cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Petition Gathers Necessary Signatures Marijuana Petition Gathers Necessary Signatures Posted by CN Staff on June 25, 2002 at 10:33:02 PT By Cy Ryan, Sun Capital Bureau Source: Las Vegas Sun A proposed constitutional amendment to allow adults to have a small amount of marijuana without being charged with a crime has cleared its first hurdle, the secretary of state's office said Monday.Kristi Geiser, campaign finance officer for the office, said the initiative petitions contain 109,048 signatures, far more than the 61,336 needed to qualify for the November ballot. Verification of the signatures now starts and must be finished by July 8, Geiser said. In counties where there are fewer than 500 signatures on the petition, every one must be examined to determine if the person who signed is a registered voter.In the other counties the clerks or registrar of voters must sample 5 percent or 500 signatures, whichever is more.The signatures must represent 10 percent of registered voters in 13 of the 17 counties. The raw count shows the petition had the necessary signatures in all counties except Elko and Douglas.Billy Rogers, a spokesman for the group circulating the petition, said he is confident there are enough valid signatures to be eligible for the ballot.The drive is being sponsored by the nonprofit Medical Marijuana Project, based in Washington, D.C. Rogers said the petition-gathering process in Nevada cost $300,000."We got 109,000 signatures in 40 days," he said. "That's impressive."He said he wanted to wait until the verification process is completed before any plans are revealed on the campaign for ballot approval. It must be approved this November and then in 2004 before it becomes part of the state Constitution.The petition would permit 21-year-old and older Nevadans to possess up to three ounces of marijuana. It also authorizes the Legislature to establish a distribution system.Nevadans at the last election gave final approval to a constitutional amendment to allow Nevadans to possess marijuana for medical purposes, once they get a statement from a doctor."Under the current law, seriously ill cancer patients are forced to grow their own marijuana or to purchase it from the criminal market," Rogers said. "This initiative will allow seriously ill patients to purchase medical marijuana through a regulated market."A tax would be levied similar to the one on tobacco products, which are now taxed at 30 percent of wholesale value. That produces more than $7 million in revenue.Advertising of marijuana would be prohibited, as would shipping it into or out of the state.The petition says the Legislature shall provide for penalties for driving dangerously or operating heavy machinery while under the influence of marijuana. Those under 21 year old would not be allowed to possess or use the drug.Complete Title: Marijuana Petition Gathers Necessary Signatures for BallotSource: Las Vegas Sun (NV)Author: Cy Ryan, Sun Capital Bureau Published: June 25, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Sun, Inc.Contact: letters lasvegassun.comWebsite: http://www.lasvegassun.com/Related Articles:Group Files Signatures for Eased Marijuana Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13165.shtmlMove To Legalize Marijuana in Nevada Has a Chance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13144.shtmlOrganization Steps Up Petition Drive for Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13106.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #19 posted by dddd on June 26, 2002 at 20:35:33 PT BGreen........you busted yourself BGreen,,,,,.I didnt remember it to be specifically you.......but now that you busted yourself,,quit going overboard!"Being the one you think went overboard, I disagree with you, but I still love you, you opinionated old hippy. LOL.".. .. ..the feeling's mutual.......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on June 26, 2002 at 20:33:50 PT We're Soldiers That's what we are. I was asking my husband about what the responsibility is from one soldier to another when in war. He said that you don't think about difference. You watch out for them and they watch out for you. That's what we should always try to do too. Be a good soldier. I think we are good soldiers and we are fighting a worthy war. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by BGreen on June 26, 2002 at 20:23:31 PT dddd Being the one you think went overboard, I disagree with you, but I still love you, you opinionated old hippy. LOL [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by BGreen on June 26, 2002 at 20:19:28 PT OOPS! No html tags in the subject Trying to get fancy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by BGreen on June 26, 2002 at 20:17:57 PT Since I incited the <b>Troll</b> controvers I don't believe Number 7 is a troll. Troll's never stay in one place too long. I haven't read any comments like the very first that struck a nerve, so I think the negative first impression was based on a misunderstanding. I'm glad you've stuck around.There have been a few true "trolls," but they bitch and split after one or two posts, never responding to our posts or getting to know us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by dddd on June 26, 2002 at 20:02:20 PT .......#7......... ..yea,,,that's what I thought.I didnt really know what a "troll" was either,until quite recently.....Heck,,I'm kind of a gremlin/Leprachaun myself,,and proud of it!..(?)............anyway....I'm glad you weren't offended by the response you got,,,because I thought you were misjudged in a rather harsh manner... ..regards............dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Number 7 on June 26, 2002 at 19:30:26 PT no longer the troll Yeah, that was me. Thanks for your comments.The funny thing about that was that I had no idea what a 'troll' was. It had been about 5 years since I have even been to a bb and though I remember people who came on just to antagonize and piss others off, I did not know that the word 'troll' was now used as a shorthand way of describing such people. I can now understand how using 'The Troll' as a handle pressed some buttons but had no intention of comming off as a troll. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by goneposthole on June 26, 2002 at 05:50:07 PT Nirvana, Nevada Nevada would become the wealthiest state in the Union. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by dddd on June 25, 2002 at 20:19:16 PT ....Number 7.... ..I think you are right...They will find the uncrossed Ts',,and undotted Is',,or the feds will somehow step in and rule that such ballot measures are not valid....I hope for the best,,but expect the worst.... ..I'm glad to see you commenting here again...If I remember correctly,you were given a bit of a rough time about some contraversial comments you made a while back.(?)..(maybe it wasnt you?,,but if it was,I hope all is forgiven on both sides.).....#7 has always been my lucky,and favored number...... .....keep on keepin' on.................dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Number 7 on June 25, 2002 at 19:46:09 PT 50% of these signatures will be declared invalid, many for not dotting their i's. This will not be on the ballot. Even if it does get on the ballot and passes, the feds will tie it up in court. Perhaps it will even go to the highest (if only they were high) court where it will be struck down as surely as the sun will come up tomorrow.As to Asscroft being worked up over prostitution, where do you think he goes to get laid... [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by The GCW on June 25, 2002 at 16:03:35 PT When pigs get high??? Never try to teach a pig to sing,It only wastes Your time and it annoys the pig. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Sam Adams on June 25, 2002 at 15:35:20 PT Don't forget... Nevada ALREADY has legal prostitution...this must have Asscroft all worked up in a lather.This is going to be a great election day for MJ reform! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by SirReal on June 25, 2002 at 14:31:06 PT Sooooooo............... Ashcroft, Asa,...Mueller...they're all talking right now of ways to defeat this before they have to deal with it. In the coming months, Nevada legislators will be getting phone calls threatening them with charges of terrorism if they don't put the brakes on this thing soon,...anyway they can,..above or below board.Whether it be threatening the cutoff of federal funding for Nevadas roads or plain old backroom threats of blacklisting.....this ones gonna get dirty/nasty [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by SpaceCat on June 25, 2002 at 14:03:38 PT When pigs get high I wouldn't be too surprised if the citizens of Nevada actually pass this, but can't imagine a distribution system being set up by the state anytime soon, no matter what the initiative says. The quislings, collaborators, and fed wannabes in the legislature would be able delay that indefinitely. Unfortunately, it is only the sick that are truly affected by the lack of a legal distribution mechanism. The suffering get to suffer some more.On the other hand, The "slap-in-the-face" potential is limitless. The ability to walk around with three ounces of weed without facing state prosecution would be huge. It would lead to what the antis- fear most: Normalization. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Industrial Strength on June 25, 2002 at 13:53:09 PT not very optimistic If the federal government busts up MEDICAL distribution centers, just what exactly are they going to do to one that is recreational? Then again, perhaps this is just a sinister pilot project...Nevada, America's proving grounds... Gambling, nukes, whores, maybe even marijuana. Maybe now that states are gaining a relaxed attitude towards gambling, this is being orchastrated by the casino's. One dollar per signature. I dont really mind, strange bed fellows and all that, but if this is what it claims to be I doubt it has much of a chance. The federal government has showed everyone just exactly how much they think of states rights. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by MikeEEEEE on June 25, 2002 at 11:50:00 PT Good news If any of you know people in Nevada spread the good news, and tell them to vote for it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The GCW on June 25, 2002 at 11:35:59 PT And So Nevada which used to have some of the most unreasonable cannabis laws in America, is moving toward having the most credible. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by TroutMask on June 25, 2002 at 11:26:18 PT Screw the revenue Screw the revenue! I'm ready for some federal face-slapping!IMHO, the big deal here is "It also authorizes the Legislature to establish a distribution system." That means a state government allowed (bound?) by its constitution to break federal law, setting up a whopper of a states' rights showdown. The ability of the federal government to impose rules governing internal state trade will be on the block. If this passes (twice is required), it is the death knell of marijuana prohibition in the US.:)-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JSM on June 25, 2002 at 10:55:38 PT Wow.... If this passes, look at the revenue it will generate as well as the slap in the face for the feds. Go Neveda....... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment