 |
 |
By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE APRIL 28 DEBATE
The contentious race for Sonoma County district attorney took a mellower tone Wednesday night as the two candidates assured a room of medical marijuana advocates they would not step up prosecution of qualified patients.
Two-term incumbent Stephan Passalacqua and challenger Jill Ravitch agreed to support existing law that allows medically prescribed cultivation and possession. They also said they would honor any new legislation that would open marijuana use to adults 21 or older.
“I understand there is a place for it and understand the law requires safe access in our community,” Ravitch said during the candidates’ fourth debate at the downtown Santa Rosa library.
Passalacqua told the crowd of more than 100 people that he knows “first-hand” that medical marijuana works and would continue a policy of not pursuing jury trials against people with valid doctor recommendations.
“We’re going to continue to give the benefit of the doubt to qualified patients,” Passalacqua said.
Both candidates gave more nuanced answers about their views on pot collectives, the return of seized marijuana and the expected November ballot initiative that would tax and legalize small amounts of pot for all adults.
Currently in Sonoma County, people with a doctor’s recommendation may possess up to three pounds of marijuana and grow up to 30 plants.
The Tax Cannabis initiative headed for the November election would allow an ounce for people over 21 and limited cultivation.
Under questioning from co-hosts with the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana and Americans for Safe Access, the two candidates were asked if they support its passage and what changes they would envision.
Passalacqua said the initiative seemed well-intentioned but posed problems for public safety because it leaves regulation to local authorities. Also, he said it would complicate practices for employers who receive federal money under drug-free workplace policies.
“That would be problematic,” Passalacqua said.
Ravitch said even with its passage, marijuana would remain illegal under federal law. In addition, she said there would still be vagueness about distribution.
Neither candidate would say how they would vote on the initiative but agreed to support the outcome.
Both agreed legalization would free up resources to concentrate on more pressing concerns, such as gangs and domestic violence.
“It’s going to completely change the law enforcement arena,” Passalacqua said. “We won’t be prosecuting these cases.”
On other questions, like the issue of returning seized property after charges are dismissed, the candidates responded they had no jurisdiction. It it up to law enforcement to do that, they said.
Ravitch, currently a prosecutor in pot-rich Mendocino County, said she would object to the release of contraband in cases involving illegal guns or other violence. But where possible, she said she favors the return.
Both vowed to continue an open dialogue with medical pot users and grant immunity from prosecution to those who follow the law.
Moderator Joe Rogoway, who opened the debate by asking the rival candidates to stick to the subject of medical marijuana, said he thought the event was enlightening.
“It’s important that people affected were able to see what each of the candidates’ positions are so they can make an intelligent vote.”
Subscribe by Email
Follow us on Twitter
Interesting.
The limits on plant numbers are currently null and void under Kelly / Pomphactedy / and Archer. So indicating that 30 is the limit is not accurate. No mention of Pasalacqua dropping the limit from 99 to 30? Initially, Sonoma settled on 99 plants after talking to medical patients, doctors, co-op employees and independednt experts. But that number was dropped to 30 after pressure from the police chiefs associations. Curriously, language reffering to the square footage necessary to garden sufficient quantities of medicine were not altered, thus the Sonoma County guidelines contradict themselves. But it’s so hard to find the guidelines, why bother clarifying them?…
HE DOES PROSECUTE PEOPLE W/ NOTES!!
For 19 months I went to court before Pasalacqua’s office dropped the case in exchange for not suing for the value of the plants. I presented my note durring my arrest, fully co-operated with authorities. Had others w/ notes show up, court, but only one testified. There were no guns, less than $500 cash, less than 3 pounds… cop contradicted his own testimony (destroyed evidence w/ out documentation as per california health + safety codes, also violates bill of rights) cop testified he never bothered to read the law (year after arrest). cop missed 2 court dates. District Attorney representative Marry Murphy was late almost every time. Judge Antolini said it was 6 times in a row. sometimes up to 2 hours late.
D.A. representative Jamar once argued there should be no collective gardening (in direct contradiction to county regulations), Said the state should provide more guidance. So when Attorney General Jerry Brown issued guidelines indicating cases like mine should be dismissed, the D.A.’ s office said they didn’t have to follow them.
BTW I’m a former notary who passed a background check and was, at one point, considered an officer of the state. Being prosecuted for a year and a half impacted professional, + personall life. Durring the year and a half going to court, 3 people who were involved in my collective had surgeries and were prescribed pain killers. Obviously, being raided and then prosecuted was detrimental for their acquisition of green medicine. This is exactly the kind of thing that medicinal MJ is attempting to avoid.
anyways. i know for a fact that the pasalacqua regime prosecutes.
YOU ARE A DUMP TRUCK! Do you even vote? Do you work for Stephen? IMMAGRATION PROBLEMS BELONGS TO OUR FEDERAL GOVERMENT TO REFORM! So take this problem to where it belongs and let the DA race be about our County and the issues that we have in our community. IMMAGRATION is a National problem and Sonoma County is only a small piece of the pie. And before you start you’re judging of ALL illegal immigrants, look at the latest from the Mexico Cartels, and then form a somewhat more educated opinion. From what I can tell, the problem is international and it’s a war. I also believe we need the reform, and we need it now. Do the right thing and push our U.S. Government to deal with the problem we share with Mexico. As for Jill she has been a part of our county and a deputy DA for us until Stephan and his Acting Career really took off. She has the heart and soul; she is educated and experienced as a prosecutor in our county. And as for Chris Andrain bashing criminal defense is where he practices and I can only guess, but I bet, he has done a lot of defense of innocent people in the last 8 years. So Thank God he does what he does.
just be fair
Well, the non-action against that priest comes to mind …
Karla Sofen,
What on earth are you talking about? With what child molesters and armed robbers has Passalacqua not been making an effort?
If you are going to make bold statements then let’s see you back it up with some facts.
Doh! Thanks for pointing out the typo, Scotty. Movin’ too fast last night, apparently.
Ted
Shouldn’t the title of this article be “Marijuana takes center STAGE at DA’s debate”?
We all know, this is for our Federal Government and us as people to vote for these laws. Not the big issue. And if this is the only issue that concerns you, you must live under a rock. It is time for a change in Sonoma County!
These issues are just ridiculous. Of course whoever is DA will follow the law. I only wish Passalacqua would make the effort with armed robbers and child molesters. No one cares about the little stuff. Passalacqua has dropped the ball on all the big stuff. Vote him out. This is a shiny object distracting you the voter.
It’s also interesting that Passalacqua felt a need to assert concerns for companies receiving federal funds for drug-free environments should the tax initiative pass. That’s not his jurisdiction whatsoever. Passalacqua is nothing more than a politician with credibility factor of 0.
As I understand it, the Bill of Rights ensures the power of the States and it’s population for a reason. The candidates for the Sonoma County DA’s office are on track to support a necessary function of the twelfth Article of the Constitution, that the U.S. does not end up with a strong centralized federal government such as China has in place (not a criticism, just an explanation of the difference).
U.S. citizens who appreciate the freedom this article ensures will also appreciate the candidates adherence to California law.
\Article the twelfth… The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.\
Gee, isnt it nice to hear that both DA candidates support a state law? Obviously they dont feel the have to support federal laws or laws that dont interfere with their own self interests!