February 21, 2025
The Chamber was a strong supporter and advocate for the passage of Prop 36 on last year’s state ballot. Voters overwhelmingly approved the measure, signaling broad support for stronger public safety reforms and regulations. Since the passage of the measure, the Chamber has continued to be engaged in conversations focused on its implementation with local and state leaders and law enforcement officers to ensure San Diego’s business community has a voice at the table.
Prop 36 took effect on December 18th, 2024, and is already making an impact here in the San Diego region. Proposition 36 institutes tougher penalties for the sale of drugs like fentanyl, allows prosecutors to stack multiple smaller thefts that total more than $950 and charge offenders with felonies and even creates court-ordered treatment programs for people convicted of drug offenses. In just under two months, 436 bookings related to Prop 36 have been made Countywide, and about 175 of them were made by SDPD. These arrests would not have been possible prior to December, as Prop 36 restored accountability measures for repeat offenders who engage in retail theft and the sale of fentanyl.