Pubdate: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA) Copyright: 2006 Santa Cruz Sentinel Contact: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/news/edit/form.htm Website: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/394 Author: Maria Mead Note: Dr. Maria Mead is medical director for the Santa Cruz Women's Health Center. Also: Opposing OPED 'Measure K Another Attempt at De Facto Legalization' http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06.n1453.a10.html Cited: Measure K http://www.sensiblesantacruz.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) POLICE SHOULD FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS BESIDES POT Measure K, the lowest law-enforcement priority initiative, is about setting police priorities that make sense. This November, Santa Cruz voters will have the chance to choose a local, common-sense alternative to the Bush administration's failed War on Drugs. Measure K will make adult marijuana offenses the lowest law-enforcement priority for the Santa Cruz Police Department, allowing our police to use their valuable time and resources to focus on preventing serious and violent crime. There are far more pressing issues and far more pressing drugs, like methamphetamine and heroine, affecting our city than nonviolent adult marijuana users. Santa Cruz citizens are rightly concerned about the rising levels of violence and the shocking number of violent crimes that go unsolved. Last year, more than three quarters of reported rapes and over half of reported assaults in Santa Cruz went unsolved. At the same time, gang violence is on the rise. Shouldn't our police focus on fighting crimes like these? Measure K will make Santa Cruz safer by enabling police to focus time and resources on preventing violent crime, as opposed to non-violent marijuana offenses. The measure does not apply to distribution of marijuana to minors, offenses taking place on public property or driving under the influence. Similar initiatives have been quite successful in several other cities, including Oakland, West Hollywood and Seattle. Since Seattle passed its lowest law-enforcement priority initiative, marijuana arrests have plummeted by more than 75 percent, with no reported increase in usage. Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper has said that the policy has "made a huge difference, freeing up the police to concentrate on real crimes." In Santa Cruz, Measure K will also put our city on record as supporting reform of state and federal marijuana laws. Nationally, the Bush administration has made marijuana - medial or otherwise - its number-one priority in its failed War on Drugs. Each year, over 700,000 people are arrested in the United States for marijuana-related offenses. In California, taxpayers spend over $150 million a year to arrest, prosecute and imprison marijuana offenders. Our overcrowded prisons are at nearly twice capacity and taxpayers are now being asked for billions more to build new ones. It's time for a more sensible approach. We deserve policies that reflect our values and priorities here in Santa Cruz. Measure K was placed on the ballot by the signatures of over 6,000 Santa Cruz citizens, nearly twice the amount required. Public opinion polls show that a strong majority of Santa Cruz voters agree that the federal War on Drugs has failed, and that police should focus more time and resources on investigating violent crimes instead of non-violent marijuana offenses. Since Measure K was placed on the ballot, there has been an outpouring of support from community leaders and organizations, including the Democratic Party of Santa Cruz County, the California Nurses Association, UAW Local 2865, Santa Cruz Action Network, Vice Mayor Emily Reilly, Councilmember Tim Fitzmaurice and many others. This Nov. 7, we have the opportunity to continue our tradition of progressive and humane leadership by passing Measure K. Please join us. To learn more about Measure K and how you can get involved, please visit www.SensibleSantaCruz.org. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake