SUPES TO VOTE ON EASING OF MARIJUANA LAWS

Opponents Predict Increase In Crime, Use Of Harder Drugs

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors will vote today on legislation
that would set nearly all crimes involving marijuana as the lowest
law enforcement priority for city police.

The legislation, sponsored by Supervisor Tom Ammiano, was approved
Monday by a board committee with the blessing of police officials and
over the complaints of some residents.

"This measure, which would legalize the unlimited growth and sales
(of marijuana) on private property, will make public spitting and
(leaving chewing) gum ... on the sidewalk higher priorities," said
Kim Stryker, voicing opposition before the supervisors' City
Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee.

Ammiano introduced the legislation in August at the behest of groups
pushing for the national decriminalization of marijuana. He defended
the policy move, saying it is consistent with Proposition W, a
measure passed in 1976 by city voters calling for an end to marijuana
arrests and prosecutions, and state Prop. 215, which provides for
medical use of cannabis.

"There are many better ways that we can be using our tax dollars and
empowering our law enforcement than wasting money and police
resources on marijuana offenses," Ammiano said. "This ordinance would
allow San Francisco to join other forward-thinking cities. It will
not result in San Francisco becoming Amsterdam West."

Under the proposed legislation, police would be directed to
essentially ignore most marijuana crimes unless they involve minors
or acts of violence, driving under the influence or the sale or
distribution of pot on public property or within view from public property.

San Francisco Police Capt. Tim Hedrick, head of the department's
narcotics squad, said Ammiano's legislation is consistent with police
policy on marijuana crimes. "It does not tie our hands enforcing the
law," he told the committee.

But a number of residents protested the legislation, saying it will
encourage crime and the use of harder drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

"It will undermine the efforts of people who live in marginal
neighborhoods to make their neighborhoods safe, clean and peaceful,"
said Arthur Evans, a Haight-Ashbury resident. "This measure is an
attack on the well-being of our neighborhoods. You should not throw
obstacles in our way. You should help us to make San Francisco more
safe and livable."

Supervisor Fiona Ma, a member of the committee hearing Ammiano's
legislation, also spoke out against it, saying she believed it
"establishes a new policy that has not been presented to the voters."
Ma broke with Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, the committee's chairman,
and Ammiano in voting against the legislation Monday.

Although the city doesn't track marijuana arrests and prosecutions,
the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has said
that more than 1,000 people were arrested in cases involving the drug in 2004.

Dale Gieringer of the California chapter of the organization said
cities that have adopted a lax policy toward marijuana have not seen
it contribute to crime -- which is an argument activists make for
legalization of marijuana under federal law.

"We have to start somewhere, and we have to act locally," he said.