Pubdate: Sun, 20 May 2012
Source: Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA)
Copyright: 2012 The Spokesman-Review
Contact:  http://www.spokesman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/417
Author: Jonathan Brunt, The Spokesman-Review

LOCAL, STATE GROUPS VIE OVER CITY POT INITIATIVES

Proposals Would Make Enforcing Laws A Low Priority

Two groups who favor relaxed enforcement of marijuana laws are
battling over similar initiatives they want to put before Spokane voters.

Sensible Spokane and Sensible Washington, which are separate
organizations, have each filed initiatives with the city of Spokane's
clerk's office declaring intentions to collect signatures so voters
could declare that marijuana laws aimed at adults are the city's
"lowest law enforcement priority."

Seattle voters in 2003 approved the state's first such initiative.
Tacoma voters overwhelmingly approved a similar measure last year.

Both proposals in Spokane would also restrict the ability of city
police officers to work with federal agencies when they enforce
marijuana laws.

Sensible Spokane's proposal is more detailed and would not restrict
the enforcement of marijuana violations when they occur on public
property or for driving under the influence of the drug. It also would
create a committee that would recommend regulations related to marijuana.

Ian Moody, coordinator of Sensible Spokane, has submitted similar
initiatives on marijuana that never made it to the ballot.

"It's time to put our money where our mouth is," he
said.

He said the submission by Seattle-based Sensible Washington of a
competing initiative shows "a lack of respect" for local activists.

"I definitely feel like there's going to be some confusion," Moody
said. But he said that Sensible Spokane will "do a better job getting
our effort out to the public."

Douglas Hiatt, chairman of Sensible Washington, said his group was
under the impression that Sensible Spokane would drop its effort and
endorse Sensible Washington's.

He questions if Moody has the kind of support needed to collect
signatures.

"A lot of it I think is just poorly drafted," he said.

Sensible Washington's proposal is further-reaching, making no
distinction between public and private marijuana use, and it does not
call for an advisory committee.

Moody argues that his proposal is more in line with the sensibilities
of Spokane voters and that the spat between the two groups mirrors the
debate statewide among marijuana reform advocates. Sensible Washington
has criticized proposed Initiative 502, which would legalize marijuana
use among those 21 and older, but tax it, maintain certain
restrictions and create thresholds for driving under the influence
related to marijuana use. Moody, who also is running for Congress and
working to overturn a city ordinance that changed the initiative
process, favors I-502.

Each group doubts the ability of the other to gather enough
signatures. To make the November 2012 ballot in Spokane, more than
9,000 signatures of registered voters are needed. The threshold to
make the November 2013 is only about 3,000. Both groups say they are
working to place similar initiatives on the ballot in other cities.
Sensible Spokane, for instance, hopes to make the Cheney ballot this
November.

City spokeswoman Marlene Feist said city officials haven't conducted a
thorough legal evaluation of the proposals but do have concerns.

"Misdemeanor marijuana possession is already a low priority, and
typically someone is only charged with that offense in conjunction
with other charges," she said.

But Frank Cikutovich, a Spokane attorney who has represented many
defendants accused of marijuana-related offenses, says he still gets
clients in Spokane who face only a misdemeanor marijuana possession
charge.

He said he would support a law making marijuana the lowest law
enforcement priority.

"It couldn't hurt," Cikutovich said. "It's basically the citizens
telling the elected officials quit wasting our resources on stuff like
this."

Feist said the city is most concerned about restrictions on working
with federal agencies.

"As a practical matter, we are working every day with our federal law
enforcement partners, and that cooperation does improve public safety
for our community," Feist said. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D