Pubdate: Fri, 10 Sep 2010
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2010 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  http://www.mercurynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390
Author: Joseph D. McNamara
Note: JOSEPH D. McNAMARA, retired police chief of San Jose, is a 
research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He 
wrote this article for this newspaper.
Cited: Proposition 19 http://yeson19.com/
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/find?272 (Proposition 19)

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WILL MAKE CALIFORNIANS SAFER

The primary mission of the police is to protect life and property by 
reducing crime. By passing Proposition 19 this November, voters can 
help themselves and the police by instantly preventing between 40 
million and 208 million crimes a year in California. In comparison to 
marijuana crimes, the number of murders, robberies, rapes, 
burglaries, and aggravated assaults total fewer than half a million combined.

Voters can achieve these massive crime reductions without any costly 
new programs. By passing an act to control, regulate and tax 
marijuana, the election will actually significantly reduce police and 
criminal justice spending. According to the nonpartisan Legislative 
Analyst, Proposition 19 will also increase tax revenues by $1.2 
billion by taxing marijuana, which currently escapes taxation because 
it is illegal.

Marijuana crimes are only recorded when the police make an arrest or 
seizure, and marijuana use can only be estimated by research.

Estimates by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention indicate that between one-tenth and one-third of the 
population in California uses marijuana; a staggering ballpark figure 
of between 3.8 million and 12.5 million people. The estimates may be 
low because marijuana use is consensual, unlike murder, robbery, 
rape, burglary, stalking and assault, where victims or witnesses 
alert the police. Using an estimate of 4 million marijuana users -- 
on the extremely low end of the scale -- if the individuals used 
marijuana only twice a week, it could amount to as many as 208 
million marijuana crimes per year.

It is a no-brainer to greatly reduce crime, save police resources and 
produce new revenue by taxing marijuana, all by a single "yes" vote 
on Proposition 19. The $19 billion state budget deficit means that 
police will have to cut services. People are not terrified by the 
thought of pot smokers in their neighborhood, but voters who are 
justifiably concerned that violent criminals threaten their safety, 
as well as that of their children and families, will vote for Proposition 19.

Opponents of Proposition 19 change the subject instead of focusing on 
facts. One leading politician said, "We have to compete with the 
Chinese; we can't do that if we're stoned." California's robust wine 
industry is a social and economic blessing. Wine has not led to a 
state full of drunks unable to compete with China's economy.

Similarly, arguments that passing Proposition 19 means that more will 
drive under its influence are false. The proposition expressly 
forbids it, and relieving the police of other marijuana enforcement 
will allow them to focus more on intoxicated drivers.

Furthermore, government-funded research proves that marijuana is not 
the "gateway" drug leading to addiction. If there is a "gateway" it 
is beer, or busting young people for minor offenses and putting them 
into a criminal justice system with a 77 percent recidivism rate.

No rational person believes we are winning the war against marijuana, 
or can win it. The ensuing violence is not because people are under 
the influence of the drug. Drug cartels and criminal gangs derive 60 
percent of their funding from the enormous profits resulting from 
criminal prohibition. Growing numbers of innocent people are hurt or 
killed in the black-market trade.

Alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous drugs than cannabis, but 
no one is being killed in an alcohol or cigarette black market 
because those drugs are legal, regulated and taxed.

Continuing to do more of what has not worked for a century will 
enrich marijuana drug producers and criminals. But a "yes" vote on 
Proposition 19 will make all of us safer.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake