T
The420Guy
Guest
In September, Seattle voters passed Initiative 75 by a solid 58 percent
majority. Now, even though marijuana use is still against the law,
arresting and jailing adults for marijuana use is Seattle's lowest
enforcement priority. Law enforcement resources will be focused on serious
crime rather than penalizing people for conduct that does not harm others.
Seattle's elected officials and law enforcement personnel -- whether
supporters or opponents of I-75 -- have an obligation to see that the new
law is implemented successfully. City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck took an
important step last month when he appointed the Marijuana Policy Review
Panel. Its 11 members include people who represent the interests of the
police, prosecutors, drug-treatment providers, defense attorneys and the
general community. The panel will analyze statistics and relevant
information to determine if adult personal use and possession is indeed
being treated as the city's lowest enforcement priority, as required by law.
This approach is especially timely, as Washington cities and counties are
being forced to cope with limited public resources. In Seattle, 418 people
were arrested for marijuana in 2001. These arrests entailed taxpayers
paying for police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges,
bailiffs, juries, clerks and jail space. In this era of underfunded and
congested courts, cuts in police department personnel and overcrowded
jails, it makes no sense to waste public resources penalizing marijuana users.
The focus of law enforcement must be public safety, not enforcement of
morality codes. The adult use of marijuana, like the adult use of alcohol,
should result in arrest only if it is used irresponsibly and endangers the
public.
Marijuana arrests bring their own social harms. A marijuana arrest
jeopardizes a person's housing and employment, which can result in poverty
and homelessness. A marijuana conviction, for even the smallest amount,
leads to ineligibility for federally funded student loans, which can
severely limit a young person's future. Criminal conviction for possessing
less than an ounce-and-a-half of marijuana can lead to disqualification for
family cash assistance and the food stamp program, which many poor families
depend on to avoid malnutrition and to survive unemployment.
Initiative 75 also will help protect medical marijuana patients. In 1998,
more than 75 percent of Seattle voters supported Initiative 692, the state
Medical Use of Marijuana Act. The voters recognized that people who use
marijuana to relieve suffering caused by AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis
and other dire illnesses should never be threatened with arrest,
prosecution and the loss of their homes. Yet even after adoption of the
medical marijuana act, law enforcement officials still threaten patients
and caregivers with arrest and seizure of their property. By making most
marijuana law enforcement the city's lowest police priority, I-75 reduces
the danger faced by Seattle's vulnerable medical marijuana patients.
Initiative 75 should be a source of pride for everyone who cares about
establishing a rational, humane and effective response to drug use. Seattle
is beginning a long-overdue reconsideration of our state's and nation's
failed drug policies. People should not be treated as criminals simply
because they choose to use marijuana. Seattle is now one small step closer
to sensible drug policies that are successfully being implemented in
England, Canada and many other nations.
Pubdate: Tue, 06 Jan 2004
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Webpage: Seattle approaches sensible drug policy
Copyright: 2004 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact: editpage@seattle-pi.com
Website: Home
majority. Now, even though marijuana use is still against the law,
arresting and jailing adults for marijuana use is Seattle's lowest
enforcement priority. Law enforcement resources will be focused on serious
crime rather than penalizing people for conduct that does not harm others.
Seattle's elected officials and law enforcement personnel -- whether
supporters or opponents of I-75 -- have an obligation to see that the new
law is implemented successfully. City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck took an
important step last month when he appointed the Marijuana Policy Review
Panel. Its 11 members include people who represent the interests of the
police, prosecutors, drug-treatment providers, defense attorneys and the
general community. The panel will analyze statistics and relevant
information to determine if adult personal use and possession is indeed
being treated as the city's lowest enforcement priority, as required by law.
This approach is especially timely, as Washington cities and counties are
being forced to cope with limited public resources. In Seattle, 418 people
were arrested for marijuana in 2001. These arrests entailed taxpayers
paying for police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges,
bailiffs, juries, clerks and jail space. In this era of underfunded and
congested courts, cuts in police department personnel and overcrowded
jails, it makes no sense to waste public resources penalizing marijuana users.
The focus of law enforcement must be public safety, not enforcement of
morality codes. The adult use of marijuana, like the adult use of alcohol,
should result in arrest only if it is used irresponsibly and endangers the
public.
Marijuana arrests bring their own social harms. A marijuana arrest
jeopardizes a person's housing and employment, which can result in poverty
and homelessness. A marijuana conviction, for even the smallest amount,
leads to ineligibility for federally funded student loans, which can
severely limit a young person's future. Criminal conviction for possessing
less than an ounce-and-a-half of marijuana can lead to disqualification for
family cash assistance and the food stamp program, which many poor families
depend on to avoid malnutrition and to survive unemployment.
Initiative 75 also will help protect medical marijuana patients. In 1998,
more than 75 percent of Seattle voters supported Initiative 692, the state
Medical Use of Marijuana Act. The voters recognized that people who use
marijuana to relieve suffering caused by AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis
and other dire illnesses should never be threatened with arrest,
prosecution and the loss of their homes. Yet even after adoption of the
medical marijuana act, law enforcement officials still threaten patients
and caregivers with arrest and seizure of their property. By making most
marijuana law enforcement the city's lowest police priority, I-75 reduces
the danger faced by Seattle's vulnerable medical marijuana patients.
Initiative 75 should be a source of pride for everyone who cares about
establishing a rational, humane and effective response to drug use. Seattle
is beginning a long-overdue reconsideration of our state's and nation's
failed drug policies. People should not be treated as criminals simply
because they choose to use marijuana. Seattle is now one small step closer
to sensible drug policies that are successfully being implemented in
England, Canada and many other nations.
Pubdate: Tue, 06 Jan 2004
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Webpage: Seattle approaches sensible drug policy
Copyright: 2004 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact: editpage@seattle-pi.com
Website: Home
