L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca says deputies would enforce marijuana laws even if Prop. 19 passes

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday his deputies’ marijuana enforcement would not change even if Proposition 19, which would legalize the drug in California, passes Nov. 2.

“Proposition 19 is not going to pass, even if it passes,” Baca said in a news conference Friday at sheriff's headquarters in Monterey Park.

Baca, whose department polices three-fourths of the county, was bolstered Friday by an announcement from the Obama administration that federal officials would continue to “vigorously enforce” marijuana laws in California, even if state voters pass the measure.

Baca said the proposition was superseded by federal law and if passed, would be found unconstitutional.

Campaign contributions: Who has given for and against Prop. 19? 

Flanked by other opponents of the measure, including Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, Baca made a colorful assault on marijuana use and sales. Asked if he had ever experimented with the drug, Baca was unequivocal. “Hell no,” he said.

Baca said legalizing marijuana would have far-reaching repercussions, including increasing the costs of drug rehabilitation, causing traffic accidents, prompting labor disputes with employees getting high on the job and providing a safe cover for drug cartels selling harder narcotics.

California’s laws for personal users already are lenient, he said.

“If you have a need for an ounce or less … then use your marijuana, but use it privately,” he said. “If you want to do a joint in your house, do it. Leave the rest of us alone.”

Baca said personal users smoking in their homes were already a non-priority for police agencies, including his own. His department’s target, he said, are the dealers.

Baca came out against the measure early on, joining forces with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to try to defeat it. Polls have shown California voters are split.

Baca said Friday local law enforcement agencies should abide by federal drug laws prohibiting marijuana even if the state measure passes.

“[Prop.] 19 has no effect on what we’re going to do,” he said

-- Robert Faturechi in Monterey Park

Photo: L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Read more:

Proposition 19: California's marijuana legalization debate

 

Comments

[Peet]

"Polls have shown California voters are split."

Every poll for the past month, except for a Reuters poll in early October, has shown a 3-7 point lead for the Yes on 19 forces. "Split" implies evenly split. The voters aren't. There's a clear and consistent trend in favor of the initiative. The Reuters poll is plainly an outlier. "Polls have shown voters leaning slightly towards legalization," would be much more accurate.

[m3ndo]

Rand, just like the federal government, manufactures their own results to further their own agenda. Rather than being a slave to irrelevant statistics and propaganda, why don't we formulate our own thoughts? Stop being lazy and think for yourself. Such laziness is the reason why we're in this mess.

[Dave]

It's one step closer to a police state when the Sheriff can choose to enforce laws that have been expunged while refusing to enforce laws (e.g., anti-noise ordinances) that remain on the books.

[blacklistcommie]

Sheriff Lee Baca needs an early retirement at the least, he sound like Hitler condemning the jews. he sais he wants us (potheads) to "Leave the rest of us alone." the truth is he's a drug war profiteer. I'm sure he's a rich man from all the private property he stole in the name of the drug war, haven't you seen or heard about all the great deals at the police auction, their not selling police cars. They'll seize your property and sell it before you ever go to trial, and if you win your case they still have sold all your property and you have to sue them to get any sort of compensation. Of coarse he's never tried marijuana, then in some way he'd be forced to relate to the people he continues to violate.

[TheVEG]

Once again Sheriff Baca proves how corrupt or incompetent he is. Only now his arrogance is really shining through. How dare he thumb his nose at the public's will. Baca the capo of the Los Angeles County Cartel...you're a wannabe politician and it shows.

[Pedro Pride]

The fact is that Federal superseedes the States laws. Even if this law is to pass the Supreme Court will throw it out because of the higher Federal Law...
Its in the constitution ...
Police in all states are required to enforce the Federal, State, and local laws. However State and local laws cannot cancel out Federal Laws...
And if so many of you are worried about the voice of the people why are you also not throwing a fit at Prop 8?? Wasnt that also the voice of the people??
Funny how you want the voice to be heard only when it benefits your cause... hypocrisy!!

[MattArmstrong]

@Cooler Heads -

"Please note that the Rand Corporation just published a study that directly refutes all the claims manufactured by the proponents of prop 19. The Times should do a featured article on the Rand research findings."

The RAND findings are flawed - they didn't take into consideration Marijuana grown here in California, and they claim that a pound of commercial grade Marijuana (the cartels best selling product!) costs only $250, when it's really more than double that. Beau Kilmer of RAND constantly cites himself in this report as well, somehow thinking that substantiates his claims... how laughable.

[isthison?]

Too many dumb arguments on both sides. Unfortunately, Baca is sounding like the AZ Sheriff here - great soundbites for PR, but certainly not correct unless he's willing to start enforcing all federal laws...why does he get to pick and choose which ones?

People jamming up our legal system and prisons for nonviolent, drug related crimes is ridiculous. Stoners driving or working high is just plain dumb and irresponsible.

C'mon folks - Cannabis will eventually be legal. Let's hope for the best with that...no one really knows if decriminalizing it is truly a good thing.

[Fred]

Why stop there? Enforce the "Casual drug users should be taken out and shot / Smoke a joint, lose your life" philosophy of Police Chief Daryl Gates.

[BIG GAME HUNTER]

Baca, your awesome dog!!

[MattArmstrong]

@Peet -

"The Reuters poll is plainly an outlier. "

True, and it was also biased towards Republicans. The 223 Repubs surveyed made up more than 40% of the poll, when Repubs barely make up 30% of Californians.

[Jeb]

Sounds like a desperate last minute SCARE tactic taken on behalf of local law enforcement. This guy is WAY out of bounds...

[Gill]

Its funny coming from him considering the sheriffs department is constantly violated peoples constitutional rights. LASD is even more corrupt then LAPD.

He needs to go

[Obijohn]

It is funny to see how retired law enforcement officials are pro legalization but active officials are against. To me is very clear. They are just afraid there will lose their jobs. Without the need for enforcing marijuana prohibition, we will be needing less police resources on the streets. They are afraid they will have lay offs.

[Efrain Rojas]

Does the Sheriff work for us, or the other way around? Law enforcement should focus on solving and preventing real crimes, not cuffing and stuffing to justify their bloated budgets.

[TheDude]

Looks like the REAL thugs are exposing themselves.

[Dave]

This man has expressed intent to assault, molest, kidnap, and falsely imprison law abiding citizens. This man should be jailed for conspiracy to commit all of the above crimes. He should be dismissed in disgrace and imprisoned.

Any law enforcement officer who conspires to break the law alongside him, or under his command should also be dismissed and imprisoned.

[Thomas]

"Baca said legalizing marijuana would have far-reaching repercussions, including increasing the costs of drug rehabilitation, causing traffic accidents, prompting labor disputes with employees getting high on the job and providing a safe cover for drug cartels selling harder narcotics."

Who goes to rehab for pot? And people can't drink on the job, so how would legalizing marijuana be any different?

[TYC]

The people speak and the government hears nothing. Why do we even vote? Why do we respect the law? The law doesn't respect us. Government is by consent. If the people do not consent to a law and vote it out, then the law is void. If the government still enforces the law, it is without consent of the people. Now you have a fascist state. Apparently, that's exactly what the people in power want...to continue holding power even though the people voted against it.

Welcome to 1984...for your own benefit.

[BKW]

like these guys ever do anything besides take our money and bust our balls.

YES ON 19

[Thomas]

If prop 19 passes and this idiot harasses people for having marijuana, there will be lawsuits. Which will be pricey for his department to deal with, money they don't have to spare with the state's current state. I kind of hope he does just so I can get pleasure watching his career burn.

[d0d0ng]

Those Californians who will vote for Prop 19 are not using their brains after all. Weeds mentality. They forgot that power granted to federal such as law on controlled substance cannot be override by the state voters.

It speaks loud of grass mentality in California.

[THE A MAN]

Have we gone back to the days of The Clint Eastwood Western Movies?

[THE A MAN]

Impeach Leroy Baca Now

[Paul Bielma]

“If you have a need for an ounce or less … then use your marijuana, but use it privately,” he said. “If you want to do a joint in your house, do it. Leave the rest of us alone.”

Sheriff Baca is okay with private use, but he still wants to criminalize the action of obtaining it. Well then, how the heck do you legally obtain it then?

The people of California are seeking a path to legal and safe access. We want to be friends and cooperate with the police. But please.... give us legal access!!!

There are plenty of responsible, hard working adults who like to smoke a joint when they get home from work. We don't bother anyone. We just don't want to be called a criminal for it.

No Sheriff Baca.... YOU leave us alone!