VOTERS OK POT MEASURE

Voters passed a ballot measure that would direct police to take a
hands-off approach to the adult personal use of marijuana.

With all precincts reporting, the measure passed 53.1 percent (35,329
votes) to 38.6 percent (25,658 votes).

Voters were asked whether the Police Department should regard
marijuana as the lowest law enforcement priority.

The law would put the enforcement of laws against marijuana to each
police officer's personal discretion, and would direct the County
Council not to accept state or federal funds for marijuana
eradication.

"We look forward to working with the new County Council to set up
procedures with the Police Department," said Adam Lehmann, director of
Project Peaceful Sky.

The bill took a circuitous route to appear on Tuesday's ballots. The
Project Peaceful Sky petition drive needed the signatures of 4,848
registered voters but only 2,214 were found valid.

The next month, by a 5-4 vote, the County Council voted to overturn
Clerk Casey Jarman's finding of insufficiency and determined that the
2,214 signatures were enough to put it on the ballot.

Police and prosecutors spoke out against the ballot measure, calling
it a bad law that would be superseded by the federal government.

"I'm opposed to passage of this," Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura
said, saying that it posed a danger for law enforcement officials.

"I don't believe it's enforceable as written," Kimura
said.

"I would ask him to really read it (the law) again," Lehmann
responded.

"Obviously, disappointed that (the vote is) not the other way around,"
Kimura said. "The law enforcement is charged with enforcing the law,
and trying to carry out their duties as best they can."

"Next step will be consulting with the (state) attorney general to see
what impact this will have on the law," Kimura said, after being
informed that it passed. "We'll continue our efforts to try to reduce
the availability of drugs in the community."

Lehmann has said the law would not legalize marijuana, and that it
would save money and allow police to concentrate on hard drugs, like
methamphetamines.

"We're very thankful to everybody that helped us," Lehmann said. "We
really feel this is going to reduce crime."