URGENT!!! CA Du'ers help California decriminalize marijuana

[MindPilot]

California is a few hours away from decriminalizing first-time marijuana
possession for personal use......and just 4 votes short. We need to act
right now to push this legislation through. Please call the legislators
below. It has to be done right now.

The bill, SB 131 introduced by Byron Sher, will make the first conviction
for marijuana possession for personal use of less than an ounce an
infraction with a $100 fine. It will win TODAY if we move right now!!!
The legislators listed below need to hear from YOU!!!!!!!

Please send a message to [e-mail] telling us
that you made the calls.

WHEN YOU CALL THE LEGISLATOR YOU CAN SAY:

"I am a California resident calling in support of SB 131, the Byron Sher bill
which will make the first conviction for marijuana possession for personal
use of less than an ounce an infraction with a $100 fine. It has already
passed the Senate and is being voted on in the Assembly this afternoon."

YOU CAN USE ARGUMENTS LIKE:

1. The bill is sponsored by the Judicial Council, judges who don't want to
waste money and time on minor cases like possession of small amounts
of marijuana.

2. Misdemeanor marijuana convictions disqualify individuals from college
loans and grants under the federal Higher Education Act, foreclosing on
educational opportunity. This bill will help to keep education available to
all and reduce strain on our criminal justice system.

3. Convictions have a proven impact on long term employability.
Convictions are concentrated in poor communities and communities of
color. Their cumulative effect is economic disempowerment of certain
sectors of society, and intergenerational transfer of poverty. A large
part of the Californian population is communities of color. This bill would
help to protect them from harsh drug conviction consequences.

***If your local legislator is listed below - call him or her first.*** Tell
them
that you are their constituent. Even if your local legislator is not listed,
call
any or all from the list below (the more calls you make the better):

Cindy Montaez 916-319-2039
San Fernando, North Hollywood,
Pacoima, Panorama City, Sun Valley,
Sylmar

Dario Frommer 916-319 2043
Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Burbank,
Glendale

Simon Salinas 916-319-2028
Salinas, Monterey, Santa Cara,
San Benito, Santa Cruz

Sara Reyes 916-319-2031
Fresno, Sanger

George Nakano 916-319-2053
Los Angeles, Venice, Redondo Beach,
Torrance, Lomita

Lou Correa 916-319-2069
Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove,
Orange County

Manny Diaz 916-319-2023
San Jose

Rebecca Cohn 916-319-2024
San Jose, Saratoga

Barbara Matthews 916-319-2017
Tracy, Stockton, Merced, Newman,
Atwater

Nichole Parra 916-319-2030
Bakersfield, Wasco, Coalinga, Dinuba,
Kingsburg


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Please consider joining the Drug Policy Alliance: http://www.drugpolicy.org/join

[TLM]

1. Big KICK

[ixion]

2. GO CA DU'ers!!

woohoo!! :bounce:

[Demobrat]

3. Done and done.

Thanks for the heads up.

[shanti]

4. i thought california already had this on the books..

if you're caught with less than an ounce, $100 fine. :shrug:

[Demobrat]

6. San Francisco does, I believe.

But it's not statewide.

[Tinoire]

5. Post this in activism!

Kick!

[slackmaster]

7. Here's a link to the bill as of 7/8/03

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0101-0150/sb_131_bill_20030708_amended_asm.html

And the Senate floor legislative analysis as of 9/11/03:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0101-0150/sb_131_cfa_20030911_125349_sen_floor.html

Official California Legislative Information site in general (great site BTW):

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/

BTW under present law under 1 oz. first offense CAN be charged as an in fraction. They will typically press for misdemeanor (with a $100 fine) but agree to the infraction with a $100 fine if you cop a plea.

[kimchi]

8. kick

go CA!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Done..called Lou Correa