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MAYORS’ BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION CALLS FOR FEDERAL RESPECT OF LOCAL MARIJUANA LAWS

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US Conference of Mayors Urges Restraint in Enforcement Efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2013

CONTACT: Darby Beck at darby.beck@leap.cc or 415.823.5496

LAS VEGAS, NV – The United States Conference of Mayors passed a bipartisan resolution today calling for the federal government to respect voter will and allow states and localities to determine their own policies on marijuana. Eighteen mayors co-sponsored the resolution, which requests the amendment of federal laws and a de-prioritization of enforcement efforts in communities that have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use. The move was hailed by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an organization of cops, judges, corrections officials and others who have witnessed firsthand the destruction wrought by the war on drugs and now advocate for its end.

"Mayors and police chiefs are particularly well-situated to understand the futility and destruction of the prohibition on marijuana," said retired Seattle police chief Norm Stamper. "They see the skewed policing priorities that emphasize enforcement of drug laws over investigation of violent crimes. They see budgets stretched too thin. They receive the midnight calls when a SWAT team raid has gone bad and someone lies dead because of it. The people who see the way the war on marijuana works on the ground know that a well-run system of regulation and taxation is a far superior way to deal with drug use."

The resolution was drafted by Marijuana Majority, an organization working to make marijuana reform a mainstream issue. In coordination with LEAP and other drug policy reform organizations, the group sent more than 7,000 letters to mayors around the country asking them to support the resolution. A copy of the resolution and list of co-sponsors can be found here.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition represents more than 100,000 law enforcement officials and supporters in 120 countries. Please contact Darby Beck darby.beck@leap.cc or (415) 823.5496 to arrange an interview with a law enforcement officer supporting the legalization of marijuana.

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Darby Beck, Media Relations Director
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
phone: (415) 823-5496
e-mail: media@leap.cc
http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com

Videos of LEAP cops: http://YouTube.com/CopsSayLegalizeDrugs
LEAP on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CopsSayLegalize
LEAP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CopsSayLegalizeDrugs

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washington marijuana Colorado drug legalize drugs federal legalization decriminalization law enforcement Mayor us conference of mayors

Quotes

Mayors and police chiefs are particularly well-situated to understand the futility and destruction of the prohibition on marijuana. They see the skewed policing priorities that emphasize enforcement of drug laws over investigation of violent crimes. They see budgets stretched too thin. They receive the midnight calls when a SWAT team raid has gone bad and someone lies dead because of it. The people who see the way the war on marijuana works on the ground know that a well-run system of regulation and taxation is a far superior way to deal with drug use.
Retired Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper