IN L.A.'s BLACK COMMUNITY, A LIVELY DEBATE ON PROP. 19

Of the nine initiatives that will be on the statewide ballot on Nov.
2, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, better known as
Proposition 19, is certain to be the most keenly watched.

The effort to legalize pot has ignited a lively debate within L.A.'s
black community, with proponents insisting that marijuana laws
unfairly criminalize African-American youth and religious leaders and
others advocating for the status quo.

If California, which legalized medical marijuana in 1996, passes Prop.
19 by a simple majority, it would authorize local jurisdictions to
regulate and tax the cultivation and sale of the schedule one drug.

Such activities would remain illegal in jurisdictions that do not opt
in. The measure would also make it legal for those age 21 and older to
grow pot on a 5-by-5-foot plot and possess, process, share or
transport up to an ounce of marijuana.

Last Friday, California NAACP President Alice Huffman re-ignited a
heated debate with religious leaders during a black media
teleconference in Sacramento to reinforce the civil rights
organization's backing of the Yes on Prop 19 Campaign.

And back in July, Wave columinst Betty Pleasant reported on dueling
Sacramento press conferences where Bishop Ron Allen, head of the
International Faith-based Coalition, denounced Huffman for being "in
cahoots" with the legalization lobby and called for her
resignation.

However, joined in the briefing by leading figures of the legalization
movement -- including Stephen Gutwillig, president of the Drug Policy
Alliance, Major Neill Franklin, state director of Law Enforcement
Against Prohibition and Dale Jones, executive director of Yes on Prop.
19 Campaign -- Huffman did not back down.

"We haven't taken any money from special interests and I'm not
personally advocating for anyone to take marijuana," Huffman said.

"What I am concerned about is the huge disparity in arrests rates for
minor levels of possession. Despite consistent evidence that black
youth use marijuana at lower rates than Whites, in every one of the 25
largest counties in California, blacks are arrested at higher rates,
sometimes double, triple, or even quadruple the rate."

Reached Monday, Allen was also adamant of his stance.

"Alice Huffman has a track record of taking special interest money
through her company A C Public Affairs," Allen said. "She must step
down or resign. We agree that there is a disparity of arrests, but
legalizing marijuana will only increase its use, especially amongst
our youth.

"Here's the mantra of the Drug Policy Alliance, marijuana is less
harmful than alcohol; but that's like a choice between a rattlesnake
and a cobra."

Meanwhile, voicing his backing for cannabis reform and excoriating the
position of black church leaders like Allen, is Paul Scott, founder
and executive director of the Inglewood Wellness Center, the longest
serving medical marijuana dispensary in the Southland.

"Any step forward is a good step forward and I do recognize that
whatever we do here in California is going to have a broader impact
across the nation," Scott said.

"If any of us are socially conscious we recognize that marijuana
prohibition laws in our country have done us a huge disservice. Why a
lot of black folks haven't recognized it sooner is a travesty."

He added: "Just the whole gamut, from arrests, paying lawyers for
fighting silly cases because someone had a little weed in their
pocket, from the stigma and crime -- little Leroy thinking he can shoot
somebody because this little guy has got a few plants in the back --
it's just demented."

And Scott gave short shrift to the religious argument that legalizing
pot would erode the morals of our community.

"I don't even know what to call them ... the Eddie Long's of this world,
these hypocrites. When they are called to do what they are supposed to
do and help, they start talking about 'this is God's plan.'

"It's stupid ... stupid ... stupid. I don't know how I can say much more
than that. [Someone like] Bishop Allen has obviously got a personal
agenda. How can a religious, Christian or a man of the cloth, make
such a harsh, un-educated statement?"

But Scott, who believes that pot provides a healthier "organic option"
to chemically based pharmaceuticals, expressed hope that attitudes
have changed.

"It's the way it is going to go and if it doesn't pass this election
cycle then it will pass on the next one," he said.

"From what I've seen we black folks are late adopters. This issue has
been around for 10 years. So, look at what we could reduce; little
Leroy going to jail, grandma being stigmatized because she might need
to smoke a little because she's not sleeping.

"It will probably negatively effect my industry and I might work
myself out of a job. But if that's the case I'm fine with [it], there
are other things I can do."

Although, he is not calling for any resignations, Pastor Troy Vaughn,
executive director of the Inglewood-based Christ Centered Ministries,
begged to differ on all points.

"From a personal perspective and through my work with youth to ensure
they have the best chance of success, I just don't believe people
ought to have access to a controlled substance," he said.

"I agree there is unfair criminalization, but I believe there is a
better way to bring a balance than legalizing a drug. Why as a
community are we not talking about parenting and empowering youth to
say no?"

Vaughn also speculated that even if the measure passed it could still
create the kind of illegal activity proponents claim it will end.

"Those regulated amounts will not be the high-potency stuff that
people crave," he explained.

"That could create a black market for that high-grade weed. So, you
would have two different worlds and nothing will have changed, except
you may have created a bigger monster."

Nevertheless, speaking personally, Barbara Lott-Holland, co-chair of
the Bus Rider's Union, still favored the yes option.

"I don't think the measure will increase the amount of people that use
marijuana," she said.

"My main support is that it will reduce the numbers of black and brown
people going to prison and shift the debate from the medical health
issue to the criminalization of a community."