cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Proposal To Be On Ballot Marijuana Proposal To Be On Ballot Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2002 at 07:08:19 PT By Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital Bureau Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal Nevada voters will be asked in November whether adults should be allowed to possess small amounts of marijuana, the secretary of state's office announced Tuesday. Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement turned in 74,740 valid signatures on petitions to change the state's marijuana laws, Deputy Secretary of State Susan Bilyeu said. The organization, an off shoot of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, needed at least 61,336 valid signatures to place the question on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The proposal to allow adults to possess as much as three ounces of marijuana without police interference needs approval in the November election and again in 2004 to become part of the Nevada Constitution. "The success of our petition provides solid evidence that most Nevadans think it is a waste of their tax dollars to arrest people with small amounts of marijuana," said Billy Rogers, a spokesman for Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement. "Nevadans support this initiative because it allows law enforcement the resources to track down terrorists, murderers, rapists and other violent criminals." FBI records show the number of people arrested on marijuana charges nationally reached nearly 750,000 in 2000, up from fewer than 300,000 in 1991. Until last year, Nevada had the strictest marijuana law in the nation. People possessing any amount of marijuana could be charged with a felony, although most received lesser charges in exchange for attending drug treatment programs. Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana in Nevada is now a misdemeanor, punishable by a $600 fine. Under the Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement proposal, adults would not be arrested if they possessed three ounces or less of marijuana. They still could not use the drug in public places or while driving. The petition also calls for the state to set up a distribution plan to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients. Currently, 185 people in Nevada have permission to use marijuana for medical reasons. They must grow their own marijuana. How they acquire seeds is left up to the qualified users. Besides meeting the total signature requirement, Bilyeu said Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement met a second requirement by collecting a sufficient number of signatures in 14 of the state's 17 counties, falling short only in Douglas, Elko and Nye counties. Under state law, sufficient signatures had to be collected in at least 13 counties. While permitting adults to use small amounts of marijuana, Rogers said this proposal recognizes the need to prevent irresponsible use of marijuana by minors and drivers. "Today, responsible and other law-abiding citizens face arrest and imprisonment for possessing small amounts of marijuana," he said. "This initiative will protect responsible people and punish those who use irresponsibly."Note: Measure would allow adults to possess small amounts of substance.Complete Title: Petitions Pass Muster: Marijuana Proposal To Be On BallotSource: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Author: Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital BureauPublished: Wednesday, July 10, 2002Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Review-JournalContact: letters lvrj.comWebsite: http://www.lvrj.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Plan To Ease Marijuana Laws Wins Ballot Positionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13348.shtmlMarijuana Petition Qualifies for Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13341.shtmlPetition To Ease Nevada Marijuana Law Under Revuehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13331.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by CorvallisEric on July 11, 2002 at 00:56:06 PT Minor points on comments below 1 - That poll is from a Mississippi paper, not Nevada. 2 - F-you to the U.S. gov - attitude might grow in Nevada depending on status of the nuclear-waste dump which just passed another hurdle. Also, there was a big revolt about Federal land policy in Elko County. Remember the term "sagebrush rebellion"? 3 - Based on semi-reliable memory: Las Vegas does not have legal prostitution, nor does Reno. Storey County (not far from Reno) does, as the result of political shenanigans. Don't know about the rest of the state. Coffee shops? My vote goes to Incline Village or Stateline. I want to go skiing, maybe first-time snowboarding;) [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Industrial Strength on July 11, 2002 at 00:27:26 PT I think that the best that will come out of this initiative is dialog. It might make people notice, might get some press coverage. On the Tonight show tonight, Jay did a joke that was more or less pro reform. As for changes actually taking place, unless it's part of something bigger, something sinister, I don't think it has much of a chance. The Federales will goosestep in. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by qqqq on July 11, 2002 at 00:05:58 PT .Right on Old Time Hippie... ...It would make sense for Nevada to break away,and be the first to get real about Marijuana!..,,and,,talk about a goldmine,,,Las Vegas is alot closer than Amsterdam..If anyone had the pull ,,to get Marijuana legalized,,it would be the big money dark forces that own and operate gambling..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by gloovins on July 10, 2002 at 23:11:53 PT Yea NOW look at the results http://poll.clarionledger.com/pollgadget/cgi-bin/poll.pl?view=020710Doesnt look too good but theres a slim chance,"My only mistake is I'm hoping..." -- Morrissey [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by freedom fighter on July 10, 2002 at 17:16:45 PT Marijuana poll Now at 52.9% for Yes and 47.1% for no. 620 responses...ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Old Time Hippie on July 10, 2002 at 15:06:20 PT: marijuana legalization in Nevada With the enactment of this Bill, Las Vegas can become the Amsterdam of the US. It already offers legal gambling, prostitution, a 24 hr. wide open town and LOTS OF FUN. What a goldmine if "coffee shops" were permitted, even if it's limited to LV and Reno. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dimebag on July 10, 2002 at 13:49:12 PT Distribution So would there be any legal distribution of the Drug in Drug Stores? Or is that just for People with Medical Problems. If they dont legalize distribution then this is almost pointless. I mean besides to the people that live in Nevada and people that will be arrested for possetion.Im sure if this gets passed then it will be a building block for Legalizing Marijuana in the near future. Im sure if its not legal to use in public then Cansno's could give a Rats Ass if its legalized or not. But all in all its a big FUCK YOU to the U.S Gov. And Im all about that shit.Dimebag. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 10, 2002 at 08:37:39 PT Marijuana Poll http://www.clarionledger.com/Would legalizing marijuana make drug enforcement easier? Voters in Nevada, which up until last year had the nation's strictest marijuana law, will vote in November on whether to let adults legally possess small amounts of pot. Would legalizing marijuana make drug enforcement easier? 49.2% -- Yes 50.8% -- No Total Votes: 323 Current Results:http://poll.clarionledger.com/pollgadget/cgi-bin/poll.pl?view=020710 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment