cannabisnews.com: Nevada Should Back Question 9 Nevada Should Back Question 9 Posted by CN Staff on October 23, 2002 at 11:10:03 PT By Blaine Sullivan Source: Daily Aztec Every state in the union will be going to the polls on Nov. 5, but one state will be voting on tremendously significant legislation toward marijuana use. In Nevada, Question 9 isn't just another initiative to help people who use marijuana for medicinal purposes; it is a proposition that will legalize marijuana use for all adults. That's right. Anyone over the age of 21 will be able to purchase up to three ounces of weed from state licensed stores, providing that they do not smoke in public or drive under the influence. The initiative is sponsored by the Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, and it is strongly opposed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In order for the new law to take place, Question 9 must pass in November and in 2004 as well. In a state where everything from gambling to prostitution are tolerated, this new law would fly directly in the face of federal law, which continues to place marijuana in the same category as heroin. Many states have made it possible for people suffering from severe illnesses to smoke up and relieve their pain and wasting, but if Question 9 were to pass in Nevada, it would be the first state to put the long overdue debate of marijuana legalization at the feet of the federal government. The feds have long fought any liberalization of marijuana laws, even to the point of ignoring basic government fundamentals such as states' rights. The Bush administration has a renewed fervor for raiding medicinal marijuana clubs (particularly in California), discounting voters who have overwhelmingly voted in favor of medicinal pot. I guess states only have rights when they tow the line of outdated federal vice laws. John Walters, the current Drug Czar, visited Nevada a few weeks ago and proclaimed that the legalization of pot would lead to a state full of drug addicts, without citing any sources that marijuana is even addictive (something no study has ever clearly shown). Walters also failed to mention that his own office's web site listed amphetamines as the major addiction problem in Nevada last year, not marijuana. To make matters worse, many opposing Question 9 claim that people who use marijuana resort to violence and crime. When will our lawmakers learn that it's the prohibition behind substances that creates violence and crime? If marijuana were legal and readily available from licensed outlets, it would be dirt cheap. Once the money in the marijuana trade is gone, the crime associated with marijuana trade would also disappear. People wouldn't commit crimes to get an ounce or two of a plant that grows naturally all over the globe if there wasn't an artificial market creating profits for dealers. Marijuana is only expensive because it is illegal, and it is only illegal because our government has turned a blind eye toward evidence and common sense. Not only would the legalization of marijuana free up millions of dollars that are being used to enforce antiquated laws, the taxation of legal pot would give states millions in extra revenue. University of Nevada at Las Vegas just concluded in a recent study that if Question 9 were to pass, Nevada would stand to gain $29 million through the taxation of marijuana. The battle lines have been drawn in Nevada, and at this point, it's hard to tell whether or not Question 9 is going to pass. Even if it were to pass, it would still need approval again in 2004, so any potential legalization would be years down the road. But, this is an important debate that has been stirred up, and for common sense's sake, I hope the people of Nevada vote "yes" on Question 9. Source: Daily Aztec, The (US CA Edu)Author: Blaine SullivanPublished: October 22, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Daily AztecContact: letters thedailyaztec.comWebsite: http://www.dailyaztec.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Drug Czar Defends Campaign To Stop Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14537.shtmlPropriety of News Release Questionedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14529.shtmlNevada Pushes Next Frontier: Legalizing Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14503.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on October 23, 2002 at 22:29:34 PT: New Argument? ©Oct. 24, 2002 1205AM CST USA by Dankhank yahoo.comIs this a new argument, and old debunked one, or old situation forgotten that has a potential bearing on the "states rights" issue?For how many years was gambling ONLY legal in Nevada? The federal government seemed to keep hands-off with regards to Nevada allowing gambling while it was illegal in the rest of the USA and at the federal level.For how many years has prostitution ONLY been legal in Nevada? The federal government seemed to keep hands-off with regards to Nevada allowing prostitution while it is illegal in the rest of the USA and at the federal level.Why is consumption of Cannabis any different to these activites with regard to being allowed in Nevada, or any other state for that matter, while being illegal at the federal level?Where have the lawyers been on this argument? Did I miss something?An inquiring mind wishes to know .... Hemp N Stuff [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by fearfull on October 23, 2002 at 12:41:02 PT DdC Every heard of the Church of the Tree of Life? While they may not be active at this time, I am a registered member & practitioner of this group/church. They have claimed as a sacrament salvia divinorum, almost 25 years ago. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by DdC on October 23, 2002 at 11:50:08 PT Salvia Divinorum Legal Status Information page http://home.pacbell.net/jtinnin/salvia/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by pokesmotter on October 23, 2002 at 11:40:53 PT: yes! more common sense from journalists. i love it. the truth is being exposed. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment