MENDOCINO SHERIFF: NO STANCE ON POT VOTE

Official's Statements Used by Opponents of Measure to Repeal Marijuana Law

UKIAH -- An escalating war of words is being waged over Mendocino
County's Measure B, which if passed in the June primary will repeal
the nation's first initiative to legalize personal marijuana use.

By refusing to take an official position on Measure B, Sheriff Tom
Allman had hoped to stay out of a divisive debate. Emotions are
running high over an underground marijuana economy that now dwarfs
legitimate agriculture production including timber harvesting.

But because a pro-medical marijuana group decided to include past
Allman comments in its ballot argument against Measure B, the sheriff
has reiterated his stance:

"I am not taking any position. That's not my job," Allman said.

At issue are Allman quotes in a ballot argument submitted by
opponents of Measure B.

Allman is quoted as saying that if county voters were to adopt more
restrictive state standards, it "would be a burden on law enforcement."

Allman is also quoted as saying his deputies "will not be able to
focus on any other public safety issue."

The sheriff doesn't deny making the statements reported in The Press
Democrat a year ago. But he said they've since been taken out of context.

"We've already stepped up our enforcement against major marijuana
growing. It's already a burden," Allman said.

Measure B proponents argue that marijuana cultivation in the county
is "clearly out of control." They want Measure B passed in hopes of
keeping crime-related problems in check, while erasing the county's
national reputation as a haven for marijuana growers.

Measure B would repeal a 2000 initiative that legalizes personal use
of marijuana, and makes enforcement of pot-related laws the "lowest
priority" for local law enforcement.

The 2000 pot initiative was passed by a large margin, which led
medical marijuana advocates to lobby former Sheriff Tony Craver and
the late District Attorney Norman Vroman. Craver and Vroman
eventually agreed to adopt a local standard allowing up to 25 plants
per individual for medical use. In comparison, state standards called
for no more than six plants per person.

Since 2000, marijuana production has soared in Mendocino County, as
it has statewide despite continuing state and federal efforts to crack down.

The ballot argument in support of Measure B contends that the relaxed
county standard "has made us a magnet for get-rich-quick growers who
hide behind medical marijuana as a cover for commercial marijuana production."

Opponents in their ballot argument said they fear Measure B "is a
backward step towards marijuana re-criminalization that targets
small-scale, personal use growers."