cannabisnews.com: New Attorney General Plans to Bolster Civil Rights New Attorney General Plans to Bolster Civil Rights Posted by FoM on December 29, 1998 at 15:01:19 PT Democratic Attorney General-elect Bill Lockyer told reporters in published reports that he wants to focus on legalizing the use of Medical Marijuana in the wake of Proposition 215, the 1996 initiative that was intended to allow seriously ill patients to grow and use Marijuana for pain relief with a Doctor's recommendation! SACRAMENTO Democratic Attorney General-elect Bill Lockyer has submitted a 1999-2000 budget proposal that calls for a 5 percent spending increase for his civil rights, consumer and environmental units. While his Republican predecessor, Dan Lungren, focused almost exclusively on crime and punishment, Lockyer's campaign promises include beefing up civil rights, environmental and consumer protections and passing an enforceable ban on assault weapons. Lockyer also wants to reform the death penalty appeals process, curb school violence and regulate the state's gambling industry. The new attorney general told reporters in published reports that he wants to focus on legalizing the use of medical marijuana in the wake of Proposition 215, the 1996 initiative that was intended to allow seriously ill patients to grow and use marijuana for pain relief with a doctor's recommendation. The initiative has largely failed because of efforts made through the courts by Lungren and the federal government. But Lockyer says he wants to make Prop. 215 work. ``That means cooperating with local communities if they have different approaches. So San Francisco would be different than Kern County,'' Lockyer said. Lockyer hasn't announced his picks for many top-level positions, from the criminal law division to civil rights and, perhaps, a new position in charge of environmental enforcement. Lockyer has asked Democratic Gov.-elect Gray Davis for $25 million in extra funding over the current year's budget to hire more attorneys in some departments and to strengthen the state's crime labs. After campaigning on a promise to broaden the mission of the attorney general's office beyond Lungren's primary focus on criminal enforcement, Lockyer has moved quickly since his Nov. 3 election to convene task forces and begin to develop policy initiatives. During a recent meeting with veteran consumer activists, Lockyer listened to ideas on how to beef up consumer protection. He also held similar brainstorming sessions with environmental and civil rights activists who, like the consumer groups, were often at loggerheads with Lungren's pro-business philosophy. Lockyer said he was astonished to find the division of civil rights enforcement somewhere below the Registry of Charitable Trusts on an internal organizational chart. Eva Paterson, executive director of the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights, said she was impressed with the broad range of advocates Lockyer assembled to discuss issues such as affirmative action, voting rights, rights of immigrants and refugees, women's rights and rights of the disabled. ``He said something that just warmed my heart that you don't expect to hear from a government official. He said, 'I'm here to make the world a safer place.' Who do you hear that from these days?'' Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 30, 1998 at 10:56:26 PT California is place I want to be! In Spirit! An old expression is as California goes, so goes the world and I believe it too! They are so progressive and sooner or later it catches up with the whole USA! Can't wait either!Our time's coming! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by UaN on December 29, 1998 at 21:22:19 PT About Time! I hope this man is being truthful about this.....If he is then all that we all have gone through and are going through will somehow be worth it.....Boy, where has this guy been all of our "War".....Good for Lockyer!!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: