CASUAL-POT-SMOKING MEASURE IS CERTIFIED

Oakland Cannabis Initiative Has 20,000 Signatures Required.

Oakland -- Local support for recreational pot smoking will be tested
in November under a largely symbolic ballot measure.

The Alameda County Registrar of Voters late Monday certified the
20,000 signatures required to get the Oakland Cannabis Initiative on
the ballot, said City Clerk Ceda Floyd.

The initiative directs local police and prosecutors to turn a blind
eye to recreational use of marijuana by adults at least 21 years old,
giving it the lowest priority for enforcement that police already give
to medical cannabis users.

The initiative also would put Oakland at the forefront of the
marijuana legalization movement. Although the city cannot legalize
pot, it could set up a system to tax and regulate sales as soon as
state law allows. Federal law still considers all marijuana use, even
medical, to be illegal.

In addition, the measure would set up a citizens' committee to oversee
implementation and urges the city to lobby for marijuana law changes.

"This is a historic initiative because it would be a large U.S. city
making it clear that policies around marijuana don't make any sense,"
said Judith K. Appel, director of legal affairs for the Oakland-based
Drug Policy Alliance. "I think we'll find the people would rather have
their police resources go into problems they are more concerned about."

Both Seattle and Mendocino County have passed measures requiring law
enforcement to give a low priority to adult marijuana use. Several
city councils and other governing bodies have passed similar
resolutions. But Oakland would be the first to move toward further
regulation of sales, Appel said.

The measure was backed by the Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance, a
group of pro-marijuana advocates and individuals. It has the support
of Councilmembers Nancy Nadel (Downtown-West Oakland) and Desley
Brooks (Eastmont-Seminary), along with Alameda County Supervisor Nate
Miley -- whose aide, Joe DeVries, is one of the main organizers behind
the measure.

They argue that regulation would take the drug off the street, and
taxing marijuana would generate cash for the city. A January poll of
600 voters found strong support for such a measure.

Oakland police say they already give a low priority to possession of
small amounts of marijuana. The measure does not specify any
guidelines on how much pot -- an ounce or a pound -- an adult would be
allowed to possess for personal use, however.

Oakland has strongly supported medical marijuana. The city deputized
the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative as its official agent to
dispense marijuana to those with a doctor's prescription. A new city
law allows four permitted dispensaries in the city, which caused some
to close down.

The City Council is scheduled to vote July 20 to place the cannabis
initiative on the ballot, Floyd said. The vote is just a formality,
and the council will not weigh in on the measure one way or another.