Jacksonville Suns Employee Caught Smoking Marijuana on the Job (Video link included)

Jacksonville Suns Employee Caught Smoking Marijuana on the Job (Video link included)


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By Kristin Smith
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A Jacksonville Suns fan went to the ballgrounds to catch a game, but he caught something else.

Police say a juvenile told an off duty officer he saw a man smoking marijuana in the stadium during Saturday's game.

It turnded out to be Ray Zerba, Assistant General Manager of Personnel for the team.

Now he's owning up to what he did.

Zerba was released from jail Sunday.

For nearly a year, Ray had the job of his dreams, and in a moment, it was taken away.

"One of the best jobs I could ever imagine having and I've just kind of thrown it all away, and now I have to pick up the pieces," said Zerba.

His life fell to pieces while working that dream job, when he was caught doing something he says he'd normally leave at home.

"I've been addicted to marijuana my whole life pretty much," said Zerba.

This time, he was caught.

"A juvenile came over to a police officer and told him he thought a man was smoking marijuana in the bleachers below," said Melissa Bujeda, with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

When the officer went over, Zerba told him where the drugs were, and handed them over.

"I was working pretty much, on the clock, just, not thinking, and made a very poor decision," said Zerba.

He was arrested, and that's when things changed for Zerba.

"If you're arrested on duty you're pretty much fired. We've never dealt with this situation before, but this situation was a no-brainer. He is no longer with the company," said Kirk Goodman, General Manager of the Suns.

"I totally respect the decision they made," said Zerba.

Now he's just taking it day by day.

"I'm not of any use to anybody unless I'm 100 percent clean and sober. Take it one day at a time," said Zerba.

Zerba is expected to appear in court for this misdemeanor charge. He's waiting to hear when that is.

Zerba did have some other misdemeanor charges for several outstanding checks that has since been taken care of.

Created: 8/13/2007 4:54:44 PM
Updated: 8/13/2007 7:12:10 PM
Edited by Kristin Smith, Reporter

© 2007 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=88953



DaBronx

Giuliani softens his position on medical marijuana raids

Giuliani softens his position on medical marijuana raids


Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana
http://www.GraniteStaters.org

From: Stuart Cooper, GSMM campaign manager


Here is this week's update on Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana's campaign to press the presidential candidates to take public, positive positions on medical marijuana access. This week, I confronted former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) about his opposition to ending the federal raids on medical marijuana patients.


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1. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani admits his information on medical marijuana is outdated

2. Make a difference today

3. Help GSMM fight for medical marijuana access

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1. Rudy Giuliani admits his information on medical marijuana is outdated

During the three previous conversations we've had with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, he repeatedly told us with confidence that marijuana had no medical value and that the entire campaign to protect medical marijuana patients was really a campaign to legalize marijuana.

However, on July 31, during a town hall meeting in Rochester, New Hampshire, I reminded Mayor Giuliani of his past statements and asked if he could cite a single doctor or medical organization that supported his position of raiding and arresting the seriously ill. I also asked if his administration would ignore the 78% of the American people and the many medical organizations, such as the American Nurses Association and the American Public Health Association, that believe that marijuana has medical value and ought to be available for the seriously ill.

Mayor Giuliani backtracked, saying, "The reality is, no one is suggesting that people who are sick be in prison."

I immediately corrected him, saying, "If you raid them, then you're going to imprison them."

Mayor Giuliani continued to soften his position, saying, "No one is suggesting that people who are sick should go to prison. And the second fact is, that all of the experts I have ever talked to about this -- my knowledge of this goes back about eight to ten years, I haven't really looked at it in that period of time, or during the time when I was U.S. Attorney dealing with marijuana cases -- is that, just about everything you want to do for pain can be done with other legal prescribed medications."

Mayor Giuliani then pledged to take a second look at recent medical marijuana data, saying, "I'd be happy to take a look at the literature you are talking about ... I haven't looked at it in about eight to ten years. So it's probably worth taking a look at it again. Give me a week or two, I'll probably be back here, you'll ask your question again. After I look at the material, I'll give you another answer, maybe the same, maybe different."

2. Make a difference today

Without our volunteers putting constant pressure on Mayor Giuliani as he campaigned throughout New Hampshire, he probably never would have taken the time to take a second look at the available data on marijuana's medical value.

We've have already told you about how, with your help, our work has led 10 of the 17 presidential candidates to pledge to end the federal raids on medical marijuana patients and their caregivers. And with your continued support, I am confident that we can continue to pressure Mayor Giuliani and the five other candidates who support the raids to reconsider their previous positions and pledge to protect our nation's seriously ill.

In fact, this week Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will be holding town hall events on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Merrimack, Wolfeboro, and North Conway. The last time we spoke to him, he flip-flopped on medical marijuana (after first saying that he would let states decide, he then said he would continue the federal raids). This week's town hall events offer the perfect opportunity for us to pressure him to respect states' rights and protect the seriously ill who use medical marijuana with approval from their states and doctors.

If you would like to help us pressure Sen. McCain, please call me at (603) 703-1411, or e-mail me at Stuart@GraniteStaters.com and I will let you know how you can help.

3. Help GSMM fight for medical marijuana access

In June and July, the DEA conducted extensive medical marijuana raids in several California counties and in Oregon, including raids on at least 10 Los Angeles sites in late July. Most were aimed at medical marijuana dispensaries operating legally under state and local laws, and in several cases individual patients were detained and terrorized.

Recently, the DEA also began threatening the owners of buildings used for medical marijuana activities with seizure of their property. Called "a deplorable new bullying tactic" by The Los Angeles Times, this DEA action has occurred even where medical marijuana is legal under state law and specifically authorized by voters.

By putting constant pressure on the candidates to pledge to stop using DEA agents to raid and arrest sick and dying medical marijuana patients, we can ensure that our next president ends these raids once and for all. But to do this, we will need your help!

Would you please visit http://www.GraniteStaters.com/donate to donate to our work today so that we may continue pressuring the presidential candidates to take stronger, positive positions on medical marijuana use by the seriously ill?

Thank you for your continued support of our efforts, and please look for our weekly updates.

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Please visit http://www.GraniteStaters.org. Our mailing address is GSMM, P.O. Box 357, Manchester, NH 03105.


DaBronx