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WI. - A tussle over a pro-pot festival could be resolved "sooner rather than later," Sauk County's attorney said Tuesday.
The issue began in May of 2000 when Sauk County sheriff's deputies backed by police officers from around the area ended the annual "Weedstock" festival of music, political speeches and marijuana advocacy just as it began on a field east of Baraboo. They were acting to enforce the county open air assembly ordinance, which had been recently updated by the Sauk County Board.
Event organizer and marijuana-legalization advocate Ben Masel refused to obtain a permit for the event, arguing that provisions in the ordinance restricted freedom of speech and assembly of Weedstock participants. He initially faced charges of resisting officers after he tried to order them off the property. He leased the property from local farmer Marcus Gumz.
The misdemeanor criminal charges and a civil case were dismissed after the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled the ordinance was unconstitutional in July of 2003.
Once the ordinance was found to be defective, Masel's attorney, Jeff Scott Olson of Madison, said the primary issue became what damages should Sauk County pay for shutting down the event.
On Tuesday both parties made statements indicating they could reach a resolution soon, but no one gave specifics.
"I expect it will be resolved shortly," Masel said. "We kind of just wore them out by endurance."
Sauk County Corporation Counsel Todd Liebman indicated some sort of tentative agreement had been reached, but said he could not even discuss the appeals court's recent decision involving a side issues in the case.
"Hopefully, this particular litigation will be resolved sooner rather than later," he said.
Masel said once the parties reach an agreement he will feel his rights to freedom of assembly have been vindicated.
He said Weedstock will not return to the field on Highway U and the festival will not be on Memorial Day as it was in the past.
"I really haven't started working yet," said Masel.
Source: Baraboo Republic (WI)
Copyright: 2005 Independent Media Group, Inc.
Contact: bnr-editorial@capitalnewspapers.com
Website: https://www.wiscnews.com/bnr/
The issue began in May of 2000 when Sauk County sheriff's deputies backed by police officers from around the area ended the annual "Weedstock" festival of music, political speeches and marijuana advocacy just as it began on a field east of Baraboo. They were acting to enforce the county open air assembly ordinance, which had been recently updated by the Sauk County Board.
Event organizer and marijuana-legalization advocate Ben Masel refused to obtain a permit for the event, arguing that provisions in the ordinance restricted freedom of speech and assembly of Weedstock participants. He initially faced charges of resisting officers after he tried to order them off the property. He leased the property from local farmer Marcus Gumz.
The misdemeanor criminal charges and a civil case were dismissed after the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled the ordinance was unconstitutional in July of 2003.
Once the ordinance was found to be defective, Masel's attorney, Jeff Scott Olson of Madison, said the primary issue became what damages should Sauk County pay for shutting down the event.
On Tuesday both parties made statements indicating they could reach a resolution soon, but no one gave specifics.
"I expect it will be resolved shortly," Masel said. "We kind of just wore them out by endurance."
Sauk County Corporation Counsel Todd Liebman indicated some sort of tentative agreement had been reached, but said he could not even discuss the appeals court's recent decision involving a side issues in the case.
"Hopefully, this particular litigation will be resolved sooner rather than later," he said.
Masel said once the parties reach an agreement he will feel his rights to freedom of assembly have been vindicated.
He said Weedstock will not return to the field on Highway U and the festival will not be on Memorial Day as it was in the past.
"I really haven't started working yet," said Masel.
Source: Baraboo Republic (WI)
Copyright: 2005 Independent Media Group, Inc.
Contact: bnr-editorial@capitalnewspapers.com
Website: https://www.wiscnews.com/bnr/
