Hallinan Narrowly Reelected DA
In San Francisco;
Medical Marijuana Movement The Big Winner.
Al Gore Had Better Pay Attention. Analysis by Richard Cowan
December 23, 1999
After what must have been an agonizing week of
uncertainty, Terence Hallinan has finally won a very narrow victory in his bid to be
reelected the District Attorney of San Francisco.
This is also a great victory for the medical marijuana movement, inasmuch as most of
the Bay Area medical marijuana movement leaders supported him. He was even the guest of
Jeff Jones of the Oakland CBC at a recent civic event with Janet Reno.
See
"Let me hear them. It's very
important that we hear young people.'' -- Says Reno.
As Long As They Are Not Defending Medical Marijuana Users.
Another One We Couldn’t Make Up.
Hallinan has always been a whole-hearted supporter of medical marijuana and other
progressive causes, so any perceived obligation to the medical marijuana movement will not
make much difference in his policies, but it may "send a message" to other
politicians.
It might also send a message to both of the San Francisco daily newspapers and to the
Police Officers Association, all of which opposed Hallinan, even though he presided over a 40 percent drop in crime. The rest of the country
– especially New Yorkers -- should take note of that last point, because it shows
that it is not necessary to have wholesale violations of citizens’ rights in order to
reduce crime.
One of the most interesting events in the campaign was a debate in which Hallinan and
his opponent, defense attorney Bill Fazio, argued over who was more
in favor of medical marijuana.
That is certainly a refreshing change from so many other elections in which politicians
strive to be the most demagogic in opposition to it. The winner of the 2000 election will
have to carry California, and there is almost no place in the state where someone can win
votes by opposing medical marijuana. Votes can clearly be lost by opposing it, or even by
not being strongly enough in favor of it.
See next story
Gore Position Du
Jour On Medical Marijuana:
Today He Opposes Will Of People Of California, State Party Leaders.
Does He Really Think He Can Get Away With This?
Supported