Cannabis Study House - NORML Weekly News in Audio 2006.11.2

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Weekly News in Audio

November 2, 2006

Several States, Cities To Vote Tuesday On Marijuana Depenalization

Washington, DC:
Several States, Cities To Vote Tuesday On Marijuana Depenalization

Voters in three states and several municipalities will decide Tuesday on proposals to depenalize the possession and use of cannabis by adults. Below is a summary of each of these initiatives.

STATEWIDE MEASURES

COLORADO
Amendment 44, the "Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative," would revise state statutes to eliminate all criminal and civil prohibitions on the private possession and use of up to one ounce of cannabis for anyone age 21 or older. The measure, sponsored by Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), has been endorsed by numerous Colorado newspapers, including the Aspen Times, the Boulder Weekly, and the Aurora Daily Sentinel. Last year, voters in Denver passed a similar municipal initiative by 54 percent. Listen to SAFER Campaign Director Mason Tvert on the NORML AudioStash at: http://www.normlaudiostash.com/id156.htm.

NEVADA
Question 7, the "Regulation of Marijuana Initiative," would remove all criminal and civil penalties for the private possession and use of small quantities of cannabis by those age 21 or older. The measure would also seek to create a statewide system for the taxation, legal cultivation, distribution, and sale of cannabis to adults by licensed vendors. Question 7 has been endorsed by the Las Vegas Review Journal and more than 30 state religious leaders. A similar proposal was rejected by Nevada voters in 2002. Listen to Question 7 Campaign Director Neal Levine on the NORML AudioStash at: http://www.normlaudiostash.com/id235.htm.

SOUTH DAKOTA
Initiated Measure 4 would allow state authorized patients to possess up to six plants and/or one ounce of cannabis for medical purposes. Qualified patients must possess a physician's recommendation to use cannabis and must register with the state Department of Health. Non-registered patients, or those who possess greater quantities of cannabis than allowed under state law, would have the option of raising an 'affirmative defense' of medical necessity at trial. Voters in eight states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington --have approved similar measures since 1996.

MUNICIPAL MEASURES

EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
A proposed citywide ordinance, sponsored by the Fayetteville/University of Arkansas chapter of NORML, would direct local law enforcement to issue a summons in lieu of a criminal arrest for adults found to be in possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and/or marijuana paraphernalia. "The message of this ordinance is that people should not use marijuana, but should also not lose opportunities for education and employment because of such use," says Ryan Denham, who spearheaded the proposal. The measure is the first marijuana depenalization initiative to qualify for the ballot in Arkansas. Under state law, possession of one ounce or less of cannabis is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison. Listen to Campaign Director Ryan Denham on the NORML AudioStash at: http://www.normlaudiostash.com/id210.htm.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
Measure P, sponsored by Sensible Santa Barbara and the UCSB chapter of NORML, directs municipal police to make all law enforcement activities related to the investigation, citation, and/or arrest of adult cannabis users their lowest priority. It would also appoint a community oversight committee to monitor police activity as it pertains to marijuana law enforcement. The measure has received endorsements from the Santa Barbara Independent, the Santa Barbara News-Press, and City Councilmember Das Williams. Seattle voters passed a similar proposal in 2003, resulting in a 75 percent reduction in citywide marijuana arrests. Listen to Measure P Campaign Director Lara Cassell on the NORML AudioStash at: http://www.normlaudiostash.com/id230.htm.

SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA
Measure K would mandate police to make all law enforcement activities "relating to adult marijuana offenses their lowest law enforcement priority." The measure further directs city officials to refuse "any federal funding that would be used to investigate, cite, arrest, prosecute, or seize property from adults for marijuana offenses." The Democratic Party of Santa Cruz County as well as several local politicians are backing the measure. Listen to Campaign Coordinator Kate Horner on the NORML AudioStash at: http://www.normlaudiostash.com/id230.htm.

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
Measure Y directs police to make the enforcement of minor marijuana possession violations their "lowest law enforcement priority," and mandates the City Council to issue semi-annual reports on "the estimated time and money spent by the city on law enforcement and punishment for adult marijuana offenses." The measure has been endorsed by the California Nurses Association and the Santa Monica Democratic Club. City officials in nearby West Hollywood enacted a similar ordinance this summer. Listen to Measure Y Campaign Coordinator Nicki LaRosa on the NORML AudioStash at: http://www.normlaudiostash.com/id230.htm.

MISSOULA, MONTANA
Initiative 2 ("An Initiative to Alter Law Enforcement Priorities in Missoula County") directs local police to make the enforcement of minor marijuana violations their lowest priority, and appoints a community oversight committee to ensure that the police are obeying the voters' mandate. According to the initiative's sponsors, Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy, a Missoula citizen is arrested every 33 hours on marijuana-related charges. Under Montanan law, possession of up to approximately two ounces of cannabis is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine. Listen to Initiative 2 spokesperson Angela Goodhope on the NORML AudioStash at: http://www.normlaudiostash.com/id210.htm.

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