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What does Measure Y do?
Measure Y will make adult, personal marijuana use the lowest law enforcement priority for the Santa Monica Police Department. It will allow Santa Monica police to focus their time and resources on fighting violent crime, instead of wasting resources arresting and imprisoning nonviolent marijuana offenders. In 2004 alone (according to the California Department of Justice) Santa Monica police arrested 293 non-violent adult marijuana users in 2004 - costing the city around $600,000 in tax payer money to prosecute and imprison these non-violent offenders. With this initiative, police resources will be more effectively spent. In Seattle, a similar measure resulted in a 75% reduction in arrests and a savings of millions of dollars in law enforcement costs.
Measure Y will also require the Santa Monica City Clerk to annually send letters to our state and federal legislators, the governor and the president, notifying them that Santa Monica has de-prioritized adult marijuana offenses and urging reforms at the state and federal levels.
What doesn't Measure Y do?
The lowest law enforcement priority initiative does not legalize marijuana. The initiative does not stop or reduce the flow of federal money to our police department for crime prevention. The initiative does not apply to minors, public use or sales, or driving under the influence. It simply makes adult personal marijuana offenses the lowest law enforcement priority for Santa Monica's police, so they can spend their valuable time and resources pursuing violent criminals and making our neighborhoods safer for our families.
Will this mean that more marijuana gets into the hands of kids?
NO.
The initiative only covers adult marijuana offenses. Selling marijuana to minors is illegal and laws against it will continue to be enforced.
How will this new law be enforced?
The city council will be responsible for monitoring marijuana arrests made by the police to ensure compliance consistent with the lowest law enforcement priority policy.
Will this cost the city money?
No. In fact, Measure Y will save our city tax dollars, allowing it to use its funds more efficiently by reducing the amount of time and resources that our police and courts spend dealing with nonviolent marijuana offenses. This will free up resources for other important city services and allow the police to focus their efforts on serious and violent crime.
Is this in line with Santa Monica's values?
The majority of Santa Monicans agree that the current approach to adult marijuana use is a failure and that current penalties are too strict.
81% agree that "the federal government's war on drugs has failed."
73% agree that "adults that use marijuana but otherwise follow the law should not be criminalized."
The majority of our citizens would agree, this initiative is the right thing to do for Santa Monica. To enact this common sense initiative, Vote YES on Y!
Who is behind this measure? How can I
get in touch with them, donate, or find out more information?
A local group called Santa Monicans for Sensible
Marijuana Policy is coordinating the effort. Email: sensiblesantamonica@gmail.com.
Also, check the web site for periodic updates.
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