LOCAL NEWS
M
aine lawmakers have killed a bill that sought to decriminalize possession of all drugs. The measure was meant to curb some of the damage caused by the drug war by replacing the threat of incarceration with a $100 civil fine for personal possession of any controlled substance. Manufacturing or selling drugs would remain criminal offenses. Ultimately, the state Senate rejected the bill. However, it is noteworthy that the drug decriminalization measure was previously advanced by a joint legislative committee and even managed to pass the House. The decrim bill was not without supporters in the Senate. In an effort to gain the necessary votes, Sen. Mark Lawrence (D) amended the measure – making the first two possession offenses civil violations, while subsequent busts would remain criminal. However, the attempt at compromise failed to sway enough support in the Senate and the bill was defeated. Even if drug decriminalization had passed the Senate, Gov. Janet Mills would have likely vetoed the measure, as her administration and the state’s attorney general have voiced opposition to the decrim initiative. In addition to removing the threat of jail time for personal possession, the measure also would have increased access to Narcan, a provision that supporters believe would save lives by helping to prevent overdose deaths. While Maine’s attempt at decriminalization fell short, the movement to deescalate the drug war continues elsewhere as lawmakers are beginning to view illicit drug use as a public health issue, which is often made worse through criminal penalties. Similar legislative efforts have been introduced in Vermont, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. And, in June, on the 50th anniversary of Richard Nixon declaring the government’s war on drugs, a decriminalization bill was introduced at the federal level. Oregon bypassed the legislature on the subject of drug decriminalization and voters enthusiastically passed a ballot initiative making it the first state to remove criminal penalties for personal possession of all controlled substances.
10 Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
BORAT ACTOR SUES LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
A
ctor Sacha Baron Cohen, best known for his portrayal of the fictional Kazakh reporter Borat Sagdiyev, is suing a Massachusetts Cannabis company for using his image in an advertisement without his permission. Baron Cohen’s suit claims Solar Therapeutics used an image of the actor as Borat on a billboard without his approval. The ad also included the character’s catchphrase, “It’s nice!” According to the complaint, Solar Therapeutics “falsely [has] conveyed to the public that Mr. Baron Cohen has endorsed their products and is affiliated with their business.” The Somerset, Massachusetts-based Cannabis company pulled the billboard shortly after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the actor’s attorneys in April. Nonetheless, representatives for Baron Cohen filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Boston in July. The suit seeks a whopping $9 million in damages at minimum. The complaint notes that Baron Cohen is “highly protective of his image and persona” and is “very careful with the manner in which he uses his persona and his characters to interact with his fans and the general public.” The suit also states Baron Cohen’s concern that advertising might “weaken his credibility as an actor and as a serious social activist.” It even claims he previously turned down millions of dollars to appear in a car commercial. Perhaps most surprisingly, the lawsuit states “Mr. Baron Cohen never has used Cannabis in his life,” and that he doesn’t view marijuana use as a “healthy choice.” In fact, the suit explains, Baron Cohen’s beloved Ali G character was intended as a “mockery of ‘stoner’ culture.” It goes on to claim, “He never would participate in an advertising campaign for Cannabis, for any amount of money.” Ouch.
AUG. 2021
