cannabisnews.com: Oakland Attorney Backs Proposal To Loosen Pot Law
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Oakland Attorney Backs Proposal To Loosen Pot Law
Posted by CN Staff on September 13, 2010 at 16:45:05 PT
By Angela Woodall, Oakland Tribune
Source: Oakland Tribune
Oakland -- Signaling a break from staunch opposition from law enforcement groups, Oakland City Attorney John Russo on Monday joined about two dozen officials from across California to show support for Proposition 19, the measure allowing recreational marijuana that will appear on November's ballot. Another group gathered in West Hollywood near Los Angeles with the same message. Their public stance goes against the majority of law enforcement agencies in California, which are dead-set against the measure. "It's very difficult for them to change," Russo said Monday in front of Oakland City Hall. Standing next to him was a former police officer and several longtime advocates including Jeff Jones; Harborside Health Center medicinal cannabis dispensary attorney James Anthony; and "Yes on 19" campaign director, Mauricio Garzon.
Simultaneously, however, a coalition headed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca -- "No on Prop. 19" -- condemned the measure in a statement signed by scores of police chiefs, sheriffs, law enforcement associations and district attorneys. "Nothing about Proposition 19 is positive," Fontana Police Department Chief Rodney Jones wrote in the statement. "The initiative has too many legal loopholes," he continued, "and will cause too much chaos, and put the public's safety and our communities at risk."Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts has not taken a public stance on the measure, and has said he is responsible for enforcing the laws on the books. Since 1976, possession of less than an ounce of nonmedicinal marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine but no jail time. And California authorities in 2008 made 61,388 misdemeanor marijuana arrests -- 127 percent more than in 1990, according to a report by the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice to the California Legislature.The measure would allow adults over the age of 21 to possess up to an ounce for personal consumption, as well as change the laws around where they can grow and consume it. The state and cities can also levy new taxes on the substance. The city attorney, however, said he supported Prop. 19 as a "law and order" issue. Current policy, he said, has empowered violent drug cartels who take in 60 percent of their revenue from marijuana sales in the United States. "Money is the oxygen of these groups," Russo said. Instead, he said, giving local governments more autonomy over marijuana regulation would "take it off street corners." Right now, unless it is medicinal, the black market controls the distribution, sale and regulation of marijuana, said former police officer and Sutter County Sheriff's Office Deputy Nate Bradley. He is now a speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and uses medical marijuana to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. He also is a consultant to medicinal cannabis patients. Drug dealers "don't care if they're selling a 12-year old or a 30-year old." He disputed the claim that youth would have more access to pot if Prop. 19 passed. The other argument often cited by opponents is that drivers could operate vehicles while under the influence. The group disputed both arguments while predicting that devices for detecting the presence of marijuana among drivers will quickly catch up with the technology used to detect alcohol. Drivers currently are subjected to field sobriety and blood tests. Legalization does not mean breaking current law is acceptable, Russo said. California will still have to reconcile federal law if voters pass Prop. 19. "It will be a conflict in law," Russo said. The question, he added, is whether the federal government will decide to prosecute. Josh Richman contributed to this report.Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Angela Woodall, Oakland TribunePublished: September 13, 2010Copyright: 2010 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Aa7UVCIDCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Lucas on September 13, 2010 at 17:09:49 PT
Feinstein should not influence voters
> Simultaneously, however, a coalition headed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca -- "No on Prop. 19" -- condemned the measure in a statement signed by scores of police chiefs, sheriffs, law enforcement associations and district attorneys.It should be illegal in a democracy for elected public servants to lobby against their constituents, and attempt to influence their votes.. it is very self serving, and I would imagine there must be some laws against it, that are being ignored..> Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts has not taken a public stance on the measure, and has said he is responsible for enforcing the laws on the books. this is more reasonable to me, a public servant who tries to do his job, without imposing his personal politics
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