DRUG MEASURE QUALIFIES FOR BALLOT

SACRAMENTO - A measure that would treat nonviolent drug offenders instead
of sending them to jail has qualified for California's November ballot.

The measure, certified as eligible for the ballot by Secretary of State
Bill Jones yesterday, would require those convicted of certain drug
possession charges to receive treatment and serve probation.

Charges could be dismissed at the end of the probation period, but the
arrest and conviction could be disclosed to police and government officials.

Repeat offenders would still qualify for the program. Anyone convicted of
selling, producing or manufacturing drugs would be excluded, as would those
with a record of violent crimes.

The ballot campaign backed by billionaire George Soros gathered 713,849
signatures, far more than the 419,260 needed to qualify for the Nov. 7 ballot.