On May 23, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its prison population by more than 30,000 inmates because of conditions that the 5-4 court majority found to be cruel and unusual punishment. Despite this directive -- one that could potentially result in the release of dangerous felons -- California legislators refused to pass a bill that would reduce prison time for marijuana growers. Not only are state officials beholden to the noxious prison guards union, which has resisted reform that could allow California's correction department to stretch its prison budget (through contracting out, for instance), but legislators refuse to take even the most modest steps to reduce sentences for non-violent drug offenders.
AB1017, by San Francisco Democrat Tom Ammiano, would do the following,
according to the official analysis: "Existing law requires that every
person who plants, cultivates,
harvests, dries, or processes any marijuana, or any part thereof, except
as otherwise provided by law, be punished by imprisonment in the state
prison. This bill would make that crime punishable by imprisonment in a
county jail for a period of not more than one year or by imprisonment
in the state prison."
Only one Republican voted for this, with the rest of the GOP striking a "tough on drugs" stance. But many Democrats refused to back the legislation after arm-twisting by PORAC (the Peace Officers Research Association of California, a law enforcement union advocacy group) and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the prison guards union. Whatever one thinks about drug policy, it's hard to understand the desire to keep non-violent offenders in state prison at a time when the state is facing the potential release of violent felons. Once again, union policy has little to do with public policy. The bill is still open for another hour or so, but it's unlikely that any votes will change by then.
Only one Republican voted for this, with the rest of the GOP striking a "tough on drugs" stance. But many Democrats refused to back the legislation after arm-twisting by PORAC (the Peace Officers Research Association of California, a law enforcement union advocacy group) and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the prison guards union. Whatever one thinks about drug policy, it's hard to understand the desire to keep non-violent offenders in state prison at a time when the state is facing the potential release of violent felons. Once again, union policy has little to do with public policy. The bill is still open for another hour or so, but it's unlikely that any votes will change by then.
The leadership of CRP and the OCGOP are joined at the hip with the leadership of organizations like the Lincoln Club and New Majority. There is a conscious effort to resist change and to inhibit any agenda of change. If you think drugs are addictive, consider the addictive influence of money from the war on drugs. Money is as addicting as any drug. Change is inevitable. The leadership of CRP and OCGOP will change. It isn't if it's when.