LA Sheriff Pledges to Bust People for Pot Even If Marijuana Is Legalized in California

Sheriff Baca, who is sworn to uphold California state law, has essentially said that the voters don't matter.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said on Friday that the voters don’t matter. His deputies’ enforcement of marijuana laws would not change even if voters approved Proposition 19, which would legalize cannabis in California, on November 2, according to the Sheriff.

“Proposition 19 is not going to pass, even if it passes,” Baca said in a news conference Friday at sheriff’s headquarters in Monterey Park, reports Robert Faturechi in The Los Angeles Times.

The department run by Sheriff Baca polices 75 percent of Los Angeles County. His staunch opposition to marijuana -- even if it is legalized -- was echoed Friday by an announcement from Attorney General Eric Holder that federal officials would continue to “vigorously enforce” cannabis laws in California, even if state voters pass the measure.

Baca, who is sworn to uphold California state law, claimed Prop 19 was superseded by federal law and if passed, would be found unconstitutional.

Standing onstage with other prominent opponents of marijuana legalization, including Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, Sheriff Baca colorfully assailed marijuana use, users and sales.

Asked if he had ever experimented with pot, Baca left no room for doubt. “Hell, no,” he said.

Baca claimed legalizing cannabis would have far-reaching effects, including increasing the costs of drug rehabilitation (although most people in rehab for marijuana have been forced there by court order), causing traffic accidents (although marijuana is not a significant factor in auto wrecks), prompting labor disputes with employees getting high on the job (although Prop 19 gives employers the right “to address consumption that actually impairs job performance“), and providing a safe cover for drug cartels selling hard drugs.

California’s laws for pot smokers are already lenient enough, Baca claimed.

“If you a need for an ounce or less… then use your marijuana, but use it privately,” Baca said. “If you want to do a joint in your house, do it. Leave the rest of us alone.”

Baca claimed personal users smoking at home were already a non-priority for police agencies, including the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. His department does target pot dealers, he said.

The sheriff came out against Prop 19 early on, joining with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to try to prevent its passage.

Polls have shown California voters are almost evenly split on legalization.

Incredibly, Baca claimed on Friday that local law enforcement agencies -- which, again, are sworn to uphold state laws -- should abide by federal drug laws prohibiting marijuana, even if Prop 19 passes.

“[Prop] 19 has no effect on what we’re going to do,” Baca said.

'I Love boobies' breast cancer bracelets cause dispute at Othello school

By Dori O'Neal

OTHELLO -- A controversy at Othello High School has pitted parent David Castro against school officials on the right to wear a pink breast cancer awareness bracelet.

The dispute has nothing to do with finding a cure for cancer, but everything to do with the bracelet's slogan -- "I love boobies."

Castro said his sons Alex, 16, and Buck, 14, were told by school authorities that they couldn't wear the bracelets to school because some teachers and students found the wording "offensive" or too "provocative."

Buck Castro feels strongly about wearing his bracelet because he witnessed a good friend watch his grandmother battle the deadly disease.

"That was very hard for him," Buck Castro said. "This bracelet represents the strength and hope it takes to fight breast cancer and I totally support that."

Alex feels the same.

"I like wearing this bracelet because it's for such a good cause," he said. "It's wrong that the school refuses to let us wear them, even inside out."

The "I love boobies" bracelets are part of a breast cancer awareness campaign created by the Keep-A-Breast Foundation to attract more young people to breast cancer awareness.

But even though the marketing worked and thousands of youngsters from elementary to high schools are wearing them, the choice of words has caused a stir in schools nationwide.

Castro's sons chose not to attend school in protest of the school's policy. Castro and his wife Victoria support their decision.

"Buck is an honor student and to miss school over this was not an easy decision for him to make," Castro said. "It's not right that the school can forbid them to wear those bracelets, which are important to them. And I will take this matter up with the school board."

The district's dress code policy states that any clothing that insinuates a sexual message is not allowed, explained Superintendent George Juarez.

"We haven't made a decision yet about allowing the bracelets to be worn inside out," Juarez said. "It's one thing to support such a noble cause like breast cancer awareness, but in today's culture there are still those who find (the wording on the bracelet) offensive. Everyone is entitled to their own perspective, and we have a board policy in place that must be addressed."

Juarez said he welcomes Castro's comments at the next school board meeting Oct. 25.

In the meantime, the Castro boys will continue their protest by doing their school work from home until next week, when they may decide to return to school.

"You know, I let my boys make their own decision about wearing the bracelets or not," David Castro said. "I just don't understand why people don't see the advantage of the big picture here because everyone in my family totally supports this cause."