cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Petition Qualifies for Ballot Marijuana Petition Qualifies for Ballot Posted by CN Staff on July 09, 2002 at 12:14:42 PT By Cy Ryan, Sun Capital Bureau Source: Las Vegas Sun Nevadans will have a chance to vote this November whether to decriminalize possession by adults of small amounts of marijuana. The Secretary of State's Office said today an initiative petition to change the Constitution has enough signatures of registered voters to put the issue on the ballot.Deputy Secretary of State Susan Bilyeu said a statistical sampling showed the petition had more than 74,700 verified signatures and it qualified in 14 of the 17 counties. The petition needed 61,336 names and 10 percent of the voters in 13 of the 17 counties. It did not qualify in Elko, Douglas and Nye counties, Bilyeu said.Meanwhile the district attorneys in Nevada may vote Thursday whether to oppose the petition. Churchill County District Attorney Arthur Mallory, who is president of the DA's association, said it is meeting to draft its legislative program, and that issue may be discussed. Carson City District Attorney Noel Waters, who is vice president, said he has not seen the petition but added, "There is a wholesale conflict with federal law." He was referring in part to the plan that sets up a distribution system, including licensed shops to sell the drug.In California the federal government cracked down on businesses that sold the drug.The petition would allow people 21 years and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana without being charged with a crime. It permits the Legislature to set up a distribution system to supply low-cost marijuana to the medically needy.It would also allow for a regulated system "of cultivation, taxation, sale and distribution" of the drug to those who could legally possess it.The proposed constitutional amendment, which would have to be passed by the voters this year and again in 2004, would prohibit smoking of marijuana in a vehicle, public place or casinos. Distribution, sale and possession of the drug would be prohibited in jails, prisons or public schools.Advertising of marijuana on television, radio, in newspapers, magazines and billboards would be prohibited.There would be a tax on the drug, similar to the one on tobacco products other than cigarettes. Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)Author: Cy Ryan, Sun Capital Bureau Published: July 9, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Sun, Inc.Contact: letters lasvegassun.comWebsite: http://www.lasvegassun.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Petition To Ease Marijuana Law Under Revue http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13331.shtmlThe Drug Legalizers Are At It Againhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13321.shtmlMarijuana Law: Further Loosening Soughthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13272.shtmlAmendment Would Legalize Marijuana in Nevadahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12808.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #25 posted by Druid on July 10, 2002 at 15:36:25 PT: current polls Just thought I would post the current poll results from msnbc since it has the number of people voting has quadrupled sincd FoM posted. :) The good thing is that the percentages are staying the same! * 12313 responses Yes 78% No 22% [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Prime on July 09, 2002 at 23:52:32 PT 74,000 valid signatures... 74,000 votes in a state with 2,500,000 voters. Only half those will vote. Thats 74,000 out of 1,250,000 or 5%. That means we need to make up 45%. TroutMask is right. This is by no means a done deal.We need to convince about 650,000 Nevada residents that this is a good thing. Funny thing is, I know about 25 people in Nevada that would vote for this. But they are all such apathetic stoners that they dont vote.I try to get to the voting both before they open and act like Im in line. I look at my watch alot, "its 6:59, one minute!!"Then I walk in, and BAM... VAAI baby... no incumbent shall escape my wrath. I check the name badge of the guy escorting me to the both, and I write him in for the votes I cant decide.Sorry.... ranting again [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on July 09, 2002 at 21:29:31 PT MSNBC Marijuana Legalization POLL Current Results: * 3372 responses Yes -- 78% No -- 22% Do you support legalizing the possession and sale of small amounts of marijuana? http://www.msnbc.com/news/778167.asp?0si=-%20style=text-decoration:none http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread13341.shtml#17 [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by ekim on July 09, 2002 at 19:36:26 PT ya mayan I bet that Buckley and others will Maybe Milton Freeman and Hugh Downs and what about ol Bill Clinton they all could do a public address to say how much the cost of meds are and some could be helped with this low cost herb. On another note I got a email and the sender said on the net you can look up anyones drivers license. Has anyone seen this. I was under the impression that the Gov't wanted the P.A> because the different states could not get each others info. Go to: www.license.shorturl.com http://www.license.shorturl.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by CorvallisEric on July 09, 2002 at 19:28:18 PT More fuel for Nevada revolt The US Senate voted today (the House did previously) to approve Bush's override of Nevada's veto of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage dump. In other words, it looks like the dump will be built near Las Vegas. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 09, 2002 at 18:47:54 PT ekim & mayan Thanks! It's really great to see some good news. It's been a long, long road but progress is being made! [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by ekim on July 09, 2002 at 18:37:53 PT CNN Crossfire Wed. 10 July Will be on England decrim. Cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by mayan on July 09, 2002 at 17:26:55 PT AARP? If Nevadans could get the AARP to back this initiative, it just might have a fighting chance. The AARP has a very powerful lobby & with their endorsement a lot of elderly folks might shed their animosity towards cannabis. If Nevada legalizes, think of all the Californians who would spend even more of their money in Nevada. California would be forced to go legal too. If California goes legal, the whole war on cannabis is doomed! DOOMED!!!To contact Nevada AARP:Nevada State AARP Office 5820 South Eastern Suite 190 Las Vegas, NV 89119Phone: 702 967-2277 Fax: 702 938-3225Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on July 09, 2002 at 17:24:10 PT MSNBC Marijuana Legalization POLL Do you support legalizing the possession and sale of small amounts of marijuana? http://www.msnbc.com/news/778167.asp?0si=-%20style=text-decoration:none * 1588 responses Yes -- 79% No -- 21% [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 09, 2002 at 16:38:01 PT There's more work to do... People in Nevada need to get out the banners and signs in support of this. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by goneposthole on July 09, 2002 at 15:38:58 PT It will win it will be like voting to reduce your tax burden. If you could vote to reduce your taxes to nothing, how would you vote?Low cost medical cannabis for the medically needy will be devastating for the pharmaceutical industry unless they do the distributing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by VitaminT on July 09, 2002 at 15:38:44 PT Of course you could . . . . Smoke a bowl in your Hotel room, then catch a cab to the casino and hook up with a cocktail waitress for some after-hours fun (I hear their libraries are open 24 hrs, but that's just MY idea of fun)) [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by VitaminT on July 09, 2002 at 15:30:48 PT Sorry GCW "The proposed constitutional amendment, which would have to be passed by the voters this year and again in 2004, would prohibit smoking of marijuana in a vehicle, public place or casinos." [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by The GCW on July 09, 2002 at 15:27:38 PT Speaking of Alaska II One reason Alaska's referendum (or what ever) didn't pass: mention of repartitions (is that right), where there would be payment to those who have been brought harm in the past... [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by The GCW on July 09, 2002 at 15:20:40 PT The BIG good. Nevada may well surprise even US.Fellow Nevada citizens deserve a lot of support, here.I would go out of My way to visit Nevada often if cannabis were available in say, any casino. Would the cute coctail waitresses bring joints, lit or unlit?And what would the proper tip be for a chance fatty?Oh la la.We have a lot to feel optimistic and blessed about, in this one story alone. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by VitaminT on July 09, 2002 at 15:12:59 PT Speaking of Alaska They should put a measure like this on the ballot. IMO the only reason they lost last time was that they tried to fight all their battles at once. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Dave in Florida on July 09, 2002 at 15:02:25 PT They keep trying.. State officials said Tuesday that a petition drive to put the measure on the ballot had narrowly succeeded with about 75,000 valid signatures.Almost 22% more than required is narrowly succeeding. Go fiqure.. They just don't want to CONCEDE.. We are winning!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by JSM on July 09, 2002 at 13:57:16 PT Pass? They got enough signatures to get this placed on the ballot - in itself a major undertaking. The proposition is clear and understandable plus there is not the problem that Alaska had with already convicted felons. Have faith in democracy, let the people speak, and support this in any manner possible. It just might pass. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 09, 2002 at 13:56:35 PT News Brief from The Associated Press Nevada to Vote on Legalizing Small Amounts of Marijuana; Store Sales Proposed Brendan Riley, Associated Press Writer Tuesday, July 9, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Associated Press URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/07/09/national1525EDT0644.DTL Voters in Nevada, which up until last year had the nation's strictest marijuana law, will decide in November whether to let adults legally possess small amounts of pot. State officials said Tuesday that a petition drive to put the measure on the ballot had narrowly succeeded with about 75,000 valid signatures. Under the proposal, marijuana would be sold in state-licensed shops and taxed like cigarettes and other tobacco products. A distribution system would also be set up to provide low-cost pot for medical uses. To become law, the change needs voter approval this year and in 2004. But whether it could ever actually take effect is unclear. Federal law bans marijuana possession, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that states cannot make exceptions for medical use. The new proposal would let adults have up to three ounces of marijuana. Driving under the influence would still be illegal, as would using marijuana in public places. "The success of our petition drive provides solid evidence that most Nevadans think it's a waste of their tax dollars to arrest people for small amounts of marijuana," said Billy Rogers of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement. Law enforcement groups in Nevada are expected to oppose the ballot measure. "Three ounces is quite a bit," said Lt. Stan Olsen, lobbyist for the Las Vegas police. "If we legalize it, what is next? A lot of people don't use drugs now because they are illegal and they stand to lose in their personal or professional lives if they use." Until last year, puffing on a single marijuana cigarette in Nevada was a felony punishable by a year or more behind bars. But the stiff penalties were rarely imposed. Lawmakers have since made possession of less than an ounce a misdemeanor. In 2000, Nevada voters approved the use of medical marijuana. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Windminstrel on July 09, 2002 at 12:58:52 PT Wahoo! Congratulations, Nevadans!I am getting my hopes up, TM -- not that it'll actually pass (it probably won't) or be held up should it pass (it definately won't), but because it opens up public debate on the issue. It also shows rather starkly that we need to recharge states rights, and shrink down the fed. government [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 09, 2002 at 12:57:16 PT Robbie Thank you! It is a fairly cloud free day. I like good news days. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 09, 2002 at 12:56:05 PT Prime Bless You're heart Prime. I believe the Marijuana Policy Project.http://www.mpp.org/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Robbie on July 09, 2002 at 12:39:59 PT the weather is pleasant, today Nevada, DC signatures, Blunkett in England, Canada's progression (minus the DEA field office)...&c..&c..Looks like sunshine...still foggy.============I want to thank FoM, Mark Greer, and Richard Lake...and everyone involved. Cannabis News and MAP have been my daily news for two years (like my nightly newscast, only updated much more frequently :) You all do a fantastic job. It's important to look at how society deals with the problem, before the resolution can be addressed. Your service to that effort is incalculable for reform. Thanks! www.CannabisNews.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Prime on July 09, 2002 at 12:32:54 PT What a battle this is going to be... No firey rhetoric from me today, promise. Just want to know where I can start sending checks to support this inititive.Let the campaign begin!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on July 09, 2002 at 12:21:42 PT If this happens... I'm not getting my hopes up, but if this passes I will roll on the floor laughing and crying with joy. -TM [ Post Comment ] Post Comment