Pubdate: Wed, 08 Nov 2000
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053
Fax: (213) 237-7679
Website: http://www.latimes.com/
Forum: http://www.latimes.com/discuss/
Author: JENIFER WARREN , MIGUEL BUSTILLO, Times Staff Writers
Note related articles: Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (CA)
http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm

CALIFORNIA VOTERS TURN OUT IN HIGH NUMBERS

Proposition 36 asked Californians to launch a wholesale shift in the way 
the criminal justice system handles nonviolent drug offenders. Modeled 
after a program adopted by Arizona voters in 1996, the measure proposed 
spending $120 million a year to treat, rather than incarcerate, those 
arrested for drug possession and ex-convicts who violate parole by using 
narcotics.

Supporters built their campaign on polls revealing voter disillusionment 
with the nation's 20-year-old war on drugs and kept their message 
simple--addiction should be treated as a medical problem, not a criminal one.

Opponents had some heavy hitters on their side, among them Gov. Davis, the 
attorney general and scores of drug court judges who complained the measure 
carried too few sanctions for offenders who relapse. Actor Martin Sheen cut 
TV ads against the initiative and Betty Ford--namesake of one of the 
nation's most famous drug treatment clinics--fired off last-minute e-mails 
attacking it.

But the solid advantage in fund-raising went to Proposition 36 supporters, 
thanks to three millionaire businessmen who have bankrolled drug policy 
initiatives around the country. With $2.8 million to work with, backers 
were on TV far more frequently than foes, who raised about $450,000 and saw 
promises of big dollars from the state prison guards' union evaporate.
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MAP posted-by: Terry F