Prop. 19 backers cite higher marijuana arrest rates for Latinos

Aiming to persuade Latino voters to back a marijuana legalization measure as a civil rights issue, supporters released a new report Wednesday showing that Latinos are arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession at higher rates than whites in California’s cities.

The campaign highlighted the report, one of a series that have found that minorities are arrested more frequently for marijuana possession than whites, at a news conference in Los Angeles that filled a small conference room with reporters and television news cameras.

Pollsters estimate that Latinos will make up more than a sixth of voters who cast ballots Nov. 2, and many live within the Los Angeles media market.

"We look forward to disseminating this study far and wide," said Antonio Gonzalez, president of the William C. Velasquez Institute, which studies policies that affect Latinos and sponsored the report with the Drug Policy Alliance, a national advocacy group backing Proposition 19.

Gonzalez also runs the Latino Voters League, which endorsed the measure and received $131,505 from the alliance to contact young Latino voters to ask them to back the proposition. Most recent polls have shown that Latino voters are leaning against the initiative.

Proposition 19 would allow adults 21 and older to grow up to 25 square feet and possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and it would let cities and counties authorize commercial cultivation and retail sales, and impose taxes.

Possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor with a $100 fine. Last year, California made 61,164 arrests for misdemeanor pot possession.

The study, based on state criminal justice statistics, found that Latinos were arrested more often than whites in 33 cities between 2006 and 2008. The report found the disparity to be highest in Pasadena, with Latinos arrested at 2.9 times the rate for whites, followed by Santa Monica and Alhambra at 2.7 times. In Los Angeles, the arrest rate was twice as high for Latinos.

Earlier reports found even higher disparities for African Americans. The Drug Policy Alliance is using the studies to appeal to black and Latino voters to back the initiative.

The campaign has won the endorsement of the state NAACP and the National Black Police Assn., but the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement opposed it. On Wednesday, the campaign announced the endorsement of the National Latino Officers Assn. Several major Latino organizations declined to endorse the initiative but have not opposed it.

Roger Salazar, a spokesman for the No on 19 campaign, said the initiative would not address disproportionate enforcement.

"It’s clear there are disparities in arrests, and that is a problem that we have in California and around the country," he said. "But Prop. 19 does nothing to solve those things."

He noted that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that will make possession of an ounce or less an infraction on Jan. 1 but that under the initiative, possession of more than an ounce would still be a felony.

"What we should be doing is addressing the cause of the disparities," he said.

The news conference drew two Latino police officers. Diane Goldstein, who emigrated from Mexico as a child, was the only one from California. "People at times are afraid to speak out," she said.

Goldstein, now a businesswoman, left the Redondo Beach Police Department six years ago. "By the time I retired as a lieutenant commander, it was like: Why are we dealing with pot?" she said. "It’s time to move forward. Our policies don’t work."

Anthony Miranda, executive chairman of the National Latino Officers Assn. and a retired New York City police sergeant, said that the organization has about 10,000 members but that he didn't know how many it has in California. He believes that Proposition 19 would end ethnically disproportionate enforcement and allow police to focus on serious drug crimes, he said.

"It’s not cost effective, and it’s also not logically effective," he said.

The report says Latinos are arrested at higher rates despite federal surveys indicating that they use marijuana at lower rates than whites. Stephen Gutwillig, the California director for the alliance, said the arrests stem not from racist policies but from policing tactics that concentrate on neighborhoods where minorities live.

"The police do not focus enforcement of these laws in white communities," he said.

-- John Hoeffel

Comments

[Hearst Racism]

It goes beyond the disproportionate arrests. The anti marijuana campaign started in the 1930's and was spearheaded by William Randolph Hearst. He wanted to protect his timber and paper industry form the better cultivated hemp (the paper on which our constitution is written on) so he tied marijuana to Mexicans. After the Mexican revolution, Mexican immigrants popularized recreational use of marijuana which caught on in the jazz world and Hollywood. Using wedge tactics still reminiscent of present day Republicans, Hearst used his papers and film contacts (Reefer Madness) to depict marijuana as a dangerous drug used by those dangerous Mexicans. From this sprung up a whole industry (prison) to keep those Mexicans down. Marijuana was not illegal during the roaring twenties and only became taboo after Hearst tied this product to Mexicans.

Gonzalez should pick up a history book or look at the Sleepy Lagoon court documents (another Hearst motivated racist event)to tie racism against Mexicans to the anti-marijuana hysteria. It is called marijuana, afterall - after the two most common names in Mexico: Maria and Juan.

[Pounamu]

The Drug War is making thugs out of Southland police officers:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,326885,00.html

"William Ferguson, 35, a former Los Angeles policeman, and his 33-year-old brother, Joseph, a former Long Beach officer, were convicted of charges including conspiracy to deprive people of their rights under color of law and conspiracy to possess marijuana and cocaine.

Prosecutors said the ring conducted about 40 robberies from 1999 to 2001 in which members would steal cash and drugs, then sell them on the street."

Yes on 19, to stop the violence and abuse of our rights.

[Robert]

Another CLUELESS Latino who thinks he's doing the right thing and is naive. I bet the Latinos who live on the Eastside and other parts of LA want their gang infested communities don't want to see this Prop passed. Maybe if Antonio Gonzales lived in those areas and saw the devastation, havoc, chaos, terrorist threats and more hard working Latino families endure thanks to the gangsters he would understand why giving them a reason to smoke dope would be even more devasting. Clueless are all these guys who come out "pretending" they are doing it for Latinos. WELL YOU"RE NOT you're making it worst for the good Latinos residents who have to put up with the gangsters and drug dealers.

[Cann_Do]

Salazar said:
"It’s clear there are disparities in arrests, and that is a problem that we have in California and around the country, but Prop. 19 does nothing to solve those things."
***************

What alternative universe of anti-truth does this clown live in??

In fact, passage of Prop 19 would would single-handedly eliminate all racial bias related to small quantity personal possession. Instantaneously.

Vote Yes on Prop 19; For Human, Race, States, Individual and Medical Rights.

[Matt]

So now a marijuana debate has become yet another racially motivated issue. This is absolutely ridiculous.

[junky]

Idiot potheads!!!!

[rob]

well look out is prop 19 passes. DUI's will skyrocket. Well get ever state's pot head flocking hear driving wasted. People will die!

[All Hallows Eve]

I VOTED!

YES ON PROP 19!

[slugger]

Soon weed will be legalized and the big drug companies will be out of business. Weed is a treatment for EVERYTHING!! A miracle drug!! Except it doesn't do anything to treat stupidity, ignorance...

[Paul]

pot has no racial boundaries.
everyone should enjoy it

[Ramonet Harris]

"The police do not focus enforcement of these laws in white communities"
That is all.

[kimi]

state can't even keep track on the polititions. you think they can keep track of drugs. this is how the pot law will work. you think if its legal drug dealers will stop? NOPE, they will stop selling weed to adults and sell crack or other drugs. but for underage kids YES BUSINESS STILL GOING. but now standing on the corner selling it is legal as it is legal to have in your possesion. pot will be curbed like booze no sales after 2 am? drug testing for DUI driving cost the state how much more to the state? to avoid taxes from the state you see a DEALER? everyone right now is doing what they can to get around the cig tax. but cig's are differant people are locked on certain brands. they can't make them. the only thing you are doing is make it legal for drug dealers to SELL it. the drugs dealers can beat any CA market price. there be pot growing in almost every back yard to help people make money. state taxes be nothing compared to what the drug dealers will make.

[Jay c. Almeida]

On November 2nd California has a chance to change the failed policies that have caused No Breathing room for our budget. We have to differentiate between Crime & Health. Once we show the world that marijuana is a culture gold mine the people will make society into a more natural system as opposed to the wasteful spending that occurs.

[Andy K]

Let us contemplate the possibilities of why the arrest rate is higher:
1, They smoke more weed so get caught more often
2. They are not very smart on how/where they smoke, so
get more attention than clever individuals.
3. They attract cops by loud music,dress,tatoos and
overall demeanor that attracts attention and carry
weed making it easy to arrest.
4. Driving without a valid drivers insurance, etc.
give reason for officers to search their cars and
eurka, more weed.

I could go on but you probably get the general idea.

[Rusty]

This is just a scare tactic to get Mexicans to vote yes on Prop.19. The LA city council held a meeting today to propose putting a tax on the 2011 ballot that would take effect if 19 is adopted, the "tax" is $500 per plant + 10% of gross receipts for the sale and cultivation of marijuana on top of Prop 19s self proposed tax of $50 an ounce. Do the math, if Prop 19 is passed the price of cannabis will skyrocket and drive it back into the black market. Prop 19 will NOT save California, it will in effect create more laws against cannabis and help generate more fines and penalties to fill these greedy politicians pockets and leave the patients at the mercy of street dealers again. This prop was written by people who are wanting to get in on the ground floor of the next "Big Tobacco" type industry , not to help cannabis patients. We need to completely legalize cannabis so these vultures cannot gouge us. VOTE NO!! ON Prop. 19.

[DJDaddyBalls]

unbeleavable, what the hell you illigals want next, you get fee medical.. ( wich americans have to fight for ) welfare, tax breaks, n now you feel violated over maijuana issues, go bk to where you belong.. your country is so much better then ours... why you want to be here?????

[Joe Quinteros]

Great, how are we going to call this new drug cartel? The California Cartel?
Incredible to see what money can do. I guess these people in favor of the legalization of marijuana don't see the killing going on in Mexico, just for the money.

[kongoman]

Of course the arrest rate is higher for latinos than whites. The arrest rate of whites vs any minorities is always going to be higher for minorities. They are harrassed by authorities a lot more than whites will ever be. Just another asinine article by the LA Times. It's sad to think as a younger man my dream was to be able to write for them.

[jsknow]

All major authorities agree that the vast majority of so called “drug-related” violent crime is caused by the prohibition of drugs, rather than the drugs themselves. This was the same during alcohol prohibition. Alcohol prohibition created violent criminal organizations just like every other drug prohibition has. These violent crimes should be labeled prohibition related, not drug related. Ending alcohol prohibition is exactly why you don’t see shootouts over that drug trade any more. Stop funding criminals, gangsters and terrorists with hundreds of billions of tax free $ every year, LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND RATIONALLY REGULATE IT LIKE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO! THE YEAR ALCOHOL PROHIBITION ENDED VIOLENT CRIME FELL BY 65% ! VOTE YES ON 19 AND GET ALL THE PRO-19 VOTERS YOU CAN TO DO THE SAME !

[jsknow]

Many government studies have cited the relative safety of marijuana but rather than base rational marijuana policy in science and facts, our government ignores science and facts and promotes lies and fear mongering. On March 22, 1972 the Richard Nixon-appointed, 13-member National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse recommended the decriminalization of marijuana, concluding, “[Marijuana's] relative potential for harm to the vast majority of individual users and its actual impact on society does not justify a social policy designed to seek out and firmly punish those who use it.” Richard Nixon chose to ignore the advice of this well qualified commission and start the modern escalation of criminalizing marijuana consumers. The lies he promoted have done much harm but they served his selfish motives and got him re-elected based largely on him starting the “war on drugs”, which is actually a violent unconstitutional war against nonviolent citizens, which are no threat to their selves or society. Google: Drug War Victims.

[scott]

it's about not doing it in places to get caught, or put yourself in those situations. The white is just a detail. whites this whites that

[jsknow]

The laws prohibiting marijuana are NOT a result of any harm from marijuana. They are the result of racism, lies and greed. Read the well documented proof of that and a lot more marijuana TRUTH in these two articles, Google: “WHY IS MARIJUANA ILLEGAL, Pete Guither” and “MARIJUANA AND HEMP THE UNTOLD STORY, Thomas J. Bouril”, or click the links to those articles on the webpage below:
Internet Explorer web browser: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/home
All Other Browsers: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/index.html

[get up, stand up]

California:

VOTE YES ON PROP. 19!

Now is your chance to make history. Our failed drug war doesn't stop drug use, doesn't keep kids safe, and robs people of their civil liberties - especially Latinos and African-Americans. Half of all Americans have smoked cannabis - including the last three presidents who never would have been president if they were arrested for their pot use!

Tax and regulate!

VOTE YES ON PROP. 19!

[EgadsNo]

Drug abuse is not a law enforcement problem- it is an education and treatment facility problem. Its like trying to turn a screw with a hammer- you can do it but it isnt pretty or effective.

[Joemamabush]

Lacking some information. Location of arrests. Some hoods are 90 percent latino or black. Plus officers that arrest in latinos hoods what race are the officers? Amazing that the reporter went to college but forgot to report some facts for us as a readers.