cannabisnews.com: Propriety of News Release Questioned Propriety of News Release Questioned Posted by CN Staff on October 22, 2002 at 07:56:05 PT By Frank Geary, Review-Journal Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal A Las Vegas police news release opposing Question 9 violated a law that prohibits using taxpayer money for political purposes, said the leader of the effort to decriminalize marijuana possession. "In my 20 years of being involved in politics I have never seen anything this stupid," said Billy Rogers, spokesman for Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement. "When we put out a press release, it's paid for by people who have contributed to our campaign. When they put out a press release, it's paid for by the county taxpayers." A Clark County attorney says the news release doesn't violate the law. Passage of Question 9 on Nov. 5 and again by voters in 2004 would legalize the possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana by adults age 21 and older. Using the drug in public, driving under its influence or use by those younger than 21 would remain illegal. An Oct. 16 news release opposing the question included the Police Department's letterhead, the logo for Nevadans Against Legalized Marijuana, the group opposing the measure, and a contact name and phone number for a police officer. The release responded to campaign advertisements in favor of Question 9. Two days later, the department sent out another news release, but it didn't include the department's letterhead alongside the logo for the anti-marijuana organization. The second release announced the time and place of a campaign event. Supporters of the anti-marijuana campaign, including Sheriff Jerry Keller and STOP DUI, are quoted saying the pro-marijuana campaign advertisements are misleading. "The real issue here is that legalizing three ounces of marijuana is, pure and simple, a bad idea," Keller said in the release. Sgt. Rick Barela, the department's public information officer and the contact listed on both news releases, said the Oct. 16 release didn't violate the law. The release appropriately responded to misleading information put out by the pro-marijuana campaign, he said. The public for weeks has been confused about the position of law enforcement agencies on the marijuana question, and the recent advertisements have created more confusion, Barela said. Particularly, one pro-marijuana ad shows police officers talking about the drug even though all law enforcement agencies in Clark County oppose the ballot question. The ad was full of "out-and-out lies," Barela said. "We were dragged into this issue and we had to respond," Barela said. "We have not stepped over the line. ... We are merely answering questions that the public and the press have asked us." Government officials are supposed to consult with Clark County Counsel Mary-Anne Miller before circulating literature that could be interpreted as political to make sure they're within the law. Miller said the releases didn't violate the law. Police have always spoken out against drug use, and sending a release to the local press isn't nearly as costly as circulating a mass mailer to voters, she said Monday. However, Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese, a member of the Police Department's Fiscal Affairs Board, said it's wrong to use department resources and letterhead for political gain. "There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. ... The stationery you have at work isn't appropriate if you're going to go and do this (campaigning)," said Reese, who opposes Question 9. "If I went out to oppose this, I wouldn't use my office stationery."Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Author: Frank Geary, Review-JournalPublished: Tuesday, October 22, 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/Nevada Pushes Next Frontier: Legalizing Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14503.shtmlPondering The Ballot Questionshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14491.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 23, 2002 at 07:51:59 PT: Kap Your insightful commentary and incisive wit are always welcome here. I see you as in the vanguard of the War on the War on Drugs (WOWOD?). [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by kaptinemo on October 23, 2002 at 07:33:10 PT: Hi, all I've just been on sabbatical for a while, busy with several cannabis related projects and figured I'd give my overheated keyboard and big mouth a rest. I'll be back on steadily around December, if not sooner. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by mayan on October 22, 2002 at 18:06:10 PT Kapt... It's good to hear from you! When I don't hear from the C-News regulars for a period of time I start to wonder if they haven't been thrown in a Federal Homeland Security Detention Camp or something like that! I know it might sound crazy, but I do sometimes wonder. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 22, 2002 at 13:12:10 PT News of Interest from Nevada I thought you might want to see how the Governor is going to vote.The governor also said he will vote "no" on Nevada's Question 9, to let adults possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Complete Article: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2002/oct/22/102210934.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 22, 2002 at 10:38:04 PT kapt You got mail! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by DdC on October 22, 2002 at 10:26:24 PT Nevada Cops on the Dole... (Is that Lizzy?) The Joseph McNamara Collection http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcntoc.htmJoseph McNamara is a former police chief in Kansas City, Mo. and San Jose, Ca.. He holds a doctorate in public administration and is presently a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.Stop the War - A Former Police Chiefs Plea to the New Drug Czar http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn1.htm America's Plague of Bad Cops http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn8.htmAnguish in Blue Needn't Become Deadly http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn2.htmBombs and the Bill of Rights http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn10.htmCops on the Dole http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn7.htmCop's View of the Drug War http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn9.htmEnd the War by Anthony Lewis http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn3.htmHas the Drug War Created an Officer Liar's Club? http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn6.htmReinventing the LAPD http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn12.htmThe National Guard is Not a Police Force http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn4.htmCode of Silence Must Come to an End http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn11.htmHolding the Line Between Pursuit and Punishment http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn5a.htmDrug Peace http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn18.htmlShootings by Police - Broken Trust http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/shootings_by_police.htmNY Times Letter to the Editor - April 18, 1999 http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/mcn/mcn19.htmcops against the drug war http://www.drcnet.org/cops/question.htmlpolice chiefs question merit of drug policy http://www.drcnet.org/guide1-96/police.htmlBonus Payment To Informant Draws Criticism http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread9855.shtmlFossil Fools - A revolution in energy is coming, but Washington looks the other way... http://www.utne.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on October 22, 2002 at 10:25:32 PT: Yes, you certainly can reach me at my old email Please do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 22, 2002 at 10:17:44 PT kaptinemo Yes it has changed. How can I tell you how to email me? Can I reach you at your yahoo account? If so I'll send you my private email address. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on October 22, 2002 at 10:09:51 PT FoM, I can't send you email. Has your email address changed? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by legalizeit on October 22, 2002 at 08:20:38 PT Hypocrites Of course, if some cops of the sensible minority, who favor Q9, were to formulate a pro-Q9 press release, Miller and all the other anti cronies would be griping and filing suit to the fullest of their abilities!Why are cops so outspoken on the drug issue? After all, as they all too often say, they don't make the laws, just enforce them. Here is a measure that, if passed, would make their jobs much easier, and they at first supported it but now oppose it! If they are supposed to be willing servants of the people, who enforce whatever laws are on the books, they should have no opinion at all on such issues.An old saying: "If you see something that doesn't make sense, LOOK FOR THE FINANCIAL INTEREST." [ Post Comment ] Post Comment