Pubdate: Fri, 15 Aug 2003
Source: Beverly Hills Courier (CA)
Contact:  2003, Beverly Hills Courier
Website: http://www.thebeverlyhillscourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3084
Author: Courier Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

BH RESIDENT MARGOLIN JOINS RECALL RACE

Longtime BH resident, attorney Bruce Margolin is one of the 135 names
on the ballot for the October 7th recall election. Margolin joins
fellow BH candidates Angelyne, Gary Coleman, Larry Flynt and Mike
McNeilly in a race for the governor's seat.

In an interview with The Courier, Margolin said he believes there is a
tremendous amount of money wasted on prosecuting marijuana offenders.
He said this "hypocrisy of spending of money on the enforcement of
marijuana laws" could be better used for education.

"These laws exemplify the waste of taxpayer dollars better used in
rehabilitation and spent on the schools. We are spending hundreds and
millions of dollars on incarceration and enforcement of laws that
don't work, in addition to all the other hidden costs that come from
those policies," said Margolin. "I am not promoting marijuana, but the
right to make a choice for one's self and not waste precious resources."

A family man, Margolin's three children attend Beverly Hills schools.
His daughter Madison, 12, is entering 7th grade at Beverly Vista;
daughter Harrison is entering 3rd grade at Beverly Vista; and daughter
Allison graduated Horace Mann and BHHS and graduated Summa Cum Laude
from Columbia University.

Active in the community, Margolin was elected to the California State
Democratic Committee in 1971, served for two years and has received
honors from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). As a former
chair of the Site Committee at Beverly Vista, Margolin says he is
concerned about education and supports drug awareness and prevention
programs.

"As governor, I would earmark the funds saved by ending criminal
prosecution of marijuana cases specifically into the state's education
system," Margolin told The Courier.