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Organizers of a measure on Nevada's November ballot hope that voters in a state in which almost everything goes will go one better and legalize marijuana.
If voters approve, Nevada would become the first state in the nation in which adults could legally possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana and conceivably purchase it at government-regulated and -taxed pot shops.
The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, which has pushed medical-marijuana and decriminalization laws around the country, thinks a state that embraces gambling, allows prostitution in rural counties and prides itself on its Western independence is a perfect venue to legalize marijuana.
"All we're saying is, our marijuana laws completely do not work," said Neal Levine, executive director of the committee that is largely funded by the Washington D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project.
The group argues that the legal system wastes time and money on low-level marijuana offenses, and that taxing and regulating pot would put drug dealers out of business while freeing law enforcement to focus on violent crime and trafficking in hard drugs such as methamphetamine.
Opponents include law enforcement and civic and business groups.
"The fact is, growing, distributing and warehousing marijuana will still be a federal offense," said Todd Raybuck, a Las Vegas police officer and volunteer spokesman for the Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable, which opposes the measure.
Question 7 allows people age 21 and older to possess 1 ounce of marijuana in their homes - the same amount allowed under Nevada's medical-marijuana law.
Twelve states have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, and 11 allow its medical use.
In November, South Dakota will vote on authorizing medical marijuana. Colorado voters will vote on a ballot measure to legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana by those 21 and older, similar to an ordinance Denver voters approved last year.
Newshawk: Spliff Twister - 420 Magazine
Source: The Denver Post
Pubdate: 10/12/2006
Author: Sandra Chereb
Copyright: 2006 The Denver Post
Website: DenverPost.com - Colorado's homepage for breaking news, weather, sports, local events and entertainment
If voters approve, Nevada would become the first state in the nation in which adults could legally possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana and conceivably purchase it at government-regulated and -taxed pot shops.
The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, which has pushed medical-marijuana and decriminalization laws around the country, thinks a state that embraces gambling, allows prostitution in rural counties and prides itself on its Western independence is a perfect venue to legalize marijuana.
"All we're saying is, our marijuana laws completely do not work," said Neal Levine, executive director of the committee that is largely funded by the Washington D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project.
The group argues that the legal system wastes time and money on low-level marijuana offenses, and that taxing and regulating pot would put drug dealers out of business while freeing law enforcement to focus on violent crime and trafficking in hard drugs such as methamphetamine.
Opponents include law enforcement and civic and business groups.
"The fact is, growing, distributing and warehousing marijuana will still be a federal offense," said Todd Raybuck, a Las Vegas police officer and volunteer spokesman for the Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable, which opposes the measure.
Question 7 allows people age 21 and older to possess 1 ounce of marijuana in their homes - the same amount allowed under Nevada's medical-marijuana law.
Twelve states have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, and 11 allow its medical use.
In November, South Dakota will vote on authorizing medical marijuana. Colorado voters will vote on a ballot measure to legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana by those 21 and older, similar to an ordinance Denver voters approved last year.
Newshawk: Spliff Twister - 420 Magazine
Source: The Denver Post
Pubdate: 10/12/2006
Author: Sandra Chereb
Copyright: 2006 The Denver Post
Website: DenverPost.com - Colorado's homepage for breaking news, weather, sports, local events and entertainment
