cannabisnews.com: Poll Finds Nevada Voters Evenly Split on Marijuana





Poll Finds Nevada Voters Evenly Split on Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on July 22, 2002 at 09:10:01 PT
By The Associated Press 
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal 
Nevada voters are about evenly divided on whether they approve a constitutional amendment to legalize possession of three ounces or less of marijuana, a statewide poll shows.The Las Vegas Review-Journal survey found 44 percent of voters backed the initiative to legalize marijuana on November statewide election ballots, while 46 percent opposed the idea. Ten percent were undecided in the survey, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Washington, D.C., conducted the survey of 625 registered voters for the Review-Journal and reviewjournal.com.Voters were also asked their views on two other state issues: a protection of marriage initiative and on whether the current ban on a state income tax should be repealed.Fifty-five percent supported recognition of marriage only if it is between a male and female; 38 percent opposed the proposal, and 7 percent were undecided.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.Sixty-eight percent of those polled opposed lifting a 12-year-old constitutional ban on a state income tax. The survey found 19 percent would lift the prohibition. Thirteen percent were undecided.The results on the marijuana question were 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 Nov. 5 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 three ounces or less of marijuana"not a cause for arrest."Rogers said 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.Brad Coker, managing director of the poll, predicted support for legalizing marijuana will decline and the proposition will lose in November. The plan needs approval this year and again in 2004 to change the state constitution.Coker said undecided voters tend to vote no, and said law enforcement groups will mount a campaign that will be hard for Rogers'organization to overcome.He added that legalizing possession of some marijuana is different than legalizing medical marijuana, which 65 percent of voters approved two years ago.Richard Ziser, the leader of the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, said he was pleased that 55 percent of Nevada residents polled opposed recognizing gay marriages, even though that percentage was down from two years ago.He said he expects a fall drive to publicize the campaign will increase backing for the initiative to 70 percent.Without the constitutional amendment, Ziser maintained, Nevada would have to honor civil union marriages from Vermont, the only state that allows gay marriages.Complete Title: Poll Finds Nevada Voters Evenly Split on Marijuana MeasureSource: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)Published: July 22, 2002Copyright: 2002 Reno Gazette-Journal Website: http://www.rgj.com/Contact: rgjmail nevadanet.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Reno-Area Officials Oppose Marijuana Measurehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13502.shtmlVoters Split on Marijuana Issuehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13501.shtmlPublic Officials Slam Marijuana Ballot Measure http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13496.shtmlDEA Director Criticizes Marijuana Ballot Measure http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13388.shtml
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