Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Long-awaited pot lawsuit finally filed

Hailey officials sue to overturn voter approved initiatives


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

A long-awaited Hailey anti-marijuana lawsuit has finally been filed, four months after a threat was made to do so.

Hailey city officials issued a news release Tuesday afternoon announcing that the lawsuit, which seeks to overturn three marijuana reform initiatives approved by the city's electorate last November, is now on record in Blaine County 5th District Court.

The lawsuit was filed by Hailey attorney Keith Roark on behalf of Mayor Rick Davis, City Councilman Don Keirn and Police Chief Jeff Gunter. The lawsuit pits the three officials against the city of Hailey and puts City Attorney Ned Williamson in the unusual position of defending three initiatives that he has vigorously opposed in the past.

The three initiatives would legalize medical use of marijuana in Hailey, legalize the growing and possession of industrial hemp, and would make enforcement of marijuana laws the lowest priority for the Hailey Police Department.

One way or another, Hailey's sticky marijuana issue is not likely to go away soon. Voters get to vote once again on May 27 on all three of the previously approved initiatives plus a fourth one they rejected last November. The fourth one, a backdoor approach to pot legalization, would require the city to tax and regulate sales of the drug in the city.

Marijuana advocate Ryan Davidson filed petitions to place the initiatives on the May ballot shortly after Hailey officials threatened the lawsuit.




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