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Originally Posted by Wikipedia
On January 1, 1975, Senate Bill 95 made possession under 28.349 grams (one ounce) of cannabis for non-medical use punishable by a $100 fine; stricter punishments exist for amounts exceeding 28.349 grams, possession on school grounds, or subsequent violations or for sale or cultivation. If the offender is under the age of 21, his or her driver's license may be suspended for up to one year.
On November 7, 2000, Proposition 36 was passed by 61-39 percent. The proposition allowed first and second time non-violent simple drug possession offenders the option to receive drug treatment and legal probation instead of incarceration.
In April 1973, Berkeley passed The Marijuana Ordinace I (BMI I), which forbid law enforcement from arresting persons for cannabis related crimes unless cleared by the City Council. In the case Younger v. Berkeley City Council, an Alameda County Superior Court Judge Lionel Wilson struck down BMI I because it violates city code that states the City Manager has discretion over police personnel.
In 1979, Berkeley passed The Marijuana Ordiance II (BMI II), which made the enforcement of cannabis laws--including cultivation, sale, and transport—-the lowest priority for law enforcement, banned the expenditure of funds for enforcement of cannabis statutes, allowed residents to grow cannabis and report any theft of cannabis plants to law enforcement, and directed the City Council to lobby in favor of the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis.
In 2000, Mendocino County became the first county in the United States to repeal any type of punishment for non-medical personal use of cannabis when Measure G passed, by a vote of 58-42 percent. The Green Party-sponsored Measure G provides protection from law enforcement for persons possessing no more than 25 adult female flowering cannabis plants or the equivalent in dried cannabis. This measure was however modified in 2008 by Measure B by 52-48%
On November 3, 2004, Oakland passed Proposition Z, by a vote of 65-35 percent. Proposition Z made personal adult use, distribution, sale, cultivation, and possession of non-medical cannabis, the lowest priority for law enforcement. Proposition Z will allow the licensing, taxing, and regulation of cannabis sales if California law is amended to allow so. The proposition states the city of Oakland must advocate to the state of California to adopt laws to regulate and tax cannabis.
On November 7, 2006, Santa Barbara, passed Measure P, by a vote of 66-34 percent. Measure P made non-medical cannabis offenses the lowest priority for law enforcement; this does not apply to the cultivation, distribution, sale, public use, or driving under the influence.
On November 7, 2006, Santa Cruz passed Measure K, by a vote of 64-36 percent. Measure K made adult non-medical cannabis offenses the lowest priority for law enforcement; this does not apply to cultivation, distribution, sale in public, sale to minors, or driving under the influence. The measure requests the Santa Cruz city clerk send letters annually to state and federal representatives advocating reform of cannabis laws.
In 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a cannabis ordinance, by a vote of 8-3. This ordinance made adult cannabis offenses the lowest priority for law enforcement; this does not apply to the sale in a public place or driving under the influence. The ordinance states that the San Francisco government will urge state and federal authorities to enact similar laws.
On November 7, 2006, Santa Monica passed Measure Y, by a vote of 65-35 percent. Measure Y made cannabis offenses the lowest priority for law enforcement. The measure states the city clerk of Santa Monica will encourage state and federal authorities to adopt similar laws.
In 2006, West Hollywood City Council passed a cannabis resolution, by a vote of 4-0, which made West Hollywood the first city in Southern California to adopt a lowest law enforcement priority law for cannabis offenses. The resolution stated “it is not the policy of the City or its law enforcement agency to target possession of small amounts of cannabis and the consumption of non-medical cannabis in private by adults."
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