The Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy says adults should not be punished for using a substance far SAFER than alcohol — MARIJUANA
Group to Submit more than 9,000 signatures to the Miami Beach City Commission
MIAMI BEACH — The Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy announced a petition drive to amend the Miami Beach City Charter to decriminalize the adult possession of less than twenty grams of marijuana at Miami Beach City Hall on June 16, 2010. On Wednesday, July 13, 2011 supporters will gather at Miami Beach City Hall to present more than nine thousand signatures collected on Miami Beach to the mayor and city commission.
“It’s a great day for the the marijuana legalization movement in Florida,” said CSMP Chairman Ford Banister. “For the first time, Florida voters will soon decide a marijuana related question.”
“Our staff and volunteer canvassers have worked hard to gather the petitions over the last thirteen months. We have been involved in the community and gotten to know it very well. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response of Miami Beach residents to the petition drive, we are confident that the voters will approve the charter amendment by a large margin,” said Eric Stevens, CSMP Miami Beach Campaign Director who managed the canvassing effort.
The Sensible Marijuana Policy Amendment will amend the Miami Beach City Charter to create a new section that will punish the adult possession of less than twenty grams of marijuana with a civil fine of $100. The Sensible Marijuana Policy Charter Amendment will empower police to issue a citation for a civil infraction rather than processing a misdemeanor arrest when they find an individual to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana. The amendment will also increase the discretion of the State Attorney to permit a plea to a specific penalty for a civil infraction where appropriate. ** See below for full language of the proposed initiative. **
A dozen states have decriminalized marijuana in the past thirty years. A number of cities including Seattle, WA; Denver, CO; Oakland, CA; Missoula, MT; Columbia, MO and Ann Arbor, MI have either decriminalized marijuana or designated it to be the lowest police priority.
“It is now well established that decriminalization has had virtually no effect either on marijuana use or on related attitudes and beliefs about marijuana use among American young people. Moreover, marijuana is, without question, much safer than alcohol. Why are we driving people to drink by forcing them to choose a much more harmful intoxicant?” asked CSMP Chairman Ford Banister.
Supporters will address the Mayor and City Commission and ask that it adopt a resolution in favor of the Sensible Marijuana Policy Amendment.
The Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy extends special thanks to the Miami Beach documentary film production studio rakontur, real estate developer Todd Glaser and the many volunteers and small contributors who have made the Miami Beach initiative possible.
The Petition is available at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/33089106/Miami-Beach-petition-to-decriminalize-marijuana-possession
WHAT: Miami Beach Marijuana Decriminalization Campaign Petition Submission
WHEN: Wednesday, July 13 2011, 4:20PM to 6:30PM
WHERE: Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive
WHO: Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy (CSMP)
