cannabisnews.com: Will Nevada Take Lid Off Pot? Will Nevada Take Lid Off Pot? Posted by CN Staff on August 21, 2002 at 08:09:04 PT By Elliot Borin Source: Wired Magazine Call it Operation Desert Smoke, aka the war to legalize marijuana in Nevada. A war, pardon the cliché, for hearts and minds. A battle of words, concepts and alliances built on common values. A war in which the Internet, as history's most potent vehicle for disseminating "facts" -- true or otherwise -- has become a significant weapon. "Information is always the enemy of stupidity and prejudice," says Bruce Mirken, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, which is providing organizational support and funding for the Nevada initiative. "The Net has played a substantial role in undermining marijuana prohibition." "Is it possible that glittering websites offering what may be very biased perspectives regarding marijuana are having an impact on the decriminalization/legalization movement? Sure," retorts Howard Simon, deputy director of public affairs for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. "Is it certain that's the cause? No. There was a widespread decriminalization movement in the 1970s which led to several states reducing penalties associated with marijuana.... It would be hard to argue that had anything to do with the Internet. "Still, one can't discount the possible influence of the Internet in spreading a pro-drug message -- or the 'nothing's working in the fight against drugs' message that too often goes hand in hand with it. Of course, that latter message isn't biased; it's just wrong." Anti-marijuana crusaders in the Illinois legislature are so convinced that the Internet is impeding noxious-weed-abatement efforts they've twice introduced bills to make it illegal to transmit information about marijuana over the Net. Had it not been defeated, the 2002 bill would have criminalized posting information about using or growing marijuana to websites, newsgroups, message boards, mailing lists and chat rooms. Make no mistake, the measure on Nevada's November ballot is more about what Simon would call legalization than decriminalization. Decriminalization measures aim at reducing penalties or exempting a "special-interest" group from current laws. The Nevada bill would treat marijuana in much the same way as tobacco and alcohol. Possession of up to three ounces and use would be legal for adults, but not minors. Driving under the influence would be illegal and, as is increasingly the case with tobacco, smoking pot in most public places would be prohibited. Most important, the initiative, which would have to be passed twice in two general elections to amend the state's constitution, would direct the legislature to establish a system for the sale and taxation of marijuana. This would make Nevada the only state giving black-thumbed citizens the same legal access to getting high as world-class gardeners. Surprisingly, this ultra-radical or, according to its supporters, ultra-rational proposal is supported by the state's largest newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and the state's largest law-enforcement organization, the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs. With the most recent polls indicating the vote would end in a draw if held today, the NPP's Mirken is looking toward the Internet to help persuade "undecideds." "When you are in opposition to a dominant policy it forces you to be more creative," he says. "The Internet allows us to do huge amounts of grassroots organizing instantly, a key advantage as we head toward November." Prior to 2000, Nevadans could draw a multi-year prison sentence for possession of one marijuana cigarette. Voters passed a medical-marijuana decriminalization bill in 2000 and the 2001 legislature eliminated incarceration as a penalty for possession of less than one ounce by first- or second-time adult offenders. Source: Wired Magazine (CA)Author: Elliot Borin Published: August 21, 2002 Copyright: 2001 Wired Digital Inc.Website: http://www.wired.com/Contact: newsfeedback wired.com Related Articles & Web Sites:NRLE http://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org/Vote May Affect National Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13805.shtmlSmoke 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.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by bmorrice on August 23, 2002 at 15:50:59 PT: No, he doesn't John Tyler:No, he doesn't mean green-thumbed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by p4me on August 21, 2002 at 22:48:13 PT That is just goofy With the most recent polls indicating the vote would end in a draw if held today, the NPP's Mirken is looking toward the Internet to help persuade "undecideds."Look. If the polls are pretty much even say so. I am all but positive that no single poll said "It is a good thing the election is not held today because it would end in a draw." And when he says most recent polls say that an election today would end in a draw, that is nonsense.This guy makes a living painting pictures with words. The picture he paints with his little summary statement is not accurate. Now if he would have said Busch is a dickhead, that would be accurate.1,2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by CorvallisEric on August 21, 2002 at 22:34:48 PT The Illinois bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/11/thread11213.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by pokesmotter on August 21, 2002 at 20:28:13 PT: never heard about that bill but right now i am ashamed to live in illinois. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by karkulus on August 21, 2002 at 14:37:24 PT Damn Glittering Websites! "Is it possible that glittering websites offering what may be very biased perspectives regarding marijuana are having an impact on the decriminalization/legalization movement? Sure," retorts Howard Simon, deputy director of public affairs for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.-----------------Must be that George Soros out-spending the U.S Govt. again....Too bad they can't afford any "Glittering Websites"!!! I'm sure they'd be Real Groovy!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on August 21, 2002 at 09:30:42 PT Gardeners black-thumbed citizens... Doesn't he mean green-thumbed? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Windminstrel on August 21, 2002 at 08:28:33 PT ah, screw the first ammendment! I hadn't heard about those Illinois bill -- that's downright chilling. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment