By John Myers, KQED News Fix
A debate over the proper punishment for crimes like simple drug possession and petty theft is headed to this fall’s statewide ballot, with backers arguing that reducing the penalty from a felony to a misdemeanor would reap both fiscal and societal benefits.
The initiative, authored by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón and former San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne, officially made the ballot Thursday afternoon — the final day for measures to qualify for the Nov. 4 election. Elections officials in California’s 58 counties reported enough valid voter signatures in a random sampling to place the measure on the ballot.
Read the complete story at KQED News Fix.
