cannabisnews.com: Group Files Signatures for Eased Marijuana Laws Group Files Signatures for Eased Marijuana Laws Posted by CN Staff on June 18, 2002 at 20:08:42 PT By Brendan Riley, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press A group trying to liberalize Nevada's marijuana laws filed more than 107,000 signatures Tuesday in efforts to put the issue on the November ballot. Billy Rogers of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement said the group went well over the minimum of 61,336 signatures. Also met was a requirement that the names include at least 10 percent of the registered voters in 13 of the state's 17 counties, he said. The proposal would remove the threat of arrest for adults who use or possess up to three ounces of marijuana. And people needing marijuana for illnesses could get it at low cost. "Most Nevadans believe that people should not be arrested for possessing small amounts of marijuana," Rogers said. "This initiative will allow the police to spend more time going after murderers, rapists and other violent criminals, rather than wasting valuable resources hunting down tens of thousands of nonviolent marijuana users." Rogers also said the proposal would provide for a regulated marijuana sales system that would help cancer patients now "forced to grow their own marijuana or to purchase it from the criminal market." The proposed amendment would impose a tax on marijuana similar to the one levied on tobacco products other than cigarettes. A tax on tobacco products is imposed at 30 percent of the wholesale value and is expected to produce more than $7 million in revenue next fiscal year. It would also prohibit shipping marijuana either into or out of the state, unless federal law permitted it. The proposal would prohibit television, radio, newspaper, magazine or billboard advertising of marijuana. Proponents said the signature-gathering effort went well in the major population areas of Las Vegas and Reno, although there were setbacks in some rural counties. During a 40-day campaign, the organization started out paying petition circulators $1 a signature, and then raised the pay to $2 a name. The group also changed its strategy in mid-campaign, going door-to-door rather than gathering signatures in public places. The petitions with the names of registered voters were submitted to county clerks or the registrar of voters, who now must verify the signers are actually registered voters. The amendment would have to be approved by voters this election and again in 2004 before it would become part of the Nevada Constitution. Voters in 1998 and 2000 approved a constitutional amendment to allow the use of marijuana by ill persons who get permission from their doctor. Complete Title: Group Files Signatures in Drive for Eased Nevada Marijuana Laws Source: Associated PressAuthor: Brendan Riley, Associated Press WriterPublished: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Move To Legalize Marijuana in Nevada Has a Chance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13144.shtmlOrganization Steps Up Petition Drive for Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13106.shtmlNevada Approves Bill on Medical Use of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13029.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by freedom fighter on June 20, 2002 at 17:53:00 PT What would the oddsmaker do? 100 to 1 that the law will be vote for or is it 100 to 1 that the law will be vote down?This is really a good news. ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Toad on June 20, 2002 at 00:43:20 PT Casino Buffets and Pot Nevada has a vey Libertarian vibe (legalized prostitution and gambling), and many voters will say, OK the sky hasn't fallen yet so I guess pot won't hurt. This one might be close. As an unlucky gambler would say, I think we're due. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by The GCW on June 19, 2002 at 09:31:45 PT Yes, we do drug testing... And if You don't have THC in Your blood, You fail.We regret that we will no longer require Your services. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on June 19, 2002 at 09:23:14 PT News Brief from Las Vegas Review Journal Marijuana Initiative Submitted By SEAN WHALEY REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU Wednesday, June 19, 2002 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal CARSON CITY -- A group seeking to place a question on the November ballot that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana turned in more than 107,000 signatures gathered from all 17 counties Tuesday. Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement need valid signatures from 61,336 registered voters, with minimum numbers required in 13 of 17 counties, for the petition to be approved by Secretary of State Dean Heller. The petitions will now go through a signature verification process to determine if the group was successful. The measure, which would also allow patients to obtain medical marijuana at low cost, would have to be approved by voters twice, this year and in 2004, for it to take effect. "Most Nevadans believe that people should not be arrested for possessing small amounts of marijuana," said campaign spokesman Billy Rogers. "We're confident that we've collected enough signatures to qualify this initiative for the November ballot." The initiative would allow adults to possess three ounces or less of marijuana. It bans smoking marijuana in public places, including parks, and maintains penalties for underage possession or sale to minors. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on June 19, 2002 at 08:49:20 PT Oh yeah I don't know whether being high would make one more or less likely to lose money in a casino. But I can think of one industry which would be affected - those all-you-can-eat places! Wouldn't it be nice to have a Dutch Experience operating inside DEA-land? [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by SirReal on June 19, 2002 at 08:04:52 PT The sound of... cannabis prohibition in Nevada....http://www.barbneal.com/wav/ltunes/Bugs/Bugs36.wav [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Lehder on June 19, 2002 at 08:03:13 PT legal by Christmas If this passes, people are not going to wait two more years for the second vote that makes it law. They're going to start acting as if it's legal anyway. You'll be able to buy weed on the strip easily, and cops will have to tolerate it.Besides, if this passes then a big percentage of typically uninformed Americans will think that mj truly has been legalized. They're going to show up at the hotels asking for it. They're gonna get pissed off. Then they're gonna get drunk, and then they're gonna get more pissed off. They're not gonna understand why you gotta vote on it twice. Especially if they're from Florida.Illegal!? What? I bought that shit from a cop, man! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by SirReal on June 19, 2002 at 07:45:12 PT watch out... I think the people counting and verifying the signatures will be the same ones that counted the chads in florida......hope Bush, Ashcroft, Asa and Walters keep their fecal laiden hands outta this one... [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by TroutMask on June 19, 2002 at 07:17:53 PT Win Win Again... Of course we'd all love to see this pass in the November election.But even if it doesn't pass, it is going to be all over the news as the election approaches. The fact that another US state is now voting to legalize marijuana lends support to the entire legalization movement. People everywhere will give more thought to the subject, and more THOUGHT will cause the end of marijuana prohibition.But if the legalization proposal DOES pass, the 'poop' called marijuana prohibition will have hit the fan.-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by dimebag on June 19, 2002 at 07:03:44 PT I think this will work. There is no way this is not going to get passed. If the People of Nevada will it, then it will be done. This is the only benefit of A Democracy. If enough people want it, then it will be done. Just takes time. I predict in Three years Nevada will have its Legal Marijuana. The First Legal MJ for the U.S and there is no stopping this Domino From Fallin. I cant even begin to thing what the Fed. Gov is saying about this shit now. They are probably furious and if they have any say what so every, they are going to do everything in their power to get this passed. If Elections are Rigged then there is No Hope. Think about how Bush won his presidency. He Cheated w/the help of his brother, so whats to say the Gov. doesnt have their dirty little hands in this already.This really needs the backing of the Casino industry. Otherwise this aint gonna happen baby.Dimebag. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by 2Spooky on June 19, 2002 at 06:40:07 PT Good luck Sure hope they have the bucks to fund the advertising.Maybe the casinos will get on board. Or the cathouses. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Dan B on June 19, 2002 at 03:55:54 PT: Good for Tourism Those who have said that this will be good for tourism hit the nail on the head.It used to be that the only place one could find legal gambling was Nevada, thus grew the Las Vegas strip and a plethora of casinos throughout the state as an effort to garner tourism traffic. But Nevada is no longer alone in the casino business. Just about any state with an American Indian reservation has at least one casino, most states (if not all) now have lotteries, and if you can't get enough gambling out of those institutions, there's always the Internet.So, Nevada needs a new gimmick--something to entice those tourists to come to their state before any other. And legal cannabis would be just the ticket.There is no downside to this legislation. Adults would be allowed to buy it legally, kids wouldn't, medical patients could get their medicine much easier, tourism would increase (as would the accompanying profits), and thus all the other businesses (including casinos) would thrive. The casino industry has to be backing this thing 100%. They'd be insane not to.I think it will be a close vote, too, but if the casinos get behind this, the people of Nevada will vote in favor. The gambling industry has a buttload of money, and they know how to use it for political gain. I can hardly wait to watch this domino fall.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by crank on June 18, 2002 at 23:56:01 PT Alaska Alaska's off-the-wall initiative in Nov 2000 got a 40% yes vote. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by paul peterson on June 18, 2002 at 22:44:30 PT: CONGRATS ON A JOB WELL DONE, MPP This is a stunning achievement, well done. Just over a month of gathering signatures and ballot initiatives have proven very successful in this state. The beauty of a Constitutional Amendment is that no mere "mortal" legislative effort can derail this thing, like "legislative actions are sometimes "interpreted" narrowly, or like in Illinois, just totally buried in the sands of time.Our Medical Marijuana law, for instance, since it started out as a "Research on Cannabis" law in 1971, never had any meat to its bones. Then, in 1979, the meat got slapped on, with a "Mandate" with "shall" words, like where a doctor certifies medical necessity the department (now DHS) "shall" authorize. So just for kicks, I did a FOIA request, and two months ago, they told me they have "never authorized" for research or otherwise! In 30 years, noone has ever asked for or been authorized this stuff! Amazing. Now, of course, I am waiting with baited breath for the 9th Circuit decision on those DEA threats to doctors. Then, if all goes well, I will get a few good doctors to recommend for my test cases. Then I go back to the circuit court case where I filed for a "writ of mandamus". I've also heard from a state senator that thinks Illinois already "has" a medical marijuana law. I sent her a letter a month ago to tell her that the law is still a virgin, so top speak. No comment. Politicians don't want to be the first on the block with this sort of thing. My next plan? I've got a survey to state law makers I will send out as SOON AS I GET THE MONEY FOR STAMPS. Anybody feel like helping a lone wolf in Illinois to get another state going on this thing? I/m too broke to do anything right now-maybe MPP would like to help me, where I don't even need to change the law, merely to invoke the law ON THE BOOKS FOR 30 YEARS, ok? paul peterson 312-558-9999 (call before the phone gets shut off for non-payment. I could use a little help here, people? http://ILLINOIS-MMI.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by firedog on June 18, 2002 at 22:08:21 PT The question is... Is this going to increase the casinos' profits?Do stoned people gamble more or less than their sober counterparts? The casinos give out free drinks to encourage people to let loose and risk it all. And it seems to work great.But I've never heard, one way or the other, if being high would make the average Las-Vegas-tourist more or less likely to gamble away. I've never tried it myself. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The GCW on June 18, 2002 at 21:11:17 PT Nevada casino reservations, with a hitch. Maybe we should make reservations, as a large group, ALL CONTINGENT UPON THIS LAW PASSING,,, OR WE GET A FULL REFUND.you know, that's an idea.Make the reservations for the very next day after the election and they either capitalize or refund.Thousands of people by way of protest, make reservations, all with the clause of refund. If there was a group sales, making it happen by way of group / large encentives, talk...1,000 people times what they spend in a place like Vegas, can grow to 15,000 people and be big big money for the gambling industry.The gambling industry should have lobbyists to insure this passes yesterday. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by firedog on June 18, 2002 at 21:05:58 PT Awesome I think this has a pretty good chance. It'll be close if nothing else.The prohibitions included (minimum age of 21, no advertising, no import/export) and the benefits to the population (tax revenue, increased tourism, set up distribution system for medical users) should help matters. This amendment will seem quite rational to most mainstream people (at least under the age of 65).This amendment contains a lot more safeguards than the one in Alaska which was much less restrictive, and even that one did pretty well (35/65 split?)Plus, Nevadans are very individualistic.I would love to see this happen. I don't know how the Feds will react, but what can they do? Bush has already broken his campaign promise to save Nevada from the Yucca Mountain plan...By the way, way off subject, has anyone ever seen one of those family-tree-type diagrams showing the evolution of modern marijuana strains? I'd love to see such a thing... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Nasarius on June 18, 2002 at 20:11:27 PT Yeah! It probably won't get passed, but it's great to see *some* progress in the US. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment