Pubdate: Fri, 20 Aug 2010
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Page: AA5
Copyright: 2010 Los Angeles Times
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/bc7El3Yo
Website: http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: John Hoeffel
Cited: Proposition 19 http://www.taxcannabis.org/
Cited: National Black Police Association http://www.blackpolice.org/
Cited: California NAACP http://www.californianaacp.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Proposition+19

BLACK POLICE GROUP BACKS POT INITIATIVE

Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization initiative, picked up the 
support Thursday of a national organization that represents African 
American police officers, as the campaign for legalization continues 
to seek backing in the black community and from law enforcement officials.

The National Black Police Assn., with about 15,000 members, is the 
second African American organization to back the measure.

The California NAACP has also endorsed it, citing the 
disproportionate number of arrests and incarcerations of African 
Americans caught with marijuana.

Ron Hampton, the police association's executive director, said he 
decided the group should back the measure because it would eliminate 
laws that have a negative effect on the black community.

"It means that we will be locking up less African American men and 
women and children who are using drugs," said Hampton, a retired 
Washington, D.C., police officer with 25 years experience. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake