UNFAIR RECALL IN MARIN

The campaign to recall Marin County District Attorney Paula Kamena has the
nasty look of a political lynching by dissidents who don't want her to
prosecute marijuana laws of any kind.

However one feels about pot laws, there is no evidence that Kamena is
overly harsh on drug cases or has not been a fair-minded, competent and
humane district attorney.

She even supports the use of medical marijuana for people who are really sick.

Her policy is not to prosecute pot cases involving fewer than seven mature
plants or less than half a pound of dried cannabis, certainly adequate for
medicinal purposes.

Lynette Shaw, director of the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana and
leader of the recall, accuses Kamena of abuse of public policy for failing
to properly implement Proposition 215, which allows marijuana use with a
doctor's recommendation.

Yet, pot remains illegal under federal law, and a headache for state
prosecutors trying to balance irreconcilable statutes.

The recall has a weird twist. It began as an effort by a group of divorced
parents to remove three family court judges, and included Kamena almost as
an afterthought.

When that recall fizzled, the medical marijuana zealots focused on Kamena,
who they perceive as a hard-liner on pot.

Kamena's opponents obtained the necessary signatures -- some say under
false colors -- and a special recall election has been scheduled for May 22
at a cost to Marin taxpayers of about $500,000.

Recalls to remove a duly elected official are a serious business designed
to oust those guilty of, corruption, dereliction, or failure to uphold
their oath of office.

That does not describe Kamena, whose credits include establishing a
juvenile drug court to steer young offenders into treatment instead of jail
and creating effective programs for abused children and seniors and victims
of domestic violence.

We urge Marin County voters to reject the unfair recall and endorse
Kamena's sensible approach to law enforcement.