cannabisnews.com: Voters Split on Marijuana Issue





Voters Split on Marijuana Issue
Posted by CN Staff on July 22, 2002 at 07:45:47 PT
By Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital Bureau
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal 
Nevadans are divided on whether they would vote for a constitutional amendment to legalize possession of 3 ounces or less of marijuana, a new statewide poll shows. The survey found 44 percent of respondents back the initiative to legalize marijuana that will be on November statewide election ballots. Forty-six percent oppose the idea, and the other 10 percent are undecided. 
Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., which conducted the survey for the Review-Journal and reviewjournal.com, also asked Nevadans their views on two other state issues: the Protection of Marriage initiative and on whether the current ban on a state income tax should be repealed. Fifty-five percent of the 625 registered voters polled support recognition of marriage only if it is between a male and female; 38 percent oppose the proposal, and 7 percent are undecided. The initiative, Question 2, was approved by nearly 70 percent of voters two years ago and would become part of the state constitution if approved again in November. The poll also found Nevadans overwhelmingly oppose any move to lift the 12-year-old constitutional ban on a state income tax. The survey found 68 percent of voters support continuing the ban, while 19 percent would lift the prohibition. Thirteen percent were undecided. The survey has a margin of error of no more than plus or minus 4 percentage points. The results on the marijuana question are good news for those who support legal pot, said Billy Rogers, a spokesman for Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement. His organization secured enough signatures to put the question on the ballot. "We know most people in Nevada don't think we should arrest people for small amounts of marijuana," Rogers said. The poll only asked people if they favored amending the state constitution to make possession of 3 ounces or less of marijuana "not a cause for arrest." Rogers said the proposal actually does much more. The plan still makes possession by minors a crime and prohibits the use of marijuana in public and by drivers. In addition, it calls for the state to provide low-cost marijuana to people who have permission to use the drug for medical reasons. About 190 Nevadans are permitted under the state's current medical marijuana law to grow pot to treat their illnesses. "Our initiative certainly does not legalize use for people who use marijuana irresponsibly," Rogers said. But Brad Coker, managing director of the Washington, D.C.-based polling firm, predicted support for legal marijuana will decline in coming months, and the proposition will lose in November. The plan needs approval this year and again in 2004 to amend the state constitution. "Undecided voters tend to break no," Coker said. "Some people see this as a novel idea, but I predict support will drop." Coker expects law enforcement groups will mount a campaign that will be hard for Rogers' organization to overcome. He added the legal marijuana question is far different than the medical marijuana one approved by 65 percent of voters two years ago. "Medical marijuana was a defensible issue," he said. "It was letting sick people treat themselves to alleviate pain and suffering." Richard Ziser, the leader of the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, was pleased with the poll showing 55 percent of Nevadans oppose recognizing gay marriages, even though that percentage is down from two years ago. "The awareness factor is way down," Ziser said. "People don't realize it has to be on the ballot again. It is just a matter of getting the message out." He expects with a fall drive to publicize the campaign, backing for the initiative will be around 70 percent again. Ziser said passage is important because of a recent Georgia Supreme Court decision. The court ruled Georgia would not recognize the marriage of a gay couple who moved there after marrying in Vermont under that state's civil marriage law. Georgia has a law similar to the one that Ziser's group wants Nevada voters to adopt. Without the constitutional amendment, Ziser maintained, Nevada would have to honor civil union marriages from Vermont, the only state that allows gay marriages. But Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the proposal is divisive and unnecessary because Nevada already has a law allowing only marriages between men and women. "We should figure out ways to foster a sense of community," he said. "This proposition is clearly designed to marginalize a group of people, make it plain they are second-class citizens." Though most people who support the proposition are not homophobic, Peck said, that can't be said about some of the initiative's leaders. He is encouraged that support for the question has dropped. Nevada Taxpayers Association President Carole Vilardo was not surprised the poll found 68 percent of voters oppose lifting the prohibition on a state income tax. Lifting the ban has been mentioned during hearings of the Governor's Task Force on Tax Policy, but Vilardo does not believe it will be considered seriously. "You would have to do an awful lot of explanation to convince people (to support income taxes)," Vilardo said. "They would want to know what benefit they would get in return."Note: Poll finds opinion divided on making small amounts legal.Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Author: Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital BureauPublished: Monday, July 22, 2002Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Review-JournalContact: letters lvrj.comWebsite: http://www.lvrj.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Public Officials Slam Marijuana Ballot Measure http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13496.shtmlPlan To Ease Marijuana Laws Wins Ballot Positionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13348.shtmlMarijuana Petition Qualifies for Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13341.shtml
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Comment #23 posted by VitaminT on July 22, 2002 at 18:19:09 PT
I'm glad you mentioned Willie Nelson.
When I was a teenager living in the Houston area, my dad took my mom to Gilley's to see Willie play. She had the most wonderful time and she later told me, under her breath, how Willie and the boys were up on stage passing a joint around all night and none of the cops in the place had a thing to say about it. A good time was had by all and everyone got home safe and sound. My mom's a pretty straight-laced sort of gal so the story was an eye-opener for me. Of course I didn't want to open my eyes too much 'cause they were probably just a little blood-shot on the weekends! LOL!I've always wanted to burn one down with my mom, I hope I get the chance someday Maybe on top of Mount Leconte in the smokies where she lives now. That would be my idea of a wholesome good time with family!
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on July 22, 2002 at 17:30:18 PT
That's Cool
BGreen that is really cool. I like Willie Nelson. He is a music and american icon. I know you will never forget that moment. I wouldn't either if I were you.
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Comment #21 posted by BGreen on July 22, 2002 at 17:30:10 PT
Happiness
There's something that's in short supply.It's only allowed when all three branches of the gov't have decided what can provide it.
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 22, 2002 at 17:26:25 PT
Forget What I Just Said
No that won't work because someone's pursuit of happiness is a wide open issue and would never work. There I feel better.
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Comment #19 posted by BGreen on July 22, 2002 at 17:24:41 PT
I wish I knew
I always thought 'If they knew the people that I know, they'd change their feelings towards cannabis users.' When the media parade's the biggest losers on the planet as being cannabis users, the brainless masses believe every user must be the same.I talked face to face with Willie Nelson, we had both consumed cannabis (although not together,) we had a coherent conversation, and I'll remember it until I die.
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on July 22, 2002 at 17:15:10 PT
BGreen
You're right. How about something about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Maybe something like should people be allowed to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? I don't know really. I'm just doing a little brainstorming but for people to understand where we are coming from they must be made to think and respond after it is really thought through. People don't take time to think like they should.
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Comment #17 posted by BGreen on July 22, 2002 at 17:00:59 PT
I don't think that will work
Asa and John Boy have been trying to convince people that ONLY big dealers are in prison. Nevada already has a law that makes simple possession a misdemeanor, but it still gives LEA's the ability to use strong-arm tactics against them.The dealing charges are almost always trumped up, using "conspiracy to commit" as a way to get convictions even when a crime never occurred. As long as cannabis is illegal, people will be forced into committing a crime by dealing with a "criminal" to get their cannabis.Distribution charges are also common due to mitigating factors such as possession of scales or plastic baggies, or having the cannabis "packaged for distribution." This can occur when the person buys on the black market, as cannabis is sometimes packaged in gram quantities. The person that has three grams could be charged as a dealer, just because they're in three separate containers.In my case, I have different strains in separate containers, scales because I like to keep track during breeding experiments, baggies because we eat sandwiches, and dear God, I grow my own, so I'm the biggest criminal out there. I don't sell any, and I haven't bought any in the US since the 1980's. I've contributed NOTHING to crime, and so much to my family and the music business. I know with all my heart there are hundreds of thousands of people just like me.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 22, 2002 at 16:28:26 PT
How about this? Just throwing it out here
Legalization or Incarceration which one do you choose?
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Comment #15 posted by BGreen on July 22, 2002 at 15:01:27 PT
Just to clarify
The pain and suffering cannabis users go through comes from the illegality. The SWAT team crashing through the door in the middle of the night, pointing automatic weapons at non-violent adults and kids, scarring them for life. The kids are taken from the parents, the house and property seized, jobs are lost, careers ruined, legal fees wipe out the savings of friends and family, because the gov't took their own money and they don't have the money to fight. It goes on, and you already know it, but there are millions who don't know this is taking place over a gentle plant and the many gentle users whose lives are destroyed by the criminalizers.
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Comment #14 posted by Sam Adams on July 22, 2002 at 14:55:11 PT
You're right
A few TV ads with real people who have lost their job, children etc would be great. And then show pictures of all the politicians who have admitted smoking...Clinton, Clarence Thomas, Bush, Al Gore, etc, etc.
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Comment #13 posted by BGreen on July 22, 2002 at 14:51:14 PT
Sam Adams
Legally, I don't know about the wording on the ballot, but as far as getting the word out before the election, I think you've hit it dead on. The people need to know about not only the financial burden placed upon the citizens, but also about the pain and suffering the families of cannabis users go through. It's so barbaric that even the most hardened heart softens a bit when they hear about it. The press has sufficiently suppressed this, but now is the time to hit them full force.
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Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on July 22, 2002 at 13:55:21 PT
Important lesson here
There is an interesting message here for reformers in these three poll questions.People weren't sure about legalizing cannabis. However, they were sure that they don't want gay marriage, and they DEFINITELY don't want to pay income tax. Publicly, I think we should avoid the moral high ground and go for the jugular: taxes. Even though WE feel that we are morally righteous in this cause, that is not the public message that will resonate. The majority of people still do not smoke MJ, and clearly it will NEVER be seen as a morally valid activity. It's the wrong button to push - just look at the tobacco crucifixion.We should go for the govt's jugular - funding.  Ballot questions should ask "Do you wish to continue taxpayer-financed arrests of marijuana smokers?" "Should the Nevada state government spend $50 million in tax dollars to arrest and jail nonviolent marijuana users?"How do you think those questions would fare in a poll?
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Comment #11 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on July 22, 2002 at 13:40:15 PT
Fair. Balanced. Zombie.
FOX NEws is is to the republican party today what Rush Limbaugh was in 1994, when Gingrich and others would passs stuff along to him for rapid disemmination. A propaganda tool, if one ever existed. FOX and Gingrich even go way back, dont' they. O'Rielly is merely a product fashioned from the mold.. I mean "mould, made by Limbaugh.It was a FOX affiliate in Florida that blurted out the untimely proclamation that Bush had won the now infamous election.They give us a very bad image overseas I am sure.I only read them to stay aware of what "they" are being fed. FOX is useful in that way. The smug righteousness they excrete allows their true values to fly like a flag.Heil Bush! Heil Bush!The linked reading is really good..I think
Origins of the Overclass
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Comment #10 posted by Ethan Russo MD on July 22, 2002 at 13:14:01 PT:
No hubo subtitulos, gracias a Dios.
Thank God, there were no subtitles on Fox News. I was duly appalled that anglophone Spanish people were being fed this slanted and skewed view of the world, and our society.A year ago, the Europeans thought we (or our government) were nuts. Now they merely shake their heads, and hope that we come to our senses.
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Comment #9 posted by kaptinemo on July 22, 2002 at 13:10:17 PT:
FAUX news in Spain
Dios mio! They must think most Americans are crazy if they believe that FAUX (as they so loudly proclaim) is 'America's Favorite News Station!' or whatever it is they are bragging about now.(Cringing) I hope they didn't subtitle it in Spanish... 
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Comment #8 posted by Ethan Russo MD on July 22, 2002 at 12:46:09 PT:
Fox News
I had the misfortune of watching Fox News last month in Spain due to lack of availability of CNN or the infinitely superior BBC.What I saw was sensationalistic hype about the Smart girl's abduction, and constant jingoistic propaganda about the war on terrorism. It was as if there were no other issues in the world. I cared for neither the slant nor the orientation. I can only imagine what they would have done on cannabis issues.
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Comment #7 posted by Nasarius on July 22, 2002 at 12:45:55 PT
Liberal?
Be careful of the words you choose. Democrats are not liberal, although they pretend to be. At best, they're moderate.
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Comment #6 posted by VitaminT on July 22, 2002 at 12:40:08 PT
Ammending my previous remarks . . . .
let me not misrepresent conservatives. In my opion, there are really two general flavors: Real "bedrock" conservatives and right-wing "religous fanatic" conservatives.I know many bedrock conservatives and they have no idealogical attachment to the War on Drugs! Indeed they are some of the most fearsome fighters for the end to prohibition and the strongest advocates for full RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES of the individual! Two highly admirable traits.If only the typical liberal could be so reliable an advocate, we'd have won this thing long ago!
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Comment #5 posted by VitaminT on July 22, 2002 at 12:06:55 PT
Sounds dubious phasetheory!
Fox news does have some "liberals" granted, but generally they are of the mealy-mouth spineless sort. To me they are just a little less right than the "conservatives." What the network really lacks are libertarian and progressive (true unambiguous left) perspectives. If FauxNews was really interested in airing the range of political perspectives in this country they would do it! As it is now they're just another mouthpiece for corporate power, the puppeteers behind the republicrat duopoly!Your second remark seems partly true, liberal democrats will be out front leading the charge against the initiative as quickly as the conservatives, but they'll shift gears once they realize that tide is flowing in the other direction. Many liberals are IMO, shameless political whores - conservatives are more likely to have the courage of their convictions which doesn't make them right just idealogical in the extreme. When the tide shifts the conservatives are more likely to be swept away by it - again in my opinion.I'd like for all the networks to be independent and embrace the full breadth of political opinion in the world, but how would their corrupt corporate masters receive that?
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Comment #4 posted by Nasarius on July 22, 2002 at 11:42:54 PT
You're joking...
right, phasetheory?http://www.fair.org/extra/0108/fox-main.html
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Comment #3 posted by phasetheory on July 22, 2002 at 11:28:22 PT
damn
Fox News isn't conservative I don't what you're talking about Markjc. They are about as neutral as you're going to find. I saw a poll that showed the most even number of liberals vs. conservatives watch Fox News. It just appears conservative to you because your liberal. However, it too bad that this won't pass, you will start to see millions of dollars to be funneled into ads to not vote for this. And the sad thing is it will come from liberal organizations, not conservative ones.  
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Comment #2 posted by markjc on July 22, 2002 at 08:45:49 PT:
polls
i just saw a segment on fox news that said their polls said that if the election were held today that the vote would pass, overwhelmingly. this is surprising coming from the ultra conservative fox news. the poll this article is looking at probably isnt valid. 
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Comment #1 posted by mayan on July 22, 2002 at 08:40:13 PT
The Undecided Will Decide It
The survey found 44 percent of respondents back the initiative to legalize marijuana that will be on November statewide election ballots. Forty-six percent oppose the idea, and the other 10 percent are undecided.Our numbers are growing every day. It is our duty to sway the undecided. unrelated -Leftist Rallying Behind Georgia's Rep. McKinney:
http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.07.19/news2.htmlIs Harken Energy Bush's Watergate?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/f1/d0/200207221342.8d1b51d9.htmlTHE BUSH-CHENEY DRUG EMPIRE: 
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ciadrugs/bush-cheney-drugs.html
 
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