Wilbur
New Member
An initiative that makes enforcing marijuana offenses against adults the lowest priority for Missoula County law enforcement passed Tuesday night.
Initiative 2 won the support of 22,502 Missoula voters, or 53 percent. Opponents totaled 19,565, or 46 percent, and included some of the county’s top law enforcement officials.
The measure leans on local law enforcement to make ‘‘citations, arrests, property seizures and prosecutions for adult marijuana offenses Missoula County’s lowest law enforcement priority.’’
It does not include marijuana sales or drug use by minors as low-priority offenses. And in no way will it legalize the drug, said Angela Goodhope, a spokeswoman for Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy, the group that proposed the measure and landed it on the ballot.
Proponents say Initiative 2 strives to place increased emphasis on crimes that threaten people’s lives and property and on other, more pressing drug issues.
‘‘We are very pleased that Missoula voters approved a clearer, safer and smarter crime policy,’’ Goodhope said.
The proposal calls for a Community Oversight Committee — consisting of community members, criminal defense attorneys and a drug rehabilitation counselor — to investigate marijuana arrests and produce a report on the initiative’s effects seven months after its passage
Police Chief Rusty Wickman and Sheriff Mike McMeekin have publicly voiced their concern about the initiative, saying they worry the measure’s passage could lead to the loss of federal dollars from Missoula’s drug enforcement programs.
Goodhope said all evidence points to the contrary, citing a similar measure that passed in Seattle several years ago.
‘‘None of the negative outcomes our opponents predicted will come true,’’ Goodhope said. ‘‘We know that for a fact.’’
Newshawk: user - 420 Magazine
Source: Helena Independent Record
Pubdate: 9 November 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Associated Press
Contact: irstaff@helenair.com
Website: Helena Independent Record
Initiative 2 won the support of 22,502 Missoula voters, or 53 percent. Opponents totaled 19,565, or 46 percent, and included some of the county’s top law enforcement officials.
The measure leans on local law enforcement to make ‘‘citations, arrests, property seizures and prosecutions for adult marijuana offenses Missoula County’s lowest law enforcement priority.’’
It does not include marijuana sales or drug use by minors as low-priority offenses. And in no way will it legalize the drug, said Angela Goodhope, a spokeswoman for Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy, the group that proposed the measure and landed it on the ballot.
Proponents say Initiative 2 strives to place increased emphasis on crimes that threaten people’s lives and property and on other, more pressing drug issues.
‘‘We are very pleased that Missoula voters approved a clearer, safer and smarter crime policy,’’ Goodhope said.
The proposal calls for a Community Oversight Committee — consisting of community members, criminal defense attorneys and a drug rehabilitation counselor — to investigate marijuana arrests and produce a report on the initiative’s effects seven months after its passage
Police Chief Rusty Wickman and Sheriff Mike McMeekin have publicly voiced their concern about the initiative, saying they worry the measure’s passage could lead to the loss of federal dollars from Missoula’s drug enforcement programs.
Goodhope said all evidence points to the contrary, citing a similar measure that passed in Seattle several years ago.
‘‘None of the negative outcomes our opponents predicted will come true,’’ Goodhope said. ‘‘We know that for a fact.’’
Newshawk: user - 420 Magazine
Source: Helena Independent Record
Pubdate: 9 November 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Associated Press
Contact: irstaff@helenair.com
Website: Helena Independent Record
