Oaksterdam News Network - California cities wrap up signature drives, get ready for the fall election

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California cities wrap up signature drives, get ready for the fall election

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California cities wrap up signature drives, get ready for the fall election

Written by Mikki Norris

Committees in the cities of Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara wrapped up their petition drives and submitted sufficient numbers of signatures to place initiatives on their city ballots making adult cannabis offenses law enforcement’s lowest priority. This is a coordinated policy effort to show widespread support for cannabis reform across California.

Santa Cruz Citizens for Sensible Marijuana Policy was the first to turn in over 6,000 signatures to the city clerk on April 20. The county clerk took the allotted thirty days to verify the signatures to ensure that they had met the minimum amount required (3,423) and notified the proponents that they had qualified for the November ballot.

“Voters in Santa Cruz are tired of the failed and immoral federal war on drugs,” said Andrea Tischler, chair

PETITIONING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS - Santa Monica election officials review signatures submitted by petitioners to secure ballot standing for a cannabis reform measure.

of Santa Cruz Citizens for Sensible Marijuana Policy. “Let’s move to a more reasonable cannabis policy, and make sure that our police and courts are not wasting their time and resources arresting and prosecuting nonviolent marijuana offenders. By passing this initiative, Santa Cruz can be a beacon of light showing the way to a more sensible policy that is compatible with the values of the majority of citizens.”

On the same day that Tischler got the good news, Santa Monicans for Sensible Marijuana Policy turned in over 8,000 signatures to the Santa Monica city clerk’s office. On May 24, campaign coordinator Luciano Hernandez, proponent Corey Garnett, and consultant Mikki Norris, witnessed city clerk Maria Stewart and three assistants count and certify that they received the signatures. Next, the city clerk sent the petitions to the Los Angeles County Clerk’s office where they are currently being verified. Qualifying for the ballot requires 5,580 valid signatures.

PETITIONING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS - Santa Cruz proponents Theodora Kerry and Andrea Tischler gathered signatures that were included in the successful turn in that put their initiative on the city ballot. - Oaksterdam News Photo by Mikki Norris

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

   Sensible Santa Barbara turned in their signatures May 31. Unlike the other cities, which required 10 percent of registered voters’ signature to qualify, they needed a little extra time to collect 15 percent as it is considered a “special election” since no other city initiative will be on the ballot. They exceeded all expectations as they submitted more than double the 5000 such signatures needed to qualify.

   Once the signatures are certified, each city council can either adopt the initiative as law or place it on the ballot. “We think this is a common sense policy, and we hope the city council will adopt it. We had a really overwhelming number of signatures – 11,556. That’s almost as many votes as we would need to pass it,” said Heather Poet, proponent of the Sensible Santa Barbara initiative.

   Meanwhile, activists in West Hollywood and San Francisco are pursuing city ordinances similar to the initiatives.

   Good endorsements that show broad support for this policy change will be key to the initiatives’ success.

To get involved and help garner support from community organizations, respected individuals and leaders, or for online information on these efforts, please check out these websites: sensiblesantabarbra.org, sensiblesantamonica.org and taxandregulate.org.

*    Norris is a board member of Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance and a consultant to the California Cities Campaign. For information online, see taxandregulate.org.

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