cannabisnews.com: Nevada Focus: Burning Man Organizers Urge Vote 





Nevada Focus: Burning Man Organizers Urge Vote 
Posted by CN Staff on October 09, 2002 at 13:05:47 PT
By Martin Griffith, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press
For the first time since moving to the Nevada desert in 1990, organizers of the annual Burning Man counterculture festival are entering the debate over a state ballot measure. In an e-mail message sent last week, organizers urged about 2,000 regulars from Nevada to make sure they're registered to vote on the marijuana initiative on November's ballot.
Though they stopped short of endorsing the measure, Burning Man organizers stressed the significance of the proposal and its potential effect on law enforcement at the anything-goes gathering on the Black Rock Desert, 120 miles north of Reno. Question 9 would allow possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana by adults, making Nevada's marijuana laws the loosest in the nation if it were approved by voters Nov. 5 and again in 2004. "If passed, this legislation would remove the threat of arrest and other penalties associated with adult use and possession of marijuana," organizers wrote. "Your `yes' vote on Question 9 could impact the future of law enforcement in Nevada -- and at Burning Man," they added. In the past, some Burning Man participants have complained about what they call an excessive law enforcement presence at the weeklong event leading up to Labor Day. Billed as a celebration of art and radical self-expression, this year's event drew more than 29,000 people from at least 40 states and 20 countries. Nudity and drug use is not uncommon at the festival. The 239 citations issued by Bureau of Land Management rangers to participants was up this year. Of those, 136 were for drug-related offenses, with the bulk involving marijuana. BLM spokesman Jamie Thompson said Question 9's passage would not affect his agency's law enforcement at the gathering held on federal land. He said federal laws still would prohibit the sale and possession of marijuana. Under the proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution, adults could smoke marijuana in their homes but not in cars or public places. "What we feel is that until the federal law is changed, passage of Question 9 in Nevada would not affect federal law enforcement at the Bu us that because public use is prohibited under the state measure and since Burning Man is on public lands, that (marijuana possession) would likely violate the state measure, too," he said. But Burning Man spokeswoman Marian Goodell said she thinks BLM officials would relax marijuana enforcement and focus on more serious issues if Nevada voters approve Question 9. The measure's passage probably would relieve external pressure on the agency to strictly enforce marijuana laws, she said. "I frankly feel they're under some pressure from the public perception about Burning Man to over-focus their energies in some areas and away from more important issues," Goodell said. "Most urban areas west of the Mississippi haven't put a stress on marijuana enforcement. Frankly, Burning Man has been over-targeted on this issue, and people need to lighten up and focus on the real issues like public safety." Burning Man founder Larry Harvey, who started the event in 1986 in San Francisco, stressed that he is committed to following all state and federal laws and does not promote or condone drug use. He also stressed that Burning Man is taking no stand on Question 9. "What we did do is tell Nevada participants that the question was on the ballot and that they should read it and make up their minds," Harvey said. "Obviously, it could affect the conduct of law enforcement if you change the law. But we didn't tell them how to vote," he said. In the e-mail message, organizers urged Nevada "Burners" to consider making a contribution to Nevadans For Responsible Law Enforcement, which is spearheading the fight for Question 9's passage. A statewide telephone poll conducted in late August for the Las Vegas Review-Journal found that 55 percent of likely voters opposed Question 9. Forty percent backed the measure, and 5 percent were undecided in the poll that has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Complete Title: Nevada Focus: Burning Man Organizers Urge Vote on Nevada Marijuana Initiative On the Net: Burning Man Web site: http://www.burningman.com/ Source: Associated Press Author: Martin Griffith, Associated Press WriterPublished: Wednesday, October 9, 2002Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Sites:NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Legalizing Pot: Opponents Replace Spokesmanhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14392.shtmlNevada Voters To Gamble on Legalizing Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14353.shtml Counterculture Festival Begins on Nevada Deserthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13893.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by knox42897 on October 09, 2002 at 18:32:33 PT:
PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW
Who:      NRLE, the campaign to pass Question 9What:     A rally to support Question 9. Assemblywoman Chris Giunchiliangi will             
          be tapping a segment opposite the Federal Drug Czar on John 
          Ralston's show, "day one" on channel 8.When:     THURSDAY, October 10, 2002. 11:00 a.m. PRESS EVENT.
          Supporters please arrive by 10:15 a.m.Where:    Near the Channel 8 Studios. 3228 Channel 8 Drive, the cross streets 
          are paradise and convention center drive. We will meet outside the 
          parking garage and assemble on the sidewalk near the studios. We will 
          validate your parking ticket.Why:      To show our support for Question 9 and courageous spokespeople like 
          Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani. Nevadans DON'T appreciate the 
          Federal Government coming into our state and telling us how to vote on 
          Question 9. This is YOUR chance to be part of this historic effort. Look 
          professional-- the dress is business casual. We will have signs on hand 
          for supports to wave.
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on October 09, 2002 at 17:03:00 PT:
"Burning" in Nevada
It seems to me that a tent in a public campground qualifies as a private home.
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