Judge stops bong-a-thon near Stoner; Sheriff plans to post deputies at site

[bluedigger]

Source: The Cortez Journal

District Court Judge Todd Plewe issued a restraining order on Wednesday to bar the 32nd annual Colorado Invitational Bong-A-Thon marijuana competition from taking place next weekend near Stoner.

Plewe’s 14-day order against bong-a-thon organizer Chris Jeter and Montezuma County business partners Frank McDonald and Ted Clark essentially prohibits the marijuana competition from taking place as planned from July 31 to Aug. 2. It also grants law enforcement authority to use reasonable and appropriate means to enforce the court’s decision.

“Based upon what the county has presented … and their exhibits, I’m going to find that there is a basis to enter a temporary restraining order,” said Plewe, citing the defendants’ failure to comply with land-use codes.

Security was tight as Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin dispatched six extra deputies to the hearing on Wednesday, July 22. After the 20-minute hearing, a relieved Nowlin said he would post a deputy on the bong-a-thon site during the days scheduled for the event to notify ticket holders that bong-a-thon had been canceled.

“We won’t be searching any vehicles,” said Nowlin.

Read more: http://cortezjournal.com/article/20150722/NEWS01/150729958/Judge-stops-bong-a-thon-near-Stoner-

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Bummer.

[marble falls]

1. Sounds to me like the bong a thon is still on, the county did what they did to show they....

something about it.

[immoderate]

2. Can you (or anybody) describe the activities, competition, at a bong-a-thon?

How does one win? Best pot? Most stoned?

--imm

[Flo Mingo]

5. Don't choke?

[FSogol]

6. Not bogarting things? Not harshing?

[DBoon]

8. If at the end of the bong-a-thon

you can successfully play "find your foot"

[bluedigger]

11. From earlier coverage:

"For the past six years, the annual "competitive bong smoking" event was previously held in South Park, Colo. Individual events, one which calls for smoking 3.5 grams of marijuana, and team events, including a seven-member relay for smoking a quarter-ounce of marijuana, are planned. "

The link has been removed. http://www.democraticunderground.com/12791695

Pretty dumb, but less harmful than beer funneling contests, I reckon.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

18. It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game. NT

[Fozzledick]

20. At one I, um, heard about in college

rounds of consumption continued at regular intervals until one member of either team was unable to stand up, which finally occurred at around 3 AM.

The most exciting part of the event was actually the expedition to bring back pizza.

[old guy]

3. Should I be skeptical of the "won't be searching any vehicles" statement?

[Trajan]

4. Whenever DUers post local stories, they should include the state

I guess I could try to guess, or go look it up, right?

Or I could just go find something else to read ...

[FSogol]

7. Bath salts, law enforcement, and waffles = Florida. Pot = Colorado

HTH

[London Lover Man]

24. Oh, Stoner. I had to look at the link and see where it is - Southwest Colorado...

Happy right here in Denver... but need to visit the Four Corners (both on my and the wife's bucket lists - it's a 9 hour drive, and through the Million Dollar Highway which I want to visit)

[bluedigger]

10. Just following LBN's SOP.

I guess I could have added the state inmy comments, but you would have had to read the story anyways, wouldn't you? Maybe you would prefer possible lion sightings in Milwaukee (that's in Wisconsin), or opinion pieces on elections in Berundi (I think that's in Africa)?

[jberryhill]

16. It happened in Portland

One of my personal favorites in the "where the fuck is this story from" category.

[blackspade]

9. Land use codes....right

[brooklynite]

12. Clearly, the solution is to establish a "sincerely held religious belief"

The First Church of Cannabis was approved after Indiana’s religious freedom law was passed.

The First Church of Cannabis Inc. has been approved by Indiana’s secretary of state after the state’s religious freedom legislation was signed into law last week.

The church’s founder Bill Levin said he filed paperwork in direct response to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence last Thursday. Secretary of State Connie Lawson approved the church as a religious corporation with the stated intent “to start a church based on love and understanding with compassion for all.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/03/30/the-first-church-of-cannabis-was-approved-after-indianas-religious-freedom-law-was-passed/

[jtuck004]

13. You could have made a couple million bucks in your local economy. Now all it does is cost you.

Did someone actually vote for decisions like this?

[BlueJazz]

14. The main reason the Judge ruled against the party was: He didn't want people who were leaving..

...the bong-a-thon driving home on the highways at 23 MPH.

[kristopher]

15. LEOs seem to have a tradition - article on 1999 arrests at Bong A Thon

Oh yeah, and here is their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/BATcolorado

..."There is insufficient evidence to warrant the filing of charges at this time,'' said Daniel Quinn, chief deputy district attorney. He added that charges could come later.

Davis and Lopez were arrested on suspicion of felony drug crimes during a high-profile raid on the 25th annual Colorado Invitational, or "Bong-A-Thon,'' which drew some 2,000 partyers to a remote spot in Larimer County.
The men were among 18 people arrested on suspicion of felony drug crimes when an estimated 150 law-enforcement officers from about 10 area agencies busted the party.

The raid was triggered by complaints from neighbors alarmed by the large and unruly gathering.

Authorities described a mind-boggling array of evidence seized during an earlymorning bust - all manner of illegal drugs and paraphernalia.

Yet the district attorney's office determined during review that the evidence did not support charges against the two alleged organizers, Quinn said. At least six of those arrested for felonies were released without being formally charged..

http://extras.denverpost.com/news/news0917u.htm

[packman]

17. So they are going to "post" A (1) deputy

Good luck with that.

[Scuba]

19. OMG! Now people in Colordado won't have anyplace to get high!

[awoke_in_2003]

21. Convenience store owners are protesting the ruling. nt

[pbmus]

22. WHAT, no bongs confiscated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DBoon]

23. Sponsored by local pizza parlors?

I need to know