cannabisnews.com: Question 9: Marijuana Support Falls in Poll Question 9: Marijuana Support Falls in Poll Posted by CN Staff on September 01, 2002 at 07:34:47 PT By Ed Vogel Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal As attention has focused nationwide on a provocative proposal to make Nevada the first state with legal marijuana, a new poll shows support for the idea is fading. The survey, commissioned by the Review-Journal and reviewjournal.com, found 55 percent of likely voters oppose Question 9 on the November election ballot. Passage then and again in 2004 would change the state constitution and allow adult Nevadans to possess 3 ounces or less of marijuana without fear of arrest. Forty percent of the respondents back Question 9, and 5 percent are undecided. The results are a dramatic shift from a similar poll in early July, when 44 percent of the respondents said they favored legal pot, while 46 percent were opposed. A Reno Gazette-Journal poll conducted soon after found voters evenly split for and against at 48 percent. The survey of 625 likely voters was conducted by telephone on Monday and Tuesday by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Washington, D.C. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Support has waned because law enforcement leaders have begun to focus on the issue, said Brad Coker, managing director of Mason-Dixon. Coker said he was not surprised at the numbers. "All it takes is a little push from law enforcement and people back off," he said. "It certainly won't pass." Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick said he thinks "people are now learning the truth." "All the proponents want to do is legalize marijuana so they can smoke dope," Gammick said. "Now that people realize their motivation, they are making a rational decision about it." Possession of 1 ounce or less or marijuana in Nevada is a misdemeanor subject to a $600 fine for the first two offenses. Gammick contended pot supporters have left the false impression that passage of Question 9 was necessary to implement the state's medical marijuana program. Sixty-five percent of voters two years ago passed a constitutional amendment that led to establishment of a state medical marijuana program. The medical marijuana issue coincidentally also was listed as Question 9 on election ballots. About 200 people now have permission to grow as many as seven marijuana plants for medical reasons. Although the new Question 9 would require the state to provide low-cost marijuana to medical marijuana recipients, its main focus would be setting up a system to allow adults to possess small amounts of pot without reprisal. The ballot question provides a vehicle for the state to tax and sell marijuana. Gammick has said federal laws would prohibit the state from doing so, but Billy Rogers, the man behind the drive to make marijuana possession legal in the state, has argued the nation's drug czar is already on record as saying he won't step up enforcement of federal drug laws if the measure passes. Rogers said his own polls show Nevadans remain split on the marijuana question. "I see it dead even right now," Rogers said. Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement collected almost 110,000 signatures on petitions from residents who wanted to place Question 9 on the ballot. Rogers said the latest poll is a sign his organization must do a better job of explaining the issue to voters. The organization has raised $525,000 in contributions and intends to launch a fall campaign, including TV spots, to explain the question. In particular, he said the group must emphasize that passage of the question only would allow adults to possess marijuana in the privacy of their homes, not in public places or while driving. Use of the drug by minors also would remain illegal. "If that is what voters are hearing on Election Day, we will win the election," Rogers said. "We have to let them know exactly what is in the initiative." Rogers contended opponents have been misinforming voters on what his organization really wants. "You would think from what they say if Question 9 is passed, the next thing we will do in Nevada is legalize gaming and prostitution," he said. His organization has maintained the public will be better served if police concentrate on more serious crimes than wasting time arresting and booking people for small amounts of marijuana. According to FBI statistics, marijuana arrests climbed to almost 750,000 in 2000, more than double the 300,000 arrests in 1991. In Nevada, the number of people arrested for marijuana possession in 1999 was 5,406, up from 2,076 in 1995. But Las Vegas police Undersheriff Richard Winget said earlier this month that police this year have booked only about 50 cases in which a small amount of pot was involved. Drug charges usually are secondary to other crimes, he said.Note: Survey: 55 percent reject legalization of small amounts of pot. Complete Title: Ballot Question 9: Marijuana Support Falls in PollSource: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Author: Ed VogelPublished: Sunday, September 01, 2002Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Review-JournalContact: letters lvrj.comWebsite: http://www.lvrj.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/DAs Will Question Legality of Ballot's Question http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13925.shtmlFirst-Time Marijuana Users Risk Serious Addictionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13916.shtmlMarijuana Initiative Promise High Adventure http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13910.shtmlPublic Officials Slam Marijuana Ballot Measure http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13496.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by boballen13 on September 02, 2002 at 01:03:30 PT: DONT GET A ULCER! Nevada is actually a sane state of the union... Let's not try and explain a loss before a loss... actually i would like to give everyone that thinks that nevada hasnt a clear mind about considering this legislation...the proverbial finger... Nevadans aint all mormons, pentecostals, nor prohibitionist zealots! I heard some folks there actually think for themselves! Guess we will see this november! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by The GCW on September 01, 2002 at 19:14:22 PT Don't shun the election process, This is an issue that demands non voters, VOTE!There is app. 1 month to register TO VOTE! One of the things that needs to be done, is to make sure that people that are not registered are registered 30 DAYS in advance, of the election.The last 30 days, will require a lot of work, but at that time it will be too late for getting people reg... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by CorvallisEric on September 01, 2002 at 11:47:58 PT Sam Adams Usually I would disagree with your view because pollsters have made quite a science out of demographics, thereby neutralizing the factors you state. If they didn't do that, their predictive value and reputation would drop. However, you may be right because the demographics of this issue don't quite match those of more typical liberal/conservative issues which the pollsters are more keyed-in to. For another take on poll demographics, see my comment #20 in: http://cannabisnews.com/news/13/thread13923.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on September 01, 2002 at 09:04:37 PT I wouldn't worry.... Polls are polls, not elections. There are MANY factors that can skew a poll.First, it's a telephone poll. People are included that answer the phone during the time that the pollsters are calling, which is not specified. Who is more likely to answer the phone - old, crotchedy, retirees sitting around the house? Isolated shut-ins that have abnormal life and no friends?Most women in their 20's screen all their calls nowadays. Most young, hardworking people in their 20's, 30's, and 40 's, hang up immediately on pollsters or telemarketers, or simply aren't home. They're out having busy work lives and active social lives, taking care of kids, etc. I say let's wait till November and see what happens. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by VitaminT on September 01, 2002 at 08:01:03 PT Here's the editorial defining the paper's position on q. 9The polster sounds gleeful about the results.he did the last time he was quoted too. LV-RJ editorial [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by VitaminT on September 01, 2002 at 07:51:00 PT LV-RJ is pro q. 9 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 01, 2002 at 07:49:13 PT Negative Nancies I don't think I've seen one piece from the LV-RJ which came out with a positive attitude towards Question 9. If their poll showed a majority in favor of the initiative, would they have printed the story? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment