Santa Monicans for Sensible Marijuana Policy 1530 Harvard St. Apt D Santa Monica, CA 90404 Phone: 310.466-1081 www.sensiblesantamonica.com

Santa Monicans for Sensible Marijuana Policy Files over 8,000 Signatures to Place Initiative on November Ballot

Measure Will Direct Police to De-Emphasize Marijuana - Poll Shows Overwhelming Support by City Voters

Today the proponents of an initiative to make marijuana the lowest police priority in Santa Monica filed 8,395 signatures, nearly 3,000 more than the 5,580 needed to place the measure on the November ballot.

"This measure offers a sensible alternative to the failed federal war on drugs," said Luciano Hernandez, Campaign Coordinator for Santa Monicans for Sensible Marijuana Policy. "Santa Monica citizens don't want our police to waste their time and our tax dollars arresting, jailing, and prosecuting nonviolent marijuana users. It's clear from speaking with voters over the course of this signature drive that most people would rather see local police focus on violent and serious crime."

The committee also released the results of a poll conducted in December by Evans McDonough. It found that 87% of Santa Monica voters agree that "our tax dollars and police resources should be focusing on crimes that are more serious than adult marijuana offenders." Seventy-six percent agreed tha t "the laws and regulations for marijuana should not be more strict than the laws and regulations for alcohol." And 81% believe the federal war on drugs has failed.

Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and this initiative will not change that. However, it will reduce local resources spent on criminalizing marijuana users. In Seattle, a similar measure passed in 2003 led to a 75% reduction in marijuana arrests.

The initiative requests that Santa Monica's state and federal representatives "take immediate steps" to reform California and U.S. laws as well.

The initiative has several exemptions. Current enforcement levels would still apply to driving under the influence and the use of marijuana on public property.

"We feel the time is right for this initiative," said Hernandez. "George Bush has made marijuana the number one priority, and as a result over 700,000 people are arrested on marijuana charges in the U.S. each year. By passing this initiative, Santa Monica voters can help to create a sensible alternative to the war on drugs."

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More Detailed Poll Results Available on the Following Page

TO: Interested Parties
FR: Evans/McDonough
RE: Santa Monica Poll Results
DT: 3/10/2006
Methodology: This memo is based on the findings from a telephone survey of 400 Registered Voters in the City of Santa Monica, conducted December 8 - December 11, 2005. The overall margin of error for this survey is + 4.9 points.

Santa Monica Voters Support Making Adult Marijuana Offenses the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority

1. Most Santa Monica voters think 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."

2. A strong majority of Santa Monica voters believe marijuana users should be treated the same, under the law, as alcohol users.

• 76% think that the laws and regulations for marijuana should not be more strict than the laws and regulations for alcohol.
• 72% disagree that "marijuana is more harmful than alcohol."
• 69% agree that "marijuana users should be treated the same, under the law, as alcohol users."

3. The vast majority of Santa Monica voters believe that police resources and tax dollars would be more efficiently and effectively used on crimes other than adult marijuana offenders and a solid majority agree that the Santa Monica police force should make adult marijuana offenses its lowest police priority.

• 87% agree that "our tax dollars and police resources should be focusing on crimes that are more serious than adult marijuana offenders."
• 72% agree that "by criminalizing marijuana we are wasting our tax dollars and police resources arresting, prosecuting, and jailing non-violent adult marijuana offenders."
• 71% agree that "by criminalizing marijuana we are clogging our courts with non-violent adult marijuana offenders."
• 65% agree that "the Santa Monica police force should make marijuana possession and use among adults its lowest police priority."