Kalamazoo City Commission:

SHOULD POLICING MARIJUANA BE THE CITY'S 'LOWEST ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY?'

The next City Commission could be asked to consider a measure that
would make policing marijuana the city's "lowest enforcement
priority." Would you support or oppose such a measure? Why?

David F. Anderson: I am uncomfortable with the idea of the City
Commission attempting to dictate enforcement protocols to the
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. I am sure that every day the
chief and his staff make decisions as to how limited resources can
best be used to keep residents and property safe. Recent priorities,
such as reducing youth violence, have been positive. The city
manager, who reports to the City Commission, works closely with the
chief to create a long-range plan that guides education, incorporates
best practices and builds partnerships. I support their ongoing efforts.

Jimmy Dean Ayers: I would support the measure of making marijuana the
lowest priority. Because alcohol is worse for you and there are more
important things for the police to worry about like rape, murder,
prostitution and heavy drug dealing, like crack being sold on street
corners behind the old adult bookstore on Portage Street.

Birleta Bean-Hardeman: I choose not to answer right now.

Nicholas Boyd: I don't use drugs, including marijuana, and never
have. But I do believe there are other priorities for Public Safety
to focus on with home invasions and thefts on the rise.

Kyle Boyer: I support this measure, and would encourage even further
lenience on the substance. It's less harmful than alcohol (if it's
even harmful at all), and we should not be telling adults that they
can't enjoy a substance that is medically beneficial and would be a
boon for artists and anyone else who uses creativity in their daily
life. It will keep our prisons less crowded, ultimately saving our
society money.

Don Cooney: Of course I will want to see the wording of the
proposal. Our present marijuana laws are irrational. They are
filling our jails, causing great harm to many incarcerated people,
wasting huge amounts of much-needed taxpayer dollars. There is a
better way and other communities have found it. All people must act
responsibly and should be held accountable for their
actions. Incarceration is not the answer to this problem.

Aaron Davis: I think the police have enough to do without having to
worry about weed. The police should concentrate on murder, rape and robbery.

Bobby Hopewell: The use and distribution of marijuana is illegal
under state and federal law. If the penalties for violating such laws
are to be changed, they should be amended at the state and federal
level, where a thorough public debate on this issue should occur.
This would be consistent with the recent change by the citizens of
Michigan relating to medical marijuana. Patchwork changes in drug
enforcement policies at the local level are likely to cause
significant challenges. For example, because drug enforcement efforts
in our city and county are conducted across jurisdictional borders,
inconsistent approaches throughout the county would lead to
inconsistent justice outcomes in one community versus the other. Any
changes to drug enforcement laws and policies should start at the
state level, after a thorough debate, so that all such laws are
enforced in a uniform manner in all local communities.

Michael Kilbourne: Right now marijuana enforcement should be less of
a priority than the enforcement of other drug related issues. Let's
not drain our resources on one issue, let's focus on all the issues
together. We have to support our police to crack down on the drug
enterprises in Kalamazoo. There is an abundance of crack, heroin,
meth, and others drugs ruling our communities and ruining lives.
Let's focus on all of these problems and do something about them.

Terry L. Kuseske: I will need to understand the context which the
City Commission would be asked to consider this measure. Chief Hadley
is charged with the enforcement of local and state laws. The City
Commission must not put itself in the position of micro-managing that
enforcement.

Hannah J. McKinney: The chief and his staff determine enforcement
priorities as they work to keep the city and its residents safe and
secure. I do not know how a city commission could pass such a measure
that would be enforceable or what weight it would have in relation to
state and federal law.

Barbara Hamilton Miller: I would oppose such a measure. Substance
abuse is a serious issue in our society. Our Public Safety Department
is charged with upholding our laws. When they come upon a crime or
suspect illegal activity, they can't turn away because they see a
marijuana infraction as a low priority.

Stephanie Moore: Support. Lowering the priority of enforcement will
allow our law enforcement representatives to focus on other issues in
our community such as violence among our youth, major drug
enforcement and the maintenance of safe neighborhoods for residents.

Kai Phillips: Again, laws are laws. I may not personally agree with
the current laws prohibiting the use of marijuana, however, we should
not, and cannot, encourage Public Safety officers to ignore laws.
Also, because recreational use of marijuana is not legal in Michigan
or the United States, this creates a conflict with other
law-enforcement agencies which then use our tax dollars to enforce
them. For instance, in California, marijuana use is legal -- however,
federal authorities then do raids which cost much more than local
police enforcing marijuana laws. Since a recreational use of
marijuana is not legal in Michigan, this would also create issues in
the sale and distribution of marijuana. So, in conclusion, I would
have to oppose this measure and refer it's supporters to our state or
federal lawmakers.

Anna Schmitt: I would support a measure in which the policing of
marijuana would be a low enforcement priority. Presently, Kalamazoo
has larger pressing issues. Targeting the possession of marijuana
uses a good amount of our city's time and money. Money being used for
courts and jail cells regarding marijuana could instead be used in
preventing the robberies that have increased over the last year.

Louis Cloise Stocking: In 2008 Kalamazoo Public Safety statistics
show there were about 1,600 controlled-substance arrests here and
that about 60 percent of those involved marijuana. Almost 90 percent
of those charges were misdemeanors. This measure would benefit the
financial state of Kalamazoo and provide time for officers to ensure
safety. For more information on this amendment visit www.KzooCPCL.org.

Karen Wellman: The candidate did not respond to the Gazette questionnaire.