cannabisnews.com: An 'Out-of-State' Campaign 





An 'Out-of-State' Campaign 
Posted by CN Staff on October 14, 2002 at 07:44:03 PT
Editorial
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal 
On Thursday, federal drug czar John Walters again came to Las Vegas to urge voters to reject November's ballot Question 9, a measure which would allow adult Nevadans to possess as much as 3 ounces of marijuana. "We as adults have a responsibility to do better for our children," Mr. Walters told a crowd of local police, politicians and other opponents of the measure at a downtown drug treatment center. "Marijuana causes many other harms." 
This marked the second recent visit by Mr. Walters to Las Vegas to rally those opposing the ballot question. During his first trip in July, Mr. Walters met with Review-Journal editors and denounced "out-of-state" backers of the measure for "spending millions of dollars on inaccurate campaigns." As opposed to Mr. Walters jetting to Nevada from the Beltway to slam the measure? But Mr. Walters also pledged that his office "would not spend money or dedicate any resources" to oppose the ballot question. And he vowed that if the question passed, the federal government would not "strong arm" the state. "That's not our intent," he said in July. "People have the right to make their own decisions. I don't believe you'd see federal officials coming into Nevada to enforce possession laws." Promises, promises. Mr. Walters and his tax-funded deputies have in fact committed a considerable amount of energy and money to defeating Question 9. And notwithstanding any public denials, such strong-arming will hardly subside if the measure passes. "We will stand with you," Mr. Walters said at the Thursday rally. "My office intends to challenge this ballot initiative here and in every state where this occurs." Such duplicity should surprise no one. That said, the substance of Mr. Walters' message must not go unchallenged. The drug czar portrays the ballot measure as an issue of public safety. Yet if it passes, adult pot use would be restricted to private homes. Penalties for operating motor vehicles while impaired and for possession by minors would remain in place. Another canard deals with the issue of addiction. Mr. Walters says decriminalizing marijuana possession would lead to an avalanche of addicts demanding treatment. But when pressed in July, Mr. Walters conceded, "Most people who enter treatment are coerced to some extent by families, employers and courts." And that's the rub. Drug treatment for recreational marijuana users is booming precisely because of ever-escalating sentencing policies. Forcing pot smokers into treatment centers is often the only way to keep the jails from being completely overrun with penny-ante drug users, leaving little space for violent criminals who pose a genuine threat to others. Nevadans are capable of acting like grown-ups and deciding whether we wish to maintain the current, Draconian set of penalties against the possession and use of small amounts of marijuana. We need no help from our "betters" in Washington, D.C.Note: Federal drug czar meddles in an issue Nevadans must decide.Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Published: Monday, October 14, 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/Question 9 Backers Speak Outhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14431.shtmlDrug Czar Says State Faces Liabilityhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14418.shtmlDA's Drug Cartel Remark Angers Initiative Officialhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14379.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by p4me on October 16, 2002 at 06:38:01 PT
This was on pot-tv on 10/16
Pot-tv list the subjects for the show on the download page. The format of pot-tv is to have Michelle Kubby read an article and for the most part, let Steve do commentary. The articles have links and this link was cited for reference in the show that appeared on Wednesday, October 16 and viewable by clicking this link: http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-1573.html1
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 14, 2002 at 22:11:51 PT
Statewide Initiatives from NORML
Marijuana-Law Reform Initiatives Certified For The November 2002 BallotSTATEWIDE INITIATIVESArizonaProposition 203 (Marijuana Decriminalization/Medical Marijuana)Summary: Should the State of Arizona decriminalize the possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, marijuana drug paraphernalia, or two or fewer marijuana plants if the possession is for personal use only? Should the State of Arizona Department of Public Safety be required to provide not more than two ounces of marijuana free of charge to each person who is qualified to use marijuana for medical purposes? Text of the initiative is available online at:http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/45leg/I112002DMPCA.pdfRelated Links:Initiative To Decriminalize Pot, Expand Medicinal Marijuana Law Qualifies For Arizona Ballothttp://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5385203 Would Mandate Fines For Pot Smokershttp://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/elect02/9_25_02pot.htmlNevadaQuestion 9 (Marijuana Regulation/Medical Marijuana)Summary: Should the State of Nevada eliminate criminal and civil penalties for the use or possession of three ounces or less of marijuana by persons 21 years of age or older? Should the State of Nevada implement a system whereby adults could obtain marijuana through a legally regulated market? Should the State of Nevada allow seriously ill patients qualified to use marijuana under state law access to marijuana at low cost.Text of the initiative is available online at:http://www.nrle.org/initiative.htmlRelated Links:Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcementhttp://www.nrle.orgNevada Pot Initiative Certified For November Ballothttp://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5345Nevada Voters To Consider Marijuana Legalizationhttp://www.nrle.org/news/wp071402.htmlSouth DakotaInitiated Measure 1 (Industrial Hemp)Summary: Should the State of South Dakota allow individuals to cultivate, harvest or possess industrial hemp or any of its by-products with a THC content of one percent or less?Text of the initiative is available at: http://www.SoDakHEMP.org/petition.htmRelated Links:South Dakota Industrial Hemp Councilhttp://www.sodakhemp.org/Hemp Cultivation, Pot Decriminalization Initiatives Appear Likely On November State Ballotshttp://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5320Hemp Initiative Offers South Dakota A Learning Processhttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1169/a11.html?397LOCAL INITIATIVESSan Francisco, CAProposition S (Medical Marijuana)Summary: Should the City of San Francisco consider growing and distributing marijuana for medical use?Text of the initiative is available online at: http://www.smartvoter.org/2002/11/05/ca/sf/meas/S/Related Links:City Voters Likely To Approve SF Pot Cultivation Proposal
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5388SF Voters Support Marijuana Measure, Poll Shows
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread14101.shtmlDirect Link: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5426
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 14, 2002 at 21:36:24 PT
Commercials: Supporting Question 9 
These are the commercials being aired in support of Question 9 in Nevada. The first wave of ads discussed the facts of what Question 9 actually does. The second wave of ads -- currently showing across Nevada -- is hard-hitting and persuasive, explaining why Nevadans should vote for the initiative.We need your help to pay for these ads! Please donate now -- http://www.nrle.org/donate.htmlSecond wave of commercials -- why Nevadans should vote "Yes" on Question 9.Now available: "Crime Wave"Quicktime: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/crimewave.movWindowsMedia: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/crimewave.wmvNow available: "Patients"Quicktime: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/patients.movWindowsMedia: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/patients.wmvNow available: "We are Nevada"Quicktime: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/werenevada.movWindowsMedia: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/werenevada.wmvFirst wave of commercials -- the facts of Question 9.Now available: "Just the facts"Quicktime: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/justthefacts.movWindowsMedia: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/justthefacts.wmvNow available: "Unbiased"Quicktime: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/unbiased.movWindowsMedia: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/unbiased.wmvNow available: "Lies"Quicktime: http://www.mpp.org/NRLE_commercials/lies.mov 
Question 9 Commercials
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Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on October 14, 2002 at 11:13:20 PT
Great one!
Yes Dr. Russo it is always satisfying to see the truth! That's all we're asking, isn't it?It's been very interesting to see things progress throughout the campaign. This newspaper started off in favor of the initiative, but just barely. Now, they're firing off what must be one of the most combatitive editorials of the year in favor of us!  And the Sun, which started against the initiative, still is against it, but has printed some stuff critical of the federal government anyway!Again Richard Cowan is right: the drug war will wither under the light of public attention!
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Comment #5 posted by canaman on October 14, 2002 at 10:09:42 PT
Dangerous!
Note to self:READ preview screen!!!
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Comment #4 posted by canaman on October 14, 2002 at 10:04:49 PT
Czar says cannabis more danerous than tabacco
Walters said:--"For being a party to marketing a substance that is more dangerous than tobacco in terms of the carcinogenic effect but also in terms of the other predictive and psychological effects of marijuana. What state would take on that liability in the face of what we just say in the devastating consequences of cigarette smoking and the liablity attritubed to the tobacco industry?"--This comment was on KOLO's website a local Reno TV station. It's two days old but I hadn't seen it before. More propaganda from the czarster:http://www.kolotv.com/index.php?link=readmore&sid=3430
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Comment #3 posted by krutch on October 14, 2002 at 09:43:31 PT:
Is Walters doing this on his own time?
Is he paying for his own airfare and hotel room? I think we taxpayers are paying for it. Thus the commitment not to spend any resources on opposing the measure has already been violated.His commitment to not strong arm the state is also a lie. We have seen the DEA strong arm California Medical MJ clubs all year. I can only imagine what they have planned for recreational users in Nevada.
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Comment #2 posted by AlvinCool on October 14, 2002 at 09:42:55 PT
Treatment
Hey I'm in the forced treatment group. My employer told me that if I didn't go to counceling I couldn't keep my job. Then at counceling my shrink listens to me for 5 of the eight visits and tells me not to come back she has real substance abuse cases and I'm clogging up her schedule.I guess smoking marijuana on the weekend isn't comparable to meth and such, eh?
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 14, 2002 at 08:39:51 PT:
It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This
Hearing the truth from a big-city editorial?Priceless!
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