California NAACP to endorse marijuana legalization as civil rights issue

Following my call for minority leaders to stand up for marijuana re-legalization (and in no way implying because of my call), I just received this forwarded email from the head of the California NAACP:

Subj: FROM THE DESK OF ALICE HUFFMAN: 2010 Ballot Measure Positions

Dear Branch Presidents:

This email serves to announce that according to policy, the State Executive Committee has ratified the California State NAACP’s positions on ballot measures to be considered by California voters in the 2010 Primary and General elections.

On this note, it is important to reiterate the State NAACP’s policy regarding positions taken on state-wide legislative, policy and ballot measures in the State of California…

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACTIONS:  2010 JUNE/NOVEMBER BALLOT MEASURES

The California State Conference of the NAACP positions are as follows (See attachment for details):

PROP 13 – Property Tax Assessments: Limits – OPPOSE

PROP 14 – Open Primaries – OPPOSE

PROP 15 – Fair Elections Act: Secretary of State – OPPOSE

PROP 16 – Local Public Electricity – SUPPORT

PROP 17 – Auto Insurance – NO POSITION

Voters FIRST Act: Congressional Districts – SUPPORT

Regulation & Taxation: Marijuana – SUPPORT

Alice Huffman, President, California NAACP

Alice A. HuffmanPresident

California State NAACP

Esquire Plaza

1215 K Street, Suite 1609

Sacramento, CA  95814

916.498.1898 (Office)

916.498.1895 (Fax)

www.ca-naacp.org

We often ask you to call or write officials who oppose marijuana law reform, but it is also important to call or write the people who take the step of publicly supporting our cause.  Please call President Huffman and thank the California NAACP… and urge them to put pressure on for National NAACP to make the same recommendation.  Re-legalization of cannabis is the single greatest way we could improve civil rights protections and the socio-economic conditions, not just for African-Americans, but for all Americans.