USA: S.A.M – CITY OF COMPTON REJECTS POT SHOPS BY MORE THAN 3 to 1

(January 24, 2018 – Alexandria, VA) – Voters in Compton, California soundly rejected two local measures that would have allowed businesses selling marijuana in their city. The rejection, which 76-77% of voters agreed with, means that a ban on marijuana businesses in the city remains.

“Today, Compton voters refused to be pawns for the billionaire pot lobbyists who just want to get richer,” said Kevin A. Sabet, a former Obama Administration drug policy adviser who is now head of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). “This is a great win for public health and safety, and for Compton’s youth in particular. City by city, this fight continues.”

SAM has engaged in multiple community events in Compton for the past few years.In 2016, Compton was a major focus area for the anti-Prop 64 campaign, which was largely funded by SAM Action, SAM’s sister organization. Despite state initiatives, marijuana remains illegal, and new guidance issued recently clarifiesthat the sales of marijuana remains a federal felony. 

Recent research has also found that arrests for young, communities of color have gone up since legalization in Colorado.