COVINA POLICE CHIEF RANEY TAKES VOCAL ROLE AGAINST MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

COVINA - The campaign opposed to the Proposition 19
marijuana-legalization campaign has some big names lending their influence.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Los Angeles County Sheriff
Lee Baca announced they would co-chair the effort against the proposed law.

And for the past few months, a local heavyweight has been appearing
on television and other news outlets to speak out against the idea -
Covina police Chief Kim Raney.

Known to Valley residents because of his department's response to the
2008 Christmas massacre, Raney is one of two spokesmen for the
California Police Chiefs Association, which has taken a staunch
stance against the initiative.

"This is really about letting the voters know what the facts are,"
Raney said. "We feel it's our responsibility to educate our
community, educate our voters, not on the campaign rhetoric but on
what the real issues are, and hopefully they'll make an informed decision."

Raney's role is critical for the no campaign because the viewpoints
of people connected in some way to law enforcement have taken a
central role in the entire debate over marijuana.

Proponents have gathered endorsements from about two dozen former and
retired officers, chiefs and district attorneys, plus the National
Black Police Association.

"There are dozens of leading law enforcement officials who are
supporting Prop. 19, people who have been on the front lines of our
failed drug law, and seen that it's not working," said Dan Newman,
spokesman for the yes campaign. "What's surprised people is the
breadth and depth of support."

But the no campaign claims endorsements from a wide range of groups
and individuals, including gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and
Jerry Brown and both candidates for attorney general, Steve Cooley
and Kamala Harris.

"The argument against is across party lines because all those people
who are charged with public safety and protecting our state see the
consequences at stake," Raney said.

The marijuana initiative decriminalizes possession of less than an
ounce of the drug for adults over 21, implementing a tax that
proponents say could generate $1.4 billion each year that could
stabilize California's shaky finances. It will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot.

According to Newman, the measure would help squash drug cartels
operating in the state and save time and resources dedicated to enforcement.

"This is really modeled after the end of alcohol prohibition," he said.

Raney, who worked as a narcotics officer in Covina throughout most of
the 1980s, dismisses that idea.

"It would be naive to think they are going to walk away from that
market," he said. "It would legitimize distribution branches."

In his media appearances, Raney often stresses some of the same
points, which focus on the contention that the initiative is poorly
worded, unlikely to generate the revenue proponents tout and likely
to have unintended consequences.

He says the initiative puts the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act in
jeopardy because employees could no longer be tested for marijuana
use, and highway patrol officers would be limited because there is no
accepted scientific measure to test if drivers are under the
influence - marijuana stays in people's systems far longer than alcohol does.

Another concern is simply what legalization will do to local communities.

"The introduction of another intoxicant is forever going to change
our social fabric," Raney said, adding that the marijuana of today is
far more potent than what it was 30 years ago, when possession was a
felony. "If you look at the shift in our society, you don't know what
the future holds if you start going down that slope."

The Covina City Council has backed Raney by joining the no campaign.

"It's a controversial issue," said Councilman Bob Low, who said he
understands the benefits marijuana can have for medical purposes.
"The bottom line is, until we can get a handle on the discreet
distribution of marijuana, the chief is on the right target. He's
taking a position that enhances Covina's reputation."

Also, representatives for the no campaign are happy with what Raney
has done for their cause.

"Raney has been a strong opponent of Prop. 19, he's been doing a lot
of work in getting the message out about the dangers of the
initiative, and obviously we're grateful for that," said no campaign
spokesman Roger Salazar. "He's been very effective."

Raney is certain voters will ultimately reject the initiative. But if
it passes, the argument could rage on in the form of court challenges.

In the meantime, Raney will stay busy speaking to the media as it
gets closer to the election.

"In our opinion it's time for a national debate," Raney said. "That
debate should be, 'Are we as a society ready to accept another
intoxicant into our society, and are we prepared for the unintended
consequences?' "