News: Council Considers Formal Position Regarding Marijuana Consumption and Possession
Council Considers Formal Position Regarding Marijuana Consumption and Possession
The West Hollywood City Council will consider adopting a proposed resolution which states that it is not the policy of the City of West Hollywood or of its law enforcement agency to target possession of small amounts of marijuana and the consumption of marijuana in private by adults. The proposed resolution also states that the City does not condone the possession of large amounts of marijuana by private individuals for sale, the sale or use of marijuana by minors, or public consumption of marijuana. The proposed resolution instructs the City's Public Safety Commission, with the cooperation of the Sheriff's Department, to conduct a noticed public hearing to review the previous year's crime statistics pertaining to controlled substances and to provide the City Council with a report regarding their observations and recommendations regarding the City's narcotics policy and enforcement.
This item was created in response to a petition filed in January 2006 by the West Hollywood Civil Liberties Alliance (WeHoCLA). WeHoCLA is a local group that advocates for change in local ordinances pertaining to the enforcement of crimes related to the possession of marijuana. In March 2006, the City Council directed the City Attorney to prepare a draft ordinance making marijuana-related offenses a low priority activity in the City of West Hollywood. As a result of an investigation on the legalities surrounding this proposed ordinance, the City Attorney advised the City Council to relent on the initial effort and adopt a formal position regarding this topic without the legislative component that a local ordinance would necessitate. The proponents of the initiative have indicated that they will cease circulating the petition upon the Council's adoption of the resolution.