YES TO INITIATIVE 75: FREE UP POLICE, COURTS

Five years ago, 75 percent of Seattle voters passed Washington's
medical marijuana initiative, but people with AIDS, cancer and
multiple sclerosis still face arrest, prosecution and seizure of their
homes. Just this August, Seattle's public libraries were temporarily
forced to close their doors due to the city's $60 million budget
deficit. For the same reason, Chief Gil Kerlikowske cut the Seattle
police force by 26 sworn officers and 59 civilian personnel. Anyone
who lives and pays taxes in Seattle should be concerned.

Seattle can take at least one step toward addressing these problems by
voting yes on Initiative 75.

This initiative would make marijuana for adult personal use Seattle's
lowest law enforcement priority and create an 11-member panel to
review our city's marijuana policy. It would conserve dwindling tax
dollars for important public needs, such as libraries and parks,
rather than wasting money on unnecessary arrests, trials and jail
time. It would focus law enforcement resources on preventing serious
and violent crime. It would be one more source of protection for
vulnerable medical marijuana patients. It is right and sensible for
Seattle.

It will strengthen public safety. Initiative 75 would apply only to
marijuana for adult personal use. It would not prevent police and
prosecutors from stopping the sale of marijuana. It would not prevent
the city from punishing anyone who gave marijuana to a child. In fact,
by freeing up law enforcement resources, I-75 would help focus the
city on protecting us from these and other crimes that might threaten
public safety.

It sends exactly the right message to kids: Marijuana is not for you.
Initiative 75 would affect only marijuana for adult personal use.
Preventing children from obtaining marijuana would continue to be a
priority in Seattle. Initiative 75 would draw the line between adults
and children and, by conserving resources, would permit even greater
emphasis on stopping marijuana use by minors.

The health risks associated with marijuana smoking do not justify the
individual and public cost of arresting, prosecuting and jailing
marijuana users. Marijuana users almost certainly face health risks,
as do people who use alcohol and tobacco. But alcohol and tobacco
users do not face similar penalties. It makes no sense to force
marijuana users into jail cells, where housing a single inmate costs
about $25,000 per year. We have better uses for our tax dollars.

Seattle should brace itself for calculated scare tactics and
misrepresentations by powerful outsiders. U.S. Attorney General John
Ashcroft and the Bush administration have a regrettable history of
attempting to prosecute people for medical marijuana. They have
repeatedly attempted to muddy the waters and pressure local public
servants whenever a community shows an interest in reforming its own
policies. It is important for all of us in Seattle to keep in mind
that it is our responsibility and right to determine our city's future.

There is a reason that highly respected local organizations --
including the League of Women Voters of Seattle, the King County Bar
Association and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington --
have come out in support of I-75: It is good for Seattle.

Does it solve every problem created by what this newspaper has
referred to as "the country's misguided drug policy"? Of course it
doesn't. But I-75 is one step that Seattle can take toward a rational
approach. We can lead the way -- and in the process address some of
our own pressing needs.

At next Tuesday's primary election, I-75 offers Seattle voters a rare
opportunity. We can choose to use our tax dollars for local needs and
the common good. We can make our community safer by focusing on
serious and violent crime. We can protect the most seriously ill and
vulnerable members of our community.