Pubdate: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA) Copyright: 2006 Santa Cruz Sentinel Contact: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/news/edit/form.htm Website: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/394 Author: Bill D'Amico. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) INITIATIVE WILL DO GOOD Santa Cruz's city attorney and police officials are concerned about the marijuana initiative on the November ballot. They should look into the experience from similar initiatives in two larger cities - Seattle and Oakland. Seattle has been under a similar vote passed in 2003, while Measure Z passed in 2004. Seattle's initiative required statistical research into how the newly freed police have spent their time and found salutary effects on violent- and property-crime rates. Santa Cruz has much to hope for and little to fear after the initiative passes in November. Bill D'Amico Ben Lomond - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman