cannabisnews.com: Senators Councilman Support Drug Penalty Reduction Senators Councilman Support Drug Penalty Reduction Posted by FoM on May 31, 2000 at 18:44:04 PT By Andy Furillo, Bee Staff Writer Source: Sacramento Bee Three state senators and a Sacramento city councilman came out in support Wednesday of a ballot initiative that seeks to drastically reduce criminal penalties for drug users.State Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton, D-San Francisco, endorsed the initiative along with fellow Democrats John Vasconcellos of Santa Clara and Richard Polanco of Los Angeles. Joining the senators was Sacramento City Council member Dave Jones. "It's like a grand slam," Vasconcellos said of the measure at a press conference on the steps of the state Capitol. "You save money. You save lives. You improve public safety. Altogether, it's just smart. It's common sense."Initiative backers also are claiming the endorsements of state Senators Tom Hayden, Don Perata and Hilda Solis and Assembly members Darrell Steinberg, Sheila Kuehl, Marco Firebaugh, John Longville, Kerry Mazzoni, Virginia Strom-Martin and Rod Wright. All are Democrats.The state Legislative Analyst's Office has estimated that the measure will save California taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in prison operation and construction costs. But the initiative is drawing heated opposition from law enforcement groups who contend it will provide a get-out-of-jail-free card to tens of thousands of drug users whose habits present significant crime problems."No one objects to drug treatment," said Larry Brown, the executive director of the California District Attorneys Association. "But this seeks to straight-jacket our approach to treating drug offenders in California."Posted: May 31, 2000 Copyright © The Sacramento BeeRelated Articles & Web Sites:The Soros Foundation Networkhttp://www.soros.org/ Treat, Don't Jail, Illegal Drug Users? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5900.shtmlDangerous Initiatives - A Snake in the Grass Rootshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5187.shtml Soros Supports Change in U.S. Approach to Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3083.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by dddd on June 04, 2000 at 11:10:32 PT vote I gotta agree with Tom Paine.I'm thinking of voting for Nader.A libertarian would be better,but I'm not sure if they would have as good of a chance,as Nader,mainly due to name recognition,and the somewhat slightly more radical libertarian platform...dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Tom Paine on June 04, 2000 at 02:24:09 PT Ralph Nader scares democrats out of the closet! Democrats are the ones coming out in support of this progressive initiative. Republicans, as usual, support the most draconian drug war for the most part.My take on all this is that many people, myself included, are seriously thinking of voting for Ralph Nader of the Green Party, and that we are willing to let Gore lose the election. This is because the Democrats are gradually becoming just another branch of corporate Republican/Libertarian America. So some Democrats are coming out of the closet and pronouncing themselves against the drug war, in order to not go down with Al Gore.*U.S. Rightist Republican (GOP) Drug War. Huge LINKS list! Revised edition. GOP's holy war. Drug war supporters: rabid right, hate radio, hate television, NRA (National Rifle Association), religious right, (snortin') George Bush hypocrisy, etc.. Amnesty 2000.http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/gop.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by dddd on June 01, 2000 at 01:52:48 PT fake-out After reading this bill,I think it's kinda like trying to make a garbage dump look better,by planting a few flowers in front of it. I agree it's better than nothing,but if it passes,its effect will be minimal.Just because you vote for something in California,it doesnt mean that much.Prop 215 was voted into law years ago,and it is still ignored and twisted in the courts to this day.The same thing will happen with this.And just wait till voting day draws near,,we will be carpet bombed with alarmist TV ads saying the "get out of jail free" crap,and,"But this seeks to straight-jacket our approach to treating drug offenders in California." The "treat",in treatment is nothing more than filling another jail cell. It all sounds like a reform,but you cant have much effect on a forest fire,with a garden hose.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 31, 2000 at 20:36:07 PT California Campaign For New Drug Policy Hi All,I just found the web site for the California Initiative. I thought you might want to check it out.Peace, FoM!http://www.drugreform.org/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by MikeEEEEE on May 31, 2000 at 19:52:47 PT Job Security From the article, "But the initiative is drawing heated opposition from law enforcement groups who contend it will provide a get-out-of-jail-free card to tens of thousands of drug users whose habits present significant crime problems."Hey, drug treatment might put the them out of business, maybe they should look into buying stock in treatment centers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by military officer guy on May 31, 2000 at 19:51:42 PT looking good... that's what i'm talking about...i'm going back to cali...this would be huge...we can win this war... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: