City of Bellingham Initiative No.

2012-03
WARNING: Every person who signs this petition with any other than his or her true name, or who knowingly signs more than one of these petitions, or signs a petition seeking election when he or she is not a legal voter, or signs a petition when he or she is not otherwise qualified to sign, or makes herein any false statement, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

LOW PRIORITY ENFORCEMENT AND FEDERAL NON-COOPERATION OF MARIJUANA LAWS

I N I T I AT I V E P E T I T I O N F O R S U B M I S S I O N TO T H E C I T Y C O U N C I L O F B E L L I N G H A M , WA S H I N G TO N TO: Finance Director, City of Bellingham, Washington: We, the undersigned registered voters of the City of Bellingham, Washington, respectfully direct that this petition and the proposed measure known as City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2012-03, and entitled: Statement of Subject: City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2012-03 concerns law enforcement with respect to non-violent marijuana offenses. Description: This measure would direct the Police Department and Office of the City Attorney to make the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of non-violent marijuana offenses, when the marijuana is intended for adult, personal use, the lowest law enforcement priority. This measure would also direct the Police Department not to cooperate with the Federal Government in the enforcement of federal marijuana laws and prohibit funds to be expended for cooperation with federal enforcement of federal marijuana laws. Question: Should this measure be enacted as a City of Bellingham ordinance? Yes ____ No ____. A full, true, and correct copy of which is attached to this petition, be transmitted to the City Council of the City of Bellingham, Washington, and we respectfully petition the City Council to enact said proposed measure into law; furthermore, if the City Council fails to enact this measure that it be submitted to a vote of the people at a regular or special election to be held on a date and in the manner required by the Revised Code of Washington; and each of us for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition, I am a legal voter of the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, State of Washington, and my address is correctly stated on this petition and I have knowingly signed this petition only once.

You must be registered to vote in WASHINGTON STATE, and reside within CITY LIMITS of the CITY OF BELLINGHAM for your signature to be valid. Sign in black or blue ink only.
Petitioner's Signature (as on voter's registration):
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Printed Name (as on voter's registration):

Residence Address (Street Name and Number Only):

City & State:

Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA

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All petitions must be printed 11x17 (front and back). Please return signed petitions as quickly as possible to your local coordinator, or mail to:

Sensible Washington, 119 1st Ave. S, Ste. 260, Seattle, WA 98104 www.sensiblewashington.org (206) 707-5502 Paid for by Sensible Washington

Summary of Measure:
THE LAW AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS: The City of Bellingham charges adult marijuana offenses pursuant to the State Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Chapter 69.50 RCW, the Medical Use of Marijuana Act, Chapter 69.51A RCW, and City of Bellingham Municipal Code Title 10 CRIMINAL CODE Chapter 08 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES 10.08.020 - POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA PROHIBITED - PENALTIES. The City coordinates with other law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies, in the enforcement of applicable laws pertaining to marijuana. THE EFFECT OF THE PROPOSAL, IF APPROVED: This measure would direct the Police Department and Office of the City Attorney to make the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of non-violent marijuana offenses, when the marijuana is intended for adult, personal use, the lowest law enforcement priority. This measure would also direct the Police Department not to cooperate with the Federal Government in the enforcement of federal marijuana laws and prohibit funds to be expended for cooperation with federal enforcement of federal marijuana laws.

"City of Bellingham Initiative NO. 2012-03"

A measure regarding marijuana, adopting a new section to chapter 10.08 of the Bellingham Municipal Code.

Complete text:
Statement of Subject: City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2012-03 concerns law enforcement with respect to non-violent marijuana offenses. Intent: Provisions of this act are to lower enforcement priority of federal or state marijuana ("marihuana" or "cannabis") laws. WHEREAS, our city's taxpayers are needlessly burdened by the substantial cost of investigating, arresting, prosecuting and jailing people for charges involving marijuana; WHEREAS, the federal government has violated the will of Washington State voters by obstructing patient access to medical marijuana; WHEREAS, our city understands the need to refocus limited police resources on violent and serious crimes rather than on the prosecution of non-violent individuals for charges involving marijuana, as to benefit public safety; Be it ordained by the voters in the City of Bellingham that: A new ordinance is adopted and a new section is added to chapter 10.08 entitled "Controlled Substances" of the Bellingham Municipal Code. NEW SECTION: The Bellingham Police Department and the City Attorney's office shall make the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of non-violent marijuana offenses, where the marijuana is intended for adult personal use, the lowest law enforcement priority. Consistent with this policy, The City of Bellingham and its Police Department and City Attorney shall not cooperate with The Federal Government in the enforcement of its laws concerning marijuana, and no funds shall be expended in any manner for cooperation in federal enforcement of federal marijuana laws. Severability: If any provision of this measure or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this measure or the application of the terms and provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected. Interpretation: This act is to be liberally construed to effectuate the defined intent of the voters.

City of Bellingham Initiative 2012-03

*OPTIONAL - Due to an opinion published by the Attorney General's Office in 2006, the Office of the Secretary of State does not require that the signature gatherer sign the declaration in order for the petition to be accepted, but the declaration is required by law to be printed on the petition. See AGO 2006 No.13 for more information. I, ______________________________, swear or affirm under penalty of law that I circulated this sheet of the foregoing petition, and that, to the best of my knowledge, every person who signed this sheet of the foregoing petition knowingly and without any compensation or promise of compensation willingly signed his or her true name and that the information provided therewith is true and correct. I further acknowledge that under chapter 29A.84 RCW, forgery of signatures on this petition constitutes a class C felony, and that offering any consideration or gratuity to any person to induce them to sign a petition is a gross misdemeanor, such violations being punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. Signature: __________________________ , Address: ___________________________________ , City: ________________ , County: ______________ RCW 9A.46.020 applies to any conduct constituting harassment against a petition signature gatherer. This penalty does not preclude the victim from seeking any other

All petitions must be printed 11x17 (front and back). Please return signed petitions as quickly as possible to your local coordinator, or mail to: Sensible Washington, 119 1st Ave. , Suite 260, Seattle, WA 98104
Sensible Washington is a political non-profit, formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code. Petition printing is paid for or donated by Sensible Washington volunteers. Sensible Washington, 119 1st Avenue South, Ste. 260, Seattle, WA 98104 www.sensiblewashington.org