobedience has a proud history in this country. Rosa Parks, Sam Adams, Harriett Tubman, MLK, Thoreau, Susan B Anthony, etc, all broke immoral laws to work to affect change. Gandhi did as well.

Immoral laws should not be obeyed. It's ironic that so many "never disobey any law no matter how absurd or immoral" people who post above no doubt celebrate MLK day, and the actions of Rosa Parks and others like her, who did just that.

All kinds of atrocities through history have been stamped "legal". People need to stand up for what is right, if necessary, against what is legal.
- Paul, Los Angeles (Originally from Keene)

Keep up the great work Keene activists! Thank you for the continued coverage of this story Union Leader. This is an extremely important issue and I appreciate that you are covering it recognizing the significance.
- Mitch, Nevada

I love all these people preaching blind obedience to the law. As if the law in itself is moral. I thank god for the brave men and women that made this country great by ignoring bad laws.
- Jack, Concord

These people who post negative comments about the protesters are probably conservatives who only believe in freedom when it's convenient. I'll tell you what. If all you conservatives want to do is go to church on Sundays and have no fun, that's fine, but don't but into other people's business just because they aren't living your prim and propper life style. Oh No, people are trying to bring down America by using a natural plant. The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
- Ryan Mann, Ormond Beach, FL

Bravo to the Keene Police for conserving tax money and declining to arrest and imprison these peaceful people.

Regardless of whether you're pro- or con- marijuana, you have to agree that it is stupid to pay cops to spend their time and resources on chasing marijuana users. I'd guess that there are some open property crime cases that they could be trying to solve instead of chasing after people who happen to be holding a certain type of plant.
- Lance, Dublin

Mr. Smith, if that's your perscpective, then how did Civil Rights come to fruition?
- Jonathon Carpenito, Manchester

By the way NH, this is not about whether smoking pot is good for you. Obviously, it isn't, and I woundn't want my own kids to ever smoke weed. This is about the freedom for adults to decide for themselves whether or not to engage in smoking pot. Freedom works both ways: everyone has the choice to NOT smoke pot, to NOT drink, etc ...
- mike, manchester

William Smith wrote "Protesting doesn't change laws and neither does continuing to perform an act that is currently illegal. Prohibition didn't end because people kept drinking." What planet are you presently living on? Protest; Let's see, there were the racial laws in the south, women suffrage, draft, Vietnam war. Are you a sheep? You sound like one.
- tom, manchester,nh

Mike NH: By your suggestion, anyone seeking freedom where it doesn't exist show get up and move somewhere else. Would you suggest the same to those who opposed prohibition? to those who protested against sufferage? to those who protested civil rights for all, not just whites? That's not exactly an American attitude, is it? That's not even a NH attitude, considering we are the most freedom minded state in America.
- Mike, Manchester

To Mike Stricklan, Laconia, If Keene is the sewer of liberalism in NH, I really must hear your opinion on Manchester. Please explain why Manchester is the poster child of hard drug use, murder and crime in NH. When is the last time you heard of anyone robbing a store, breaking into a home, or murdering someone to get money for weed? Get real. Maybe if more of the messed-up heavy drug using criminals in Manchester were attending classes taught by the so-called anti America radical teachers that you are so biased against, maybe Manchester would be a better place to live, you know, like a peaceful, safe city, like Keene. GET REAL!
- Bob, Hillsborough

I find the people calling these protesters "leftists" amusing. These people are closer to anarchists than communists. They believe they have a right to own property and use it as they see fit. I agree with them. They aren't harming anyone. Just because there is a law on the books doesn't make it a good law. I can find thousands of cases of horrible laws. Slavery, segregation, prohibition, gold confiscation in 1930, just to name a few.
- Jeremy, Concord

Tell me again why I need to obey any other laws, if they're allowed to ignore this one?
- Mike R., Bedford

It's obvious from the demonstration that these kids want it full legalized, not for "sick people" but for general use by stoners.

The fellow who, in these comments, attacks both conservatives AND liberals for keeping pot illegal shows how far out of the mainstream these people are.

This is a sad and pathetic display. I can sympathize with the police there, though, since I'm sure they don't want to wade into a crowd of angry, heavily armed thug "Free Staters" and college-aged stoners who think they know better than the rest of us what's right and wrong for our communities.

Promoting drug dealers and enabling pot heads toking up in public is the productive and family-friendly New Hampshire they want to build for us. NO THANKS!
- Stephen, Manchester

Demonstrators say they will continue to meet and smoke pot at 4:20 p.m. every day until their needs are met. I guess they work nights at their jobs. They have to work to afford to buy the pot, right? Heaven forbid they are using their student loans. Please let me know if you are a professional who leaves work to join the 'fun.'
It's a sad day when the police can be intimidated enough to not make arrests when it's quite obvious illegal activity is happening under their noses.
Gloria, New London
- Gloria llen, New London

From what I heard on the news.. this protest was initiated by a couple of the free staters... get the heck out of my state! You are nothing but trouble, freely breaking the law to suit your own needs. You do not get to break the law at a whim.. this is not FREE to do whatever you damn well please NH.. this is a great state.. and you are making a mockery of it.. get out!
- greg, Concord

They call it dope for a reason
- Mike, Hancock

There's no such thing as the prioritization of the enforcement of laws.

It's the law. Period. You either obey it or you break it and face the consequences.

It doesn't matter whether the stoners think it shouldn't be illegal or not--the fact remains that it is. End of story.

Protesting doesn't change laws and neither does continuing to perform an act that is currently illegal. Prohibition didn't end because people kept drinking.
- William Smith, Manchester, NH

If people didn't continue to drink alcohol during the prohibition, even though it was illegal, then it would still be illegal today.

I love how the same conservatives who constantly complain about taxes and want cuts in education and health care also want the government to spend millions of dollars enforcing this pointless law.

We're in a recession. We need to prioritize. Even if you don't like the types of people who smoke pot, how can you justify making enforcement of this law a priority?
- Tom, Keene

People are confusing decriminalization with legalization of marijuana. The two are completely different! If weed is decriminalized it is still illegal to have, you just don't have as harsh a punishment. --Like speeding, it's illegal but you're not a criminal if you speed. People who keep calling it legalization of weed are hurting the decriminalization movement--people are too scared to legalize it but may be more likely to support decriminalization if they're accurately informed.
- Karen, Manchester

Mr. Hart, classic. I'm shocked he had a warrant out! Stolen property, oh but he's such a nice young criminal justice major.
- John, Dover

I commend the Keene Police for their measured response to this issue. Patience is a virtue that is not always exercised in these circumstances. These "protesters" will get bored very soon. I have no doubt that many of them are not even smoking marijuana. Rather, they are simply trying to bait the police into a reaction that they can later cry "fowl" about. I would challenge any of them to go down to the Keene Police Department with their "marijuana" in hand, hand it over to a detective for a quick analysis and be prepared for the consequence, be that False Reporting of a Crime, or Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Drug. In any event, just have the bail commissioner's fee handy and I am sure that you will be released on Personal Recognizance bail. Unless, of course, if your name is Jason Hart. Then, you will probably need to come up with the cash for obvious reasons.

Remember the Brown case in Whitefield, NH. The patience of law enforcement lead to a peaceful resolution of that matter. How many times do we wish that law enforcement had simply stepped back for a bit and taken a measured, methodical response to a situation.

Meantime, let the clove smokers enjoy their time in the nice weather we have been having recently. Fall is here and soon it will be too cold for them to have the courage of their convictions. And the police department will be none the worse for wear.
- Gary, Swanzey, NH

I really don't think this is a successful demonstration to try and persuade people that marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes. Whether they realize it or not these young people are hurting their own cause.
I'm sorry for the people who really need it to help supplement their pain in glaucoma and cancer.
- joco, manchester, NH

Brian, Farmington - It was Troy police who requested the autograph. Sounds like it was mostly to memorialize one of the easiest criminal hunts they've had.
- Matthew, Manchester

Keene is just N.H.'s sewer of LIBERALISM, These college pukes and their anti America radical teachers have one goal, bring down this country. WHY are the POLICE NOT DOING THEIR JOB? I assure you if I went to Concord or Manchester and smoked a joint in public I would be arrested. KEENE is a disgrace to decency!
- Mike Stricklan, Laconia

I like the fact they are free to protest and break the law doing so without the slightest hint of having our laws enforced.

So when can the rest of us protest our high taxation and intrusive government by not paying taxes that help feed it and recieve no punishment what so ever? Or do we have to wait for a leftist group to do it first so Miss Pelosi is not afraid?
- Deb, Derry

Where is Mr. Popularity, Fred Parsells during all of this demonstration? Perhaps he could pay for the police coverage with his fat police pension.

When will politicians, or wanna be politicians just keep their personal thoughts to themselves and try to govern and handle real government matters?

It would be nice if Mr. Parsells had worked as hard on reducing spending in the Keene city government instead of promoting a far left Democrat idea of drug decriminalization.

One poster yesterday had it right...more evidence of the dumbing down of our youth.
- Melvin, Keene

Why not turn the tables on the anti-freedom, anti liberty and pro-shared responsibility crowd? If you oppose legalizing marijuana will you please complete the following sentence? Marijuana should be illegal because......

I am for outright legalization for two reasons: One, I am and every other citizen is responsible for the own actions and choices and as such each person is entitiled to decide for themselves what they choose to smoke or not smoke. Two, NH would save a considerable amount of our (taxpayer) money and resources if it wasn't squandered on people whose only crime was merely possesing marijuana.

God forbid we restore any individual liberites that have the potential to reduce the size of the state budget.
- Michael Layon, Derry

to mike in manchester,

There is a reason you would be labeled a criminal for smoking pot. It is very simple actually, its illegal. I don't see why so many pot smokers can't see why they would be labeled criminals, maybe you have inhaled a bit more than you think and are unable to use reasoning.

Mike I would suggest that you move to Amsterdam. There you can smoke as much pot as you want. You talk of freedom, I say you are free to move to Amsterdam and smoke there. legally.

If you don't want to labeled a criminal the concept is pretty simple do not engage in criminal activity. The buying selling and use of marijuana would fall under this category.
- Mike, NH

Can't you see their father's and mother's sitting in front of the fireplace, with their highballs, as father says "I hope tad and Biff do well in school, I will need him at the firm". Meanwhile at the park, Tad is telling Biff "like I see what you are about man, and its like so real, but in an unreal way because the color of the rainbow is not alligned with Mars".
- tom, Manchester, nh

I'm pro legalization and I think everyone involved should be arrested. Cops that are choosing not to enforce this included. It's one thing when it's done at Hempfest in Boston on 4/20, it's another when it's just a bunch of stoners every day, same time. I'm sure they aren't pulling public assembly permits daily.
- Jim Wilson, Manchester

Is coverage of these fools really necessary three days in a row? The Keene PD doesn't seem much better when one of their officers seems delighted that Hart autographed a copy of the UL for him. Say what you wish, but the undisputed fact is that these morons are breaking the law and the Keene PD is doing nothing about it. Police departments and individual officers should not be in the business of picking and choosing which laws to enforce.
- Brian, Farmington

I would say that "pro-pot advocates" and "gathering ... to smoke marijuana" are inaccurate characterizations. From what I've read on the forums, there are a good number of people there who don't smoke marijuana at all. Those people just believe in individual liberty, and oppose Prohibition.

Prohibition didn't work 80 years ago, and it doesn't work now.
- Kevin, Lancaster

Many people can't understand what it's like to be labeled a criminal for simply choosing pot over alcohol.

Sadly, the liberal nanny government will never allow it to be legalized becasue they think we need protection from ourselves. The conservative puritans wont either, becasue of their need to push their religious objections on others. It makes my heart swell to think that a day might come where I don't have to feel like a criminal just because I want to smoke pot, but it will probably never happen during my lifetime.

If only people really understood what freedom means, and how wrong it is to deny simple freedoms to people who desire it so strongly. They will one day, when it's a freedom that they care about, and find that few people are there to support their own cause.
- mike, manchester

It shows how smart Jason has become from spoking pot everyday.... Gets his picture on the front page of the paper when there are warrants out on him.

Smoke some more dope jason....
- Rob, Milford

These protests are a sign of the times. It is time for change. I think these protests should be held in every town statewide @ 4:20 everyday. Prohibition never worked for alcohol and will never work for our great herb.
- Scott, NH