Wilson, Legislators Vow State Will Comply With Drug Law

By CARL INGRAM, Times Staff Writer

SACRAMENTOGov. Pete Wilson and legislative
leaders have told the Clinton administration they are confident
that California will comply with the federal "smoke a joint, lose
your license" law by April 7.
Unless California obeys the statute, the state stands to lose
at least $92 million in U.S. highway construction and
maintenance funds this year, 10% of its total allotment.
Since 1991, the federal antidrug law has given states a
choice. They must either enact their own "smoke a joint, lose
your license" law, revoking or suspending licenses for any drug
offense, regardless of whether the offense involves a motor
vehicle, or declare their refusal to do so.
In a letter this week to U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Rodney E. Slater, Wilson asserted that two competing
compliance bills are in their final phases of legislative
consideration and are expected to reach him for action soon.
The letter, also signed by Democratic and Republican
leaders of both houses, said California "will achieve compliance
by April 7."
In Washington, highway officials did not return calls
Wednesday seeking comment on the letter.
California's 6monthold "smoke a joint, lose your license"
law expired March 1.
While it was in effect, 9,498 Californians involved in
drugrelated offenses lost their licenses for six months,
according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
On March 10, Slater, acting on an appeal by Wilson,
agreed to give California additional time to enact legislation, but
set March 18 as the deadline for the governor to tell him when
compliance would occur.
The Legislature is divided on how to comply. The
Assembly has passed a bill that would reenact the expired law.
The Senate has approved a bill that goes in the opposite
direction by declaring the state's opposition to the U.S. law.
Wilson supports the Assembly bill, but his signature on
either measure would satisfy the federal requirement for
compliance.
Although the governor and lawmakers said the bills were in
the final phases of the legislative process, neither bill is
scheduled for hearings in the other house.
However, Senate leader Bill Lockyer (DHayward) says he
believes that both bills will be passed and signed into law by
Wilson.
The bill the governor signs last would become the operative
law. Lockyer indicated that if the Legislature approves the two
bills, Democrats and Republicans could both claim political
victory.