County of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Headguarters 4700 Ramana Boulevard Monterey Park, California 91754-2169 July 15, 2010 The Honorable Gerrie Schipske Long Beach City Council, District 5 333 West Ocean Boulevard 14" Floor Long Beach, California 90802 Dear Council members: | was recently made aware that the city council will hold a public hearing next month regarding taxation of medical marijuana collectives. | urge you not to encourage policies which initiate taxation of marijuana. California state law bans over-the-counter sales of medical marijuana for profit. In addition, dispensaries are a magnet for crime. My forty-five years of law enforcement experience cause me to believe the legalization of marijuana is a bad idea. With Proposition 19 (marijuana legalization) on the ballot this November, | believe it is important for communities to avoid policies that are supportive of legalization. A city code which initiates the taxation of marijuana would generate momentum for Proposition 19. 1am certain you will agree the negative social impacts of legally retailed marijuana outweigh any illusory tax benefit. Increases in marijuana dependency, more incidents of intoxicated driving, easier access for children, and neighborhood deterioration are the short list of social ills that will occur. Moreover, congregating gang members and elevated crime rates are an unavoidabie result of drug retailing. As an important California leader, | hope you, and the entire Long Beach City Council, will join me in ardently opposing Proposition 19. Again, | ask you to avoid taking any policy actions that create or signal city support for legalizing marijuana, A Tradition of ServiceMs. Gerrie Schipske 2 July 15, 2010 | would be honored to discuss this further. I hope you will invite me to do so. If you have any questions, please contact Chief William McSweeney, Detective Division, at (323) 526-5755. Sincerely, Who Laco LEROY D. BACA SHERIFF