Pubdate: Wed, 22 Aug 2007
Source: Eureka Reporter, The (CA)
Copyright: 2007 The Eureka Reporter
Contact:  http://www.eurekareporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3289
Author: Steve Spain, The Eureka Reporter
Cited: California NORML http://www.canorml.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SUPES VOTE TO ASK THOMPSON TO SUPPORT LEGALIZING, TAXING POT

In a 4-0 decision, with Supervisor Jimmy Smith abstaining, the 
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to send a letter 
to U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) in support of legalizing marijuana.

The letter, which Supervisor Roger Rodoni proposed to the board, 
states, in part, "(U.S. Rep.) Thompson, the Humboldt County Board of 
Supervisors requests your support in helping to initiate legislation 
which will legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana."

In response to a request for comment, Thompson's office provided a 
previous position statement in which he stated, "the likelihood of 
passing a bill that legalizes all marijuana is a real long shot at this time."

In a phone conversation, Rodoni said he would not have been able to 
pen the letter, or even raise the topic, when he first came to 
office. He said the issue was an elephant in the room no one wanted 
to recognize.

But, he said, "Times have changed."

Rodoni said he didn't anticipate the board's receptive vote.

"I was prepared to consider it a furthering of the conversation," he 
said, adding that he was pleasantly surprised by the support.

Timing was the key issue, Supervisor Jill Geist said in a phone 
interview. She cited a similar letter endorsed by the Mendocino 
County Board of Supervisors last month.

Both letters signal a shift within Northern California constituencies 
that have lived with legalized medicinal marijuana for more than 10 
years, she said.

"Communities are ready to take a look at what is and is not working," 
Geist said.

During board comments on the issue, Geist said the letter is not 
implicit support for illegal activity.

"We are duty-bound to make sure that we are upholding the law," she said.

Geist later said support of local law enforcement is important and 
clarifying the discrepancies between federal and state law would 
assist them in performing their job. "We support them 100 percent," she said.

Numerous attempts to contact local and federal law enforcement for 
comments yielded no response.

Most public comments at the meeting were in support of the measure, 
but Fred Green of Redway made clear his distaste for the drug. Citing 
family problems with addiction, Green said, "I can't think of 
anything dumber -- anything dumber than opening that door."

During the meeting, Supervisor John Woolley said the potential 
revenue from regulating and taxing marijuana could be used to tackle 
drug problems such as methamphetamine abuse.

The California branch of the National Organization for the Reform of 
Marijuana Law recently released a study that estimates legalized and 
taxed marijuana could yield $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion annually for 
California's coffers.

Smith said he abstained from voting because of conflicts with his 
position on the American Cancer Society board, as well as his 
concerns about the juvenile justice system.

When Geist was asked whether she thought the request by the board 
would have any impact at the federal level, she said, "I respect that 
in the grand priorities of the nation, this isn't going to be a high one." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake