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Law would ease heat on pot

Joshua Sabatini San Francisco Examiner

San Francisco, CA Nov 14, 2006 -- San Francisco’s marijuana-friendly reputation could get a boost today if the Board of Supervisors decides to officially make the drug the lowest priority for local law enforcement officials.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano has drafted an ordinance that would send a message to the Police Department to use tax dollars to fight violent crime, not pursue the average marijuana grower, seller or user. The ordinance makes an exception for drug sales on public property, drivers under the influence, sales to children or sales connected with violent crime. It also urges the district attorney to adopt a similar policy, making the prosecution of marijuana offenses a low priority.

“There are many better ways that we can be using our tax dollars and empowering our law enforcement than wasting money and police resources on marijuana offenses,” Ammiano said.

Some residents, however, are alarmed that it will exacerbate existing drug problems in their neighborhoods.

“I oppose the legislation because it will undermine the efforts of people who live in marginal neighborhoods to make their neighborhoods safe, clean and peaceful,” said Arthur Evans, who lives on Haight Street, near Golden Gate Park. Evans said the area near the park is “one of the major drug-dealing corridors of The City,” where people sell marijuana to passers-by to help pay for their “hard drug” habit.

“One of the things [police] can do is prosecute people for minor drug offenses,” Evans said. “That actually helps keep things under control.”

Capt. Tim Hettrick, of the department’s narcotics division, said, “[The policy] does not tie our hands in enforcing the law. It goes along with the policy set by Chief [Heather] Fong and by the field operations bureau and communicated to all the officers.”

City Public Defender Jeff Adachi, however, suggested that marijuana laws are being enforced. “Marijuana prosecution is alive and well in San Francisco, whether or not it is characterized as a low priority,” Adachi said. He said his office represents about 20,000 cases a year and between 5 percent and 10 percent of them involve marijuana, “particularly low-level marijuana sales.”

The legislation would establish a committee of seven members appointed by the Board of Supervisors to monitor implementation of the ordinance. Adachi has requested his office be represented on the committee.