California's Proposition 36, Approved by 69% Majority, Toughens Penalties for Repeat Theft and Drug Crimes in San Francisco

Dec 20, 2024, 02:59 PM

Proposition 36, which increases penalties for certain theft and drug crimes, went into effect in California on December 18, 2024. The measure, approved by a 69% majority of voters in November, aims to address retail theft and drug addiction by turning some misdemeanors into felonies, particularly for repeat offenders. It also allows for longer sentences of up to three years for group crimes and drug sales based on quantity. The law has led to immediate action, with arrests for shoplifting and drug-related offenses being reported across the state. In San Francisco, the first charges under Prop 36 were filed against Martinez Guillory for drug possession and sales with a 9mm Glock firearm, marking the use of new legal tools to combat drug dealing in the city's Tenderloin neighborhood, where he was found with heroin and cocaine.