Olympia: Marijuana Reform Act of 2012

LOW PRIORITY ENFORCEMENT AND FEDERAL NON-COOPERATION OF MARIJUANA LAWS

INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL

WHEREAS, our city's taxpayers are needlessly burdened by the substantial cost of investigating, arresting, prosecuting and jailing people for charges involving marijuana; WHEREAS, the federal government has violated the will of Washington State voters by obstructing patient access to medical marijuana; WHEREAS, our city understands the need to refocus limited police resources on violent and serious crimes rather than on the prosecution of non-violent individuals for charges involving marijuana, as to benefit public safety; The Olympia Police Department and the City Attorney's office shall make the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of non-violent marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the lowest law enforcement priority. Consistent with this policy, The City of Olympia and its Police Department and City Attorney shall not cooperate with The Federal Government in the enforcement of its laws concerning marijuana, and no funds shall be expended in any manner for cooperation in federal enforcement of federal marijuana laws. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes ___ No ___

TO: The City Council of the City Of Olympia We, the undersigned registered voters of the City of Olympia, State of Washington, residing at the addresses set forth opposite our respective names, being equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of registered voters, respectfully request that the following ordinance be enacted by the City Council or, if not so enacted, be submitted to a vote of the residents of the City. The title of the said ordinance is as follows: "Marijuana Reform Act of 2012". A full, true and correct copy of the ordinance is printed on the reverse side of this Petition. Each of us for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a registered voter of the City of Olympia, State of Washington; and my residence address is correctly stated.
WARNING: Under Washington State law, every person who signs this petition with any other than his or her true name, or who knowingly signs more than one of these petitions, or signs a petition seeking an election when he or she is not a legal voter, or signs a petition when he or she is otherwise not qualified to sign, or who makes herein any false statement, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

You must be registered to vote in WASHINGTON STATE, and reside within city limits of the CITY OF OLYMPIA for your signature to be valid.
Petitioner's Signature (as on voter's registration):
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All petitions must be printed 11x17 (front and back). Please return signed petitions as quickly as possible to your local coordinator, or mail to: Sensible Washington, 119 1st Ave. S, Ste. 260, Seattle, WA 98104 www.sensiblewashington.org (206) 707-5502 Paid for by Sensible Washington

Summary of Measure:
THE LAW AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS: The City of Olympia charges adult marijuana offenses pursuant to the State Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Chapter 69.50 RCW, the Medical Use of Marijuana Act, Chapter 69.51A RCW, and the Citys ordinance prohibiting possession of a controlled substance, Chapter 9.28 DRUGS, State statutes adopted by reference. The City coordinates with other law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies, in the enforcement of applicable laws pertaining to marijuana. THE EFFECT OF THE PROPOSAL, IF APPROVED: This ordinance provides that the Olympia Police Department and the City Attorneys Office shall make the investigation, arrest and prosecution of non-violent marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the lowest law enforcement priority. Consistent with this policy, the City of Olympia and its Police Department and City Attorney would not cooperate with the Federal Government in the enforcement of its laws concerning marijuana; and no funds would be expended in any manner for cooperation in enforcement of federal marijuana laws by local authorities. ORDINANCE NO. ________________ MARIJUANA An ordinance regarding marijuana, adopting a new section to chapter 9.28 of the Olympia Municipal Code.

Complete text:
Subject: This act deals with the implementation of policy relating to law enforcement. This act is to be known as The Marijuana Reform Act of 2012. Intent: Provisions of this act are to lower enforcement priority of federal or state marijuana ("marihuana" or "cannabis") laws. WHEREAS, our city's taxpayers are needlessly burdened by the substantial cost of investigating, arresting, prosecuting and jailing people for charges involving marijuana; WHEREAS, the federal government has violated the will of Washington State voters by obstructing patient access to medical marijuana; WHEREAS, our city understands the need to refocus limited police resources on violent and serious crimes rather than on the prosecution of non-violent individuals for charges involving marijuana, as to benefit public safety; Be it ordained by the voters in the City of Olympia that: A new ordinance is adopted and a new section is added to chapter 9.28 entitled "DRUGS" of the Olympia Municipal Code. NEW SECTION: The Olympia Police Department and the City Attorney's office shall make the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of non-violent marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the lowest law enforcement priority. Consistent with this policy, The City of Olympia and its Police Department and City Attorney shall not cooperate with The Federal Government in the enforcement of its laws concerning marijuana, and no funds shall be expended in any manner for cooperation in federal enforcement of federal marijuana laws. Severability: If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this ordinance or the application of the terms and provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected. Interpretation: This act is to be liberally construed to effectuate the defined intent of the voters.

Olympia: Marijuana Reform Act of 2012

*OPTIONAL - Due to an opinion published by the Attorney General's Office in 2006, the Office of the Secretary of State does not require that the signature gatherer sign the declaration in order for the petition to be accepted, but the declaration is required by law to be printed on the petition. See AGO 2006 No.13 for more information. I, ______________________________, swear or affirm under penalty of law that I circulated this sheet of the foregoing petition, and that, to the best of my knowledge, every person who signed this sheet of the foregoing petition knowingly and without any compensation or promise of compensation willingly signed his or her true name and that the information provided therewith is true and correct. I further acknowledge that under chapter 29A.84 RCW, forgery of signatures on this petition constitutes a class C felony, and that offering any consideration or gratuity to any person to induce them to sign a petition is a gross misdemeanor, such violations being punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. Signature: __________________________ , Address: ___________________________________ , City: ________________ , County: ______________ RCW 9A.46.020 applies to any conduct constituting harassment against a petition signature gatherer. This penalty does not preclude the victim from seeking any other remedy otherwise available under law.

All petitions must be printed 11x17 (front and back). Please return signed petitions as quickly as possible to your local coordinator, or mail to: Sensible Washington, 119 1st Ave. S, Suite 260, Seattle, WA 98104
Sensible Washington is a political non-profit, formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code. Petition printing is paid for or donated by Sensible Washington volunteers. Sensible Washington, 119 1st Avenue South, Ste. 260, Seattle, WA 98104 www.sensiblewashington.org