O.C. JUDGES BOOST REACH OF PROP. 36

An Orange County appeals panel has ruled that a new law that requires
counseling instead of jail for drug offenders also applies to those
caught with paraphernalia such as needles and cocaine pipes.

The ruling by a panel of Superior Court judges led the Anaheim city
attorney's office to stop seeking jail sentences for people caught
with paraphernalia, prosecutors disclosed Thursday.

Supporters of Proposition 36 praised the decision, saying it was
illogical to counsel people arrested with heroin but jail those
caught only with needles. Judges Frank F. Fasel and Nancy Wieben
Stock also ruled that the proposition approved in November applies to
arrests before and after the law took effect July 1.