cannabisnews.com: Vote May Affect National Policy





Vote May Affect National Policy
Posted by CN Staff on August 19, 2002 at 20:45:57 PT
Editorial 
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal 
When Nevadans go to the polls on Nov. 5, they will find themselves on the national stage — right in the middle of the long-running battle over marijuana.Two years after they gave final approval to a measure that allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes (though a workable system for accomplishing that goal has yet to be developed), Nevadans this year are being asked to go a step further by decriminalizing the possession of less than 3 ounces of the drug altogether (selling it or providing it to children would still be illegal).
The appearance of Question 9 on the November ballot (it will have to be approved by voters twice to become law) clearly has gotten the attention of national groups, both pro and anti, including the Bush administration. Last month, Drug Enforcement Agency Director Asa Hutchinson and John P. Walters, head of the government’s Office of Drug Control Policy (the “drug czar”), warned Nevadans to vote against the measure. In Las Vegas for a D.A.R.E. convention, Walters said that the state would become a center of “drug tourism” if it decriminalized marijuana. It would exacerbate the nation’s drug problem, he said, and he called the nationwide campaign “a great con.”Washoe County District Attorney Dick Gammick also warned against approving Question 9, and a statewide police organization quickly retracted support of the measure that had been announced by its executive director (he was fired).Pro-marijuana forces quickly came to the defense of the initiative. The Gazette-Journal received letters from as far away as Hawaii to the west and Massachusetts to the east touting the advantages of decriminalizing the drug and denying the danger that the anti-marijuana forces most often cite — that it’s a “gateway” drug that leads to the abuse of much more dangerous drugs.What makes this particularly difficult for Nevadans is that they are, in effect, being asked to make national policy. Supporters hope that the states will fall like dominoes once Nevada takes action until eventually the federal government is forced by a rebellion of the states to change its own marijuana policy. That puts a lot of pressure on Nevada voters that, with the state’s relatively small population, they are not used to.Yet, with 2½ months to go before the election, Nevadans appear to be split on the merits of decriminalizing marijuana. A statewide Gazette-Journal/News 4 poll found that 48 percent favor the measure and 48 percent are opposed to it; 4 percent were undecided, a small percentage this far before a vote.To reach a consensus, however, they will have to peal away decades of mythology and fear-mongering. What are the real dangers of smoking marijuana? How does it fit into the overall drug problem? How many inmates are really in our jails simply because they smoked a joint or two? How much of the nation’s law-enforcement resources are really being used to battle marijuana use?And they will have to look beyond their own prejudices to decide what policy is really best for the state … and the nation. It’s not a comfortable position for the state to be in, but the chances are good that the whole nation will be watching.Letters To The Editor:Readers Continue Marijuana DebateThere has been a lot of discussion recently about the ballot issue proposing the legalization of a minimal amount of marijuana in your possession. In California, I smoked marijuana a few of times in the ’70s and really enjoyed the “high” it gave me. Everything was “cool,” and the “munchies” and sex were great when you were high. Of course, I smoked it next door with my “groovy” neighbors, and we are all alive today. It must be OK then, right?Ever had a couple of beers or glasses of wine and got into a car to drive? Made you a little nervous, right? Hey man, the buzz a joint gives you is better than a couple of beers. If a couple of beers make you a better driver, a joint can make you NASCAR man/woman.Wrong. Legalizing pot is just another step toward making our highways a path of tears. If you are the least bit concerned about drunken driving, the further legalization of pot should scare the hell out of you. Please vote it down. We don’t need another “substance” to make our highways less safe than they already are.Rick Combs, SparksIt’s very interesting that in the last couple of weeks the RGJ has published two large articles about the marijuana initiative entitled “Officials slam marijuana ballot question” (July 21) and “Snuff out marijuana measures, drug czar urges” (July 25). However, when Nevada’s largest police association voted unanimously to endorse the marijuana initiative, there was a tiny article of less than 60 words stashed under “Briefly” in the local Reno section. They failed to mention that in endorsing this initiative the president of the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs, Andy Andersen, said, “A simple marijuana arrest takes a policeman off the street for half his shift. Passage of this initiative will ensure that more police are on the streets to protect our citizens from violent crimes and the threat of terrorism.” (Editor’s note: Since this letter was written, the organization has retracted its endorsement of the marijuana measure.)When reporting the news it seems that the RGJ highlights the negative side of this issue while downplaying the positive aspects.Alison Thompson, RenoIn response to Amy Youngblood (Letters, Aug. 6):She mentions, “If you need to get loaded, then buy some legalized alcohol and to pay the price.” How many more innocent victims of alcohol do we need in this country, Ms. Youngblood? Death and carnage on our highways? Families torn apart? Women and men beaten and abused by spouses. Children slaughtered and abused by family members? Must they pay the price? They all do every day.Its time people like you understand what alcohol does to the human spirit and to soaring medical costs. My background is law enforcement. I have seen it all. What I haven’t seen is that kind of destruction regarding the use of cannabis. I personally do not drink or smoke. Let’s wake up to the truth; its time has come.Gary Newton, RenoThe dictionary defines a mistake as: “a wrong idea or judgment.” That is what I think Question 9, which will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, is: a big mistake.As a counselor for the Washoe County School District and as a parent, I work hard to educate my students and children about the dangers and consequences of taking illegal and legal drugs. What message are we sending our youth if this initiative passes? That it is OK to take drugs? If marijuana becomes legal, then what drug is next?It is well known that marijuana is a gateway drug: Often smoking marijuana leads to using harder drugs.Some people believe that pot is not harmful and it can’t hurt you. They are grossly mistaken. The strength of the ingredients in pot has become more potent the last several years. Also, scientific research is proving the harmful consequences smoking pot has on the body.Let’s not make a mistake. Instead, let’s think about this generation and the next. Let us all use our better judgment and vote no to legalize marijuana.Theresa Jempsa, RenoWith the debate over whether or not marijuana should be legalized, we have missed the main point.Save the lip service about medicinal uses. We are all aware of them, and it is already legalized for its use. It has been used and studied for years for this use and will continue to be.Save me the rhetoric about its ability to spawn imagination and creativity. Why do you think so many starving artists and musicians are starving?I cannot for the life of me seem to understand why the proponents are not mentioning the great benefits of the marijuana plant as a whole. Nothing is said for its use for clothing. Nothing is said about the fact that hemp oil is one of the most beneficial, heart-healthy oils in existence, if not the best. These questions are not asked because they are non-issues. We are not discussing its benefits to society as a whole; we are discussing its benefit to the individual, of which there is truly only one, to sedate the individual.Please save your breath: The real reason proponents want legalization is for enjoyment of the smoking of the marijuana leaf. Please save us from this madness!Clifton Kump, RenoSource: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)Published: August 18, 2002Copyright: 2002 Reno Gazette-Journal Website: http://www.rgj.com/Contact: rgjmail nevadanet.comRelated Articles & Web Sites:NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Smoke Signals - Las Vegas Weekly http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13802.shtmlAre Nevadans Ready To Roll Dice on Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13765.shtmlPot Proponents Have Good Points http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13757.shtmlNevada Blazes Trail for Legal Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13689.shtml 
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Comment #6 posted by Industrial Strength on August 20, 2002 at 13:15:12 PT
gateway legislation
Apparantly, since using pot leads to using harder drugs, legalizing pot will lead to legalizing harder drugs (not my math, "theirs"). Well, that would be a good thing. It just might, in the same vein that once a person finds out marijuana isn't as bad as "they" say it is, everything else probably isn't as bad either. A gateway drug in that sense. Gateway legislation in that sense. 
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Comment #5 posted by karkulus on August 20, 2002 at 13:05:15 PT
Worry about REAL problems!!
    Why don't they worry about getting the God-Damned MAFIA influence out of Nevada politics??! OH! That's right!,They don't HAVE that anymore!! ( YEAH!..And Those were "inside-out" joints in the bag the pig was showing!!)
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Comment #4 posted by dimebag on August 20, 2002 at 09:41:22 PT
Comment
"Legalizing pot is just another step toward making our highways a path of tears. If you are the least bit concerned about drunken driving, the further legalization of pot should scare the hell out of you. Please vote it down. We don’t need another “substance” to make our highways less safe than they already are."Who ever wrote this Crap and who ever believes this crap is in worse dissarray then I thought. This person actually beleives that by Legalizing Pot it will open a flood gate of Drivers who drive high. Well Ive got some bad new's for this person. They already drive high, I drive high, as well as millions of americans.... It does not impare your cognitave ability to drive like alcohol. This person believes that by legalizing marijuana we would be adding another "substance" to our highways. Like its not already there. He doesnt think its there because he doesnt see for him self the abundance of people who smoke pot.  Same senario goes for Marijuana and Children. No: I dont thing kids should smoke pot, but they are going to do it if they so choose. Now lets see, which would be an easier way to obtain Cannibus. 
1. Were it kept illegal, kids can get it from kids who get it from kids, who distribute it amongst their peer's in school. Now granted there is always the Person who has to get it from some where. Wether that kid gets it from his brother, or his brothers friend, the point is that he still get it.
2. IF it were made legal, and illegal to sell to any one under 21 that closes the gap between adults and Kids. An 8tth grader isnt going to be hanging out with someone who is 21. Unless its his brother. The only way for that kid is to get it from some one old. The possiblities that person knows someone that old is slim to none. So it would be harder for that 8th grader to obtain Pot.End Case and Point.Dimebag.
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on August 20, 2002 at 09:09:42 PT
true, Kap
I was reading in National Geographic how, in European countries like nuclear-happy France, their centralized nuclear waste repositories are designed and built to last about 500,000 to 1 million year. Yucca Mountain? It's designed to last 10,000 years - maybe. That's without any big earthquakes or volcanic activity, both of which are within the realm of possibility.
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on August 20, 2002 at 06:00:31 PT:
"turnabout is fair play"
What makes this particularly difficult for Nevadans is that they are, in effect, being asked to make national policy. Supporters hope that the states will fall like dominoes once Nevada takes action until eventually the federal government is forced by a rebellion of the states to change its own marijuana policy. That puts a lot of pressure on Nevada voters that, with the state’s relatively small population, they are not used to.I don't have to remind Nevadans how the Feds irradiated God knows how many hundreds of people during the open air nuclear tests of the 1940's, '50's and '60's and gave them cancer. I don't have to remind them now that Freddie the Fed now wants to make the penultimate insult and use their State as a isotope-encrusted toilet. Seems someone was and still is 'making national policy' for Nevadans. Long past time Nevadans returned the favor. 
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on August 20, 2002 at 04:32:48 PT
More than they want Us to know.
How many inmates are really in our jails simply because they smoked a joint or two?This is one of the issues that must be addressed. I have written to the Reno Gazette-Journal, already, and am sure they will not geve Me another platform...Someone would do well to explain, that one of the means to cage humans for using cannabis is revokation of parole and probation upon failing a cannabis plant (drug) test. Isn’t that the predominent means of caging humans for smoking a single joint. Yet they are infering that people are not caged over a single joint, by overlooking this fact.Another way they cage humans for smoking a single joint is by applying the infraction to another infraction, such as smoking while driving. International studies show, cannabis does not automatically make someone too stoned to pass a sobriety test, yet the law is structured to link them together with out allowing someone to show sobriety.
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