Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2008
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2008 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Mike Geniella, The Press Democrat
Cited: Mendocino County Board of Supervisors http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/bos/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Measure+G
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MOST MENDOCINO VOTERS FAVOR POT LAW REPEAL

Backlash to 2000's Measure G Decriminalizing Marijuana Cultivation

A poll of Mendocino County voters show most favor repeal of Measure 
G, a landmark marijuana initiative that was the first in the nation 
to decriminalize pot use.

Poll results also ranked local concerns about illicit drugs above 
job, growth, immigration and environmental issues.

The findings reflect what political and community leaders view as a 
"sea change" among county residents, who for 30 years seemingly 
tolerated small-scale marijuana cultivation. A backlash has emerged 
in the face of the county's growing national reputation as a haven 
for marijuana growers, and large-scale commercial growing operations.

"There's been a huge shift," county Supervisor John Pinches said this week.

Pinches and three board colleagues voted Tuesday to put the issue of 
whether Measure G should be repealed on the June 3 primary ballot, a 
move advocated by a countywide citizens group. Board members were 
presented with copies of the pot poll results before their vote.

San Francisco pollster Kevin Brown said Thursday that the poll's 
margin of error was 3.9 percent.

"The poll has a 95 percent confidence rating," he said.

Brown works for Dresner, Wickers & Associates, an international 
political consulting firm whose client list includes Republican 
presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Dresner firm was hired by Ukiah businessman Ross Liberty and 
other organizers of a local drive to repeal the county measure. 
Measure G garnered national attention in 2000 when it was 
overwhelmingly passed by a 58-32 percent margin.

But Measure G since has been blamed for the county's soaring 
marijuana production and crime-related issues. Critics contend 
Measure G also opened the door for local liberal law enforcement 
policies surrounding the proliferation of pot cultivation under the 
guise of medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana advocate Pebbles Trippet said Thursday she fears 
the rights of legitimate users of marijuana for medical reasons risk 
being trampled in a rush to crack down on commercial dope-growing operations.

"There's a huge difference, and that's getting lost in the debate," she said.

Liberty said the poll results indicate a rising tide of public 
opposition to Measure G and marijuana cultivation in the county.

Liberty said he hopes the June election will provide a margin of 
victory so significant that "local politicians will know that voters 
no longer feel marijuana cultivation is benign." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake