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Missoula County approves marijuana initiative
11-08-06 l Missoulian l Tristan Scott

A ballot measure recommending Missoula County law enforcement officials make adult marijuana offenses their lowest priority passed Tuesday night.

The measure, dubbed Initiative 2, won the support of 22,502 Missoula voters, or 53 percent. Opponents of the initiative totaled 19,565, or 46 percent, and included some of Missoula County's top law enforcement officials.

The initiative will make marijuana crimes the single lowest priority for Missoula County authorities, but won't include marijuana sales or drug use by minors as low-priority offenses.

In no way will Tuesday's passage of Initiative 2 legalize the drug, according to Angela Goodhope, a spokeswoman with Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy, the group that proposed the measure and landed it on the ballot.

Proponents of the initiative, sponsored by Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy, say Initiative 2 strives to place increased emphasis on crimes that threaten people's lives and property and on other, more pressing drug issues. The proposal calls for a Community Oversight Committee that would consist of community members, criminal defense attorneys and a drug rehabilitation counselor who would investigate marijuana arrests and produce a report on the initiative's effects seven months after its passage.

“We are very pleased that Missoula voters approved a clearer, safer and smarter crime policy,” Goodhope said.

Police Chief Rusty Wickman and Sheriff Mike McMeekin have publicly voiced their concern about the initiative, saying they worry federal dollars could be yanked from Missoula's drug enforcement programs in retaliation to the measure.

Goodhope said all evidence suggested the contrary, pointing to Seattle's passage of a similar measure several years ago as evidence.

In Missoula, like Seattle, the measure strives to place increased emphasis on crimes that threaten people's lives and property and on other, more pressing drug issues.

“None of the negative outcomes our opponents predicted will come true,” Goodhope said. “We know that for a fact.”