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| Marijuana Now a Low Priority in San Francisco |
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Posted by CN Staff on December 29, 2006 at 11:11:11 PT By Heather Cassell Source: Bay Area Reporter 
California -- San Francisco joined other cities such as Oakland, Santa Monica, Santa Cruz, and Seattle that have passed similar legislation to make marijuana arrests a low priority in a quite move on December 1, World AIDS Day.The bill was overwhelmingly supported by the Board of Supervisors by an 8-3 vote on November 21 and passed a second vote 7-3 on November 28 before being sent to Mayor Gavin Newsom. "I feel really good about it. It's a policy that's endorsed by a majority of San Franciscans, reflecting what they feel about the issue," said Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who authored the legislation. According to Newsom's spokesman, Joe Arellano, Newsom was unable to review the legislation within the 10-day review period due to the fact that the bill arrived on his desk as he was leaving for his trip to the Philippines earlier this month. Acting mayor Supervisor Sean Elsbernd received the legislation and returned it unsigned. As a result, the bill became law automatically. "I'm very glad it happened," said Dennis Peron, author of the Compassionate Care Act of 1996, better known as Proposition 215. However, Peron wasn't pleased that part of the San Francisco legislation urges taxation of marijuana, "Everyone is addicted to marijuana money," he said, adding that other medications aren't taxed in California and marijuana is medicine. "I'm against taxing medicine." The new ordinance does prohibit marijuana in connection with criminal offenses (including driving while under the influence); any minors' involvement with the herb; and distribution or sales of cannabis on public property or within view of someone on public property, unless a person is in their own home or in a private building. San Francisco also will no longer accept federal funding that focuses on criminalizing cannabis. The new law also urges the district attorney not to aggressively prosecute cases involving marijuana charges and San Francisco police are barred from becoming deputized by federal law enforcement to target adults using marijuana. The new ordinance also supports taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana for people over the age of 18, although that part of the law is not legally binding. "The mayor continues to support the use of medical marijuana for people suffering from cancer, HIV and AIDS, and other illnesses," said Arellano, who added that Newsom "wholeheartedly" supports the San Francisco Police Department with its drug investigations and enforcement policies. To enforce the new ordinance the Board of Supervisors will appoint a citizen advisory committee to oversee that the new law is enacted, report on any police and legal matters related to marijuana charges, and advise and recommend policy changes to the board. Source: Bay Area Reporter (CA) Related Articles: S.F. Passes Marijuana Tolerance Law Supervisors To Vote on Pot Enforcement S.F. Law Will Neutralize Pot Prosecutions Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #9 posted by FoM on December 29, 2006 at 13:00:35 PT |
| I've been looking too and can't figure out where to find it. I think the one you posted for some reason came up as Minnisota when I did a search. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by global_warming on December 29, 2006 at 12:57:48 PT |
| when you walked into that barn, and saw that baby, called Jesus, oh, I forgot, Christmas Holiday is over, The Best to the people of San Francisco, Guess if you live in a city that is named after a saint Surely only goodness and understanding will Light Our Path now here goes [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by global_warming on December 29, 2006 at 12:43:26 PT |
| I have a shit load of them, but nowhere can I find that bill of justice, and here it is a few days away from the new year, [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by Dankhank on December 29, 2006 at 12:38:20 PT |
S.F. No. 1973 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on December 29, 2006 at 12:31:02 PT |
| All bills have a name or number or some such, I looked at all early posts and haven't found one ... Might make it easier to locate ... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 29, 2006 at 12:07:20 PT |
| Aloha, I don't know where to look or I would try to find it for you. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by konagold on December 29, 2006 at 11:53:01 PT:
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| Aloha does anyone know where I can get the actual text of this SF bill?? Aloha Rev. Dennis Shields [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 29, 2006 at 11:47:40 PT |
| Happy New Year to you too. I hope that this coming year will be better then 06 but I am not holding my breath on that wish. Stay safe. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by paulpeterson on December 29, 2006 at 11:30:50 PT |
| I applaud the provision in SF for taxation of cannabis. Think of the positive press that would/will bring. This will make it a trend to follow suit-much better than booze bucks or gambling gambit, eh? True, cannabis should not be singled out from other medicines-but since it is in a class all of its own, this certainly justifies taking a distinct and separate approach to the change in policy about the herb. And once we get all of the rights that are due here, most people will simply become homegrowers and won't be subject to the tax on it. And anyway, at least it is a tax based upon representatives doing what they should do anyway-to vote for change, where change is due, and if it takes a tax due to do it, so be it. Well done, San Francisco, well done. Happy new year. PAUL PETERSON [ Post Comment ] |
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