Aug 07
6
Marijuana Legalized in Prison
An unexpected and controversial city ordinance passed by a narrow margin yesterday in the small town of Ossining, New York – best known for its maximum security prison, Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
City officials introduced a bill that would legalize the use of marijuana within Sing Sing, and called for a special referendum at a town hall meeting Monday. The bill received majority support and will effectively make the possession and consumption of marijuana legal within the walls of the prison when it takes effect in early fall 2007.
“Our hope is that this bill will encourage left-leaning environmentalists, jazz musicians, the staff of High Times magazine and other miscreants throughout the Northeast United States to begin to think of Sing Sing as a liberal enclave and elect to move in. We envision being able to increase the prison population tenfold, thus creating new jobs for the citizens of Ossining while taking dangerous pot smokers off the streets,” said Councilman Phil Chambers, author of the so-called “Free to Smoke” bill.
When asked if it wouldn’t be possible for sojourning potheads to visit Ossining, take advantage of the legalized cannabis and then leave, Mr. Chambers was quick to point out that the “Free to Smoke” bill was a city ordinance, whereas Sing Sing Correctional Facility is run by the State, the laws of which take precedence.
“Anyone found smoking marijuana within Sing Sing is violating New York State law and will be immediately arrested,” Mr. Chambers said. “I originally wanted to call it the ‘If You Smoke Here You’d Be Home Already’ bill but I was convinced by my fellow council members that ‘Free to Smoke’ had a more convivial tone.”
This most recent effort of Councilman Chambers’ comes on the heels of more divisive propositions, which have included luring marijuana smokers toward a catapult with a trail of nickel bags. In Mr. Chambers’ original proposal, he himself would lay in wait within nearby bushes, jumping out and cutting the catapult’s rope when the pothead was in position.
The initial proposition called for “dopers” to be catapulted over city lines. However, succumbing to complaints from neighboring towns, Mr. Chambers modified his plan by suggesting the lured marijuana smokers be catapulted directly into the prison. The proposition was defeated by two votes.