Pubdate: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 Source: New York Times (NY) Page: A13 Copyright: 2010 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Author: Jesse McKinley Cited: Proposition 19 http://www.taxcannabis.org/ Cited: National Black Police Association http://www.blackpolice.org/ Cited: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition http://www.leap.cc/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Proposition+19 POLICE GROUP BACKS MARIJUANA MEASURE A national group of African-American law enforcement officers has endorsed Proposition 19, a ballot measure that would tax and regulate marijuana in California. The National Black Police Association, which has more than two dozen chapters across the country, announced the endorsement in Sacramento, where the organization is holding a national conference. In a statement, Neill Franklin, the executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which supports Proposition 19, said that "prohibition takes a toll on people of color across the country." He added: "Californians finally have an opportunity to do something about it." The measure would allow possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake