cannabisnews.com: S.F. Law Will Neutralize Pot Prosecutions S.F. Law Will Neutralize Pot Prosecutions Posted by CN Staff on November 06, 2006 at 10:29:18 PT By Adam Martin, The Examiner Source: San Francisco Examiner San Francisco -- An ordinance to put marijuana infractions somewhere below spitting on the sidewalk on San Francisco’s law enforcement priority list is slated for a vote after its language was changed to give police discretion to investigate marijuana offenses that may pose a risk to public safety.But a neighborhood group that cried foul over the proposed ordinance’s first inception has not dropped their opposition. The ordinance, introduced by Supervisor Tom Ammiano on Aug. 15, would officially make marijuana possession, sales and cultivation San Francisco’s lowest law-enforcement priority, with exceptions for driving while impaired, selling marijuana to children and endangering public safety. It would also create a seven-member advisory community oversight committee to monitor implementation.But a small group of neighbors calling themselves the Fair Oaks Community Coalition is making a big noise over the legislation, which Ammiano’s office characterized as little more than a policy statement. “It’s essentially a drug dealer protection act. It revokes the MCD (medical cannabis dispensary) legislation and sidesteps zoning restrictions that are in place,” coalition member Veronica Gaynor said. The Fair Oaks group contends that the legislation, which does not impose a limit on the number of plants residents can grow, flies in the face of zoning laws put in place this year that limit the number of plants grown at medical cannabis dispensaries. They also claim it will give organized drug cartels a safe place to grow and sell the drugs that fund their violent operations.But Ammiano’s office contends that the ordinance would not pre-empt the planning code. Any zoning ordinances already on the books concerning marijuana cultivation would continue to be enforced, according to the supervisor. The law would also allow police to investigate potentially violent or unsafe sales and growing operations.Ammiano said he asked a police captain to help craft language in the draft ordinance that would allow police “to effectively investigate grow operations and to combat criminal activities associated with the sale and distribution of marijuana.”The legislation specifically prohibits selling, growing or consuming marijuana on public property or in public view, but San Francisco Police Officers Association President Gary Delagnes said increased demand because of the legislation would nevertheless increase street drug sales because the prices are higher in marijuana clubs. The legislation would also compel San Francisco to refuse federal funding for marijuana enforcement, which Delagnes said would be a mistake.San Francisco passed legislation in 1978 ending marijuana arrests and prosecutions. Since then, a number of pro-marijuana policy statements have passed the Board of Supervisors, but none have been legally binding. Ammiano’s office claims the proposed legislation would simply eliminate the gray area between what is a crime and what isn’t.The proposed ordinance goes before the Board of Supervisors’ City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee today at 1 p.m.Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA)Author: Adam Martin, The ExaminerPublished: November 6, 2006Copyright: 2006 San Francisco ExaminerContact: letters sfexaminer.comWebsite: http://www.examiner.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 06, 2006 at 13:15:48 PT Mayan I went and looked to see if I could find the e-mail but I already deleted it. I think he was to vote or maybe reside over the vote. I wanted to let everyone know that we won't be hearing anything for a few weeks. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by mayan on November 06, 2006 at 13:12:44 PT FoM I see. Thanks. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 06, 2006 at 13:10:49 PT mayan One of the people that was to vote got sick and they postponed it for a few weeks. I don't remember the person's name but it was in my California e-mail I get. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on November 06, 2006 at 13:08:16 PT FoM Say what? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on November 06, 2006 at 13:03:03 PT Just a Note The vote has been postponed due to illness. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on November 06, 2006 at 12:45:30 PT The Mistake Is Prohibition The legislation would also compel San Francisco to refuse federal funding for marijuana enforcement, which Delagnes said would be a mistake.They just can't live without them federal donuts! To hell with dirty gov't money.Let's take our country back from the fascists...Election Day Rapid Response: A Six-Part Plan to Defend the Vote: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20061105213818238THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Photographic Analysis of Damage to WTC7 and Critical Errors in NIST's Estimations: http://www.studyof911.com/articles/winstonwtc701/Ex-CIA Analyst Ray McGovern Talks About 9/11 (video): http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15505.htmGround Zero 9/11 2006 (video): http://stage6.divx.com/members/61050/videos/1029060Terror Storm Continues Amazon Chart Blitz: http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/november2006/011106terrorstorm.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by whig on November 06, 2006 at 11:47:43 PT Refuse Caesar's coin FOCC the Fair Oaks Community Coalition. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Celaya on November 06, 2006 at 11:26:22 PT Bigotry looks for excuses The "neighoborhood" group says:"it will give organized drug cartels a safe place to grow and sell the drugs that fund their violent operations."Anyone that makes statements of this kind betrays the fact they have NO goodwill toward marijuana consumers, medical or otherwise. They lie when they say they think it's okay under certain conditions. If people need it, then SOMEONE has got to grow it SOMEWHERE. Neither will these "concerned" groups acknowledge that it's prohibition that generates huge black market funds AND the very drug cartels themselves. The most tolerant city in America needs to pass a referendum against intolerance. Cops are cops, even in San Francisco. They howl and moan:"The legislation would also compel San Francisco to refuse federal funding for marijuana enforcement, which Delagnes said would be a mistake."If they were getting federal funding to enforce slavery, they'd cry about losing that too. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment