San Fran Officials Make Pot Policing "Lowest Priority"

On Nov. 21, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted (7-3) to make the majority of adult pot use and possession crimes the lowest priority for city police, reports the Marijuana Policy Project, which will make San Fran the largest city to, in essence, cease arresting pot users. On E-day, voters in three other Cali cities – Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Santa Monica – passed similar “lowest priority” initiatives meaning that in total, six California cities (including Oakland and West Hollywood) with a combined population of roughly 1.4 million, have eliminated most criminal penalties associated with adult pot use.

Under San Fran’s new ordinance, policing adult pot crimes will now be considered the lowest priority – excluding pot-related offenses that occur in public, involve minors, a threat of violence, or driving under the influence, reports the MPP. In addition, the ordinance requires that letters be sent to both state and federal elected officials announcing the new ordinance and noting that the city is in favor of taxing and regulating marijuana use by adults.