cannabisnews.com: Drug Czar To Lobby in Nevada





Drug Czar To Lobby in Nevada
Posted by CN Staff on September 18, 2002 at 11:48:55 PT
By Steve Tetreault, Stephens Washington Bureau
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal 
The nation's drug czar plans to boost his fight against Question 9, the Nevada ballot initiative that would legalize possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana. John Walters, chief of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, plans to visit drug treatment centers and meet with law enforcers and newspaper editorial boards during a trip to Las Vegas and Reno scheduled Oct. 9-10, spokeswoman Jennifer deVallance said Tuesday.
At a news conference, Walters said he spoke in Las Vegas this summer against marijuana, "and I'm going back again." "I am going into every state that has a ballot initiative and working with people in community coalitions," Walters said. Besides Nevada, states where voters face marijuana-related ballot questions include Arizona, Ohio and South Dakota, the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project reports. In Nevada, Question 9 asks whether the state should legalize possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana, enough to roll about 100 joints. People older than 21 would be allowed to smoke in their homes but not in public places. Marijuana would be sold in state-licensed stores and taxed like tobacco. Voters must approve the initiative in November and again in 2004 before it can be made part of the state constitution. Walters disclosed his travel plans as he announced a national media campaign this fall by his office and 17 education and public health organizations to discourage young people from smoking marijuana. The campaign will include newspaper advertisements running in big markets, television and radio spots and an effort to reach youngsters through the Internet. Government drug policy officials said the ads, produced for national media use, will not focus special attention on Nevada. A spot ran this week during Monday night's NFL game. "This is a national youth anti-drug media campaign. We don't heap up in states where there are ballot issues," said Tom Riley, a Walters aide. Walters urged parents against trivializing for their children the dangers of marijuana, and he said the drug is more potent today than what mom and dad may have smoked in their youth. More teens enter rehabilitation to treat marijuana addiction than alcohol or all other illegal drugs combined, he said. "Our effort is to correct the ignorance that is the single biggest obstacle to protecting our kids," he said. Krissy Oechslin, Marijuana Policy Project assistant director of communications, questioned the effectiveness of government ad drives, some of which she said employ "scare tactics and distortions of the truth." "There are still record numbers of kids that use marijuana and other drugs," Oechslin said. "They've been doing this over and over and over, and it doesn't work. Maybe it's time to try a different campaign." Riley said drug use over the long term has declined because public awareness. "Drug use is half of what it was in the 1980s," he said. A study issued last month by the Office of National Drug Control Policy reported first-time marijuana use among Nevada youth ages 12 to 17 is among the highest in the nation. The state tied with Hawaii for seventh among the 50 states, with 7.63 percent of adolescents trying marijuana for the first time in 1999 and 2000, the report said. Note: Federal official plans battle against marijuana ballot initiative. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Author: Steve Tetreault, Stephens Washington BureauPublished: Wednesday, September 18, 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/Going to Pot: Nevada Plan to Legalize Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14104.shtmlNevadans Asked to Blaze Trail for Legalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14051.shtmlVegas Measure Gambles on Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13896.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #11 posted by Patrick on September 18, 2002 at 16:56:26 PT
Toker00
Just want to commend you on a wonderful vision and direction for the future. Wipe out IGNORANCE. We do that, and cannabis will be free! We might also restore unrigged democratic elections in America where the vote of the people wins out over the vote of the system as well.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by Toker00 on September 18, 2002 at 16:24:22 PT
error of omission...
INDEED, that is what I meant to say. War crime TRIALS will follow. As will better health through CANNACUETICALS.Peace. Realize, then Legalize.  
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Shishaldin on September 18, 2002 at 16:00:48 PT
Toker Double Ought
You meant war crimes TRIALS, yes? We have plenty of war crimes documented to keep courts occupied for DECADES...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Toker00 on September 18, 2002 at 15:52:02 PT
OK, then...
"Our effort is to correct the IGNORANCE that is the single biggest obstacle to protecting our kids," he said.With that, he publicly resigned, disbanning the DEA, freeing all Cannabis prisoners, and setting up funds for reparations to the many families destroyed by the IGNORANCE.Children will be reunited with their parents, Cannaprisoners retrained and welcomed back into the workforce, free from piss tests. The economy will thrive, in large part, due to the new industries created from RE-LEGALIZED hemp, and Recreational Cannabis.A monument will be errected at RAINBOW FARM, honoring the dead at the hands of the former DEA's IGNORANCE squads.War crimes will follow. Publicized.Peace. Realize, then Legalize. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 18, 2002 at 14:42:19 PT
LTE
Sirs,  I would like you to ask one question when John Walters comes to town, and it has nothing to do with drugs of any sort.  Ask him, "Who paid for this trip?" As a followup, if it's you and me and every other taxpayer footing the bill, ask, "Is that legal?"
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Dan B on September 18, 2002 at 12:57:27 PT:
Arrest That Man!
By taking this trip, as well as others he has taken to Michigan and Nevada for this specific reason this year, he is criminally misappropriating public funds and should be arrested, tried, and convicted of that offense. To my understanding, it is unlawful for a federal official to use public funds to campaign for or against a state ballot measure. He is outside his jurisdiction, and he should be called on the carpet for it. Shame on the governments of Michigan and Nevada for not standing up to this charlatan!Dan B
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by knox42897 on September 18, 2002 at 12:53:59 PT:
protest walters
Hello Fellow Nevadans,
If you would like to protest Walters visit to nevada please email me your plans maybe we could get a strong group together to protest this tyrant's visit.
DEA go away!!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by The GCW on September 18, 2002 at 12:45:44 PT
Be sure Your loved ones are registered
TO VOTE.There are just over 2 weeks left for NV. citizens to be sure to get registered to vote before the Oct. 5th deadline, which is 30 days in advance of the election.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by markjc on September 18, 2002 at 12:22:46 PT:
contradiction
"I am going into every state that has a ballot initiative and working with people in community coalitions," Walters said. "This is a national youth anti-drug media campaign. We don't heap up in states where there are ballot issues," said Tom Riley, a Walters aide.Which is it?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by PonziScheme on September 18, 2002 at 12:15:33 PT
Teen Marijuana Use in NV
Funny the media never mentions that teen marijuana use in Nevada was so high DESPITE the fact that NV had the strictest anti-pot laws in the Unitd States until last year. Need any more evidence criminal prohibition doesn't work?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Mike on September 18, 2002 at 12:10:39 PT
"Treatment"
Convenient that they fail to mention that these admissions for "treatment" are usually initiated by the courts. Once a youth is arrested for simple possession they are often given the option of either be jailed or "seek voluntary treatment" which, of course amounts to little more than government attempts at re-education and the manufacture of statistics.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment