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Published: The
Bay Guardian, October 14, 2004
Editorial
Endorsements
Yes on
Measure Z
Measure Z
Marijuana law
enforcement
YES A
public opinion poll released last month
showed a strong majority of Oakland
residents support legalizing marijuana.
Oakland residents agree by and large that
the war on drugs has been a total failure
and that police should focus more time
investigating violent crimes instead of
minor marijuana offenses. Accordingly,
Measure Z, known as the Oakland Cannabis
Initiative, would make marijuana offenses
the lowest legal priority for Oakland
police and prosecutors while directing
city officials to lobby the state
government for the authority to tax and
regulate marijuana. It would also indicate
to Oakland City Council president Ignacio
de la Fuente that he was out of step with
voters early this year when he led a
crackdown on medical marijuana
dispensaries in the growing commercial
district known as Oaksterdam. Vote yes.
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