cannabisnews.com: Question 9 Opponents Feel Shortchanged





Question 9 Opponents Feel Shortchanged
Posted by CN Staff on November 02, 2002 at 07:47:49 PT
By Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Bureau
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal 
The latest campaign contribution reports have confirmed marijuana opponent Sandy Heverly's long-standing belief that she is in the midst of a David versus Goliath battle over legalization of the drug. Reports filed this week with the secretary of state's office show supporters of Question 9, which would legalize possession of as much as 3 ounces of marijuana, have raised 12 times more money than organizations that oppose the statewide ballot initiative. 
Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, the group supporting Question 9, raised $1,802,175 in its fall campaign to make Nevada the first state with legal marijuana. Nevadans Against Legalizing Marijuana and the Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable raised a combined $150,125 in an effort to defeat the measure. "We are at a huge disadvantage," said Heverly, the Stop DUI executive director who is affiliated with both anti-marijuana groups. "That is why I keep comparing it to David and Goliath. Our slingshots are ready to fire on Tuesday (Election Day)." Heverly remained optimistic Friday that voters will defeat Question 9. Passage of the initiative Tuesday and again in 2004 would change the state constitution and allow adults to possess as much as 3 ounces of marijuana. The state Legislature would be obligated to set up regulations for the cultivation, sale and distribution of marijuana. Low-cost marijuana would be made available for people with permission to use the drug for medical reasons. "It takes a lot of shoe leather when you don't have the financial backing," Heverly said. "Our effort is truly a grass-roots effort." Heverly said many would-be voters have been under the false impression that passage of Question 9 is necessary to implement the medical marijuana program in Nevada. That program, however, was established in October 2001 by the Legislature and would remain in effect regardless of the vote on Question 9. The latest Review-Journal poll, conducted Oct. 21-23, showed 60 percent of the respondents said they would vote against Question 9, while 36 percent would vote in favor and 4 percent were undecided. Billy Rogers, leader of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, has challenged the poll's results. He said Friday that Nevadans will approve Question 9. He expects a large number of young voters and people who don't vote at all elections to come out in support Tuesday. "We have a secret weapon, the people who did not vote in 1998 and 2000," he said. "Question 9 is bringing out a whole new breed of voters." But the poll results are in line with the results of Alaska's 2000 election, when 39 percent of the voters supported a ballot question to make possession of small amounts of marijuana legal. Despite his fund-raising advantage, Rogers thinks his side still is the underdog. He said the contribution numbers do not count the large number of anti-drug advertisements being run by national drug czar John Walters. "You can't turn on the TV without seeing his spots," Rogers said. "When you are up against the federal drug czar and the establishment here, I'd say despite what the reports show, we have been outresourced." Rogers expects people will support Question 9 because they know marijuana will be legal only inside the privacy of homes, and people "draw the line in the sand" at police intrusion into homes. About $71,000 of the money to fund the anti-marijuana movement comes from The Venetian, while Boyd Gaming and Park Place Entertainment each have put up $25,000. Clark County sheriff candidate Bill Young gave $500. All but $2,175 of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement's money comes from the Marijuana Policy Project of Washington, D.C. That group lobbies throughout the nation for reducing penalties for use of marijuana. Las Vegas lawyer John Lambrose, a federal public defender, contributed $1,000 to the legalization effort. Others contributed less than $100 each, and those donors do not have to be identified by name under state law. Statewide political candidates also turned in their campaign contribution and expenditure reports this week for the period ending Oct. 24. Those reports showed Democratic governor candidate Joe Neal raised $24,396 in his campaign, or less than 1 percent of the $3.3 million total of incumbent Gov. Kenny Guinn. Guinn's total includes leftover money from his 1998 campaign. The governor could beat Neal by better than a 3-to-1 margin, according to the Review-Journal poll. Contributions for other statewide candidates also were lopsided. Secretary of State Dean Heller, a Republican, raised $34,470, compared with $213 by his Democratic opponent, William Hama. Republican Treasurer Brian Krolicki raised $251,273, compared with his Democrat opponent, Ken Santor, $21,836. Santor was a Republican when he was treasurer between 1987 and 1991. The controller's race is the only statewide contest with fund-raising parity. Democrat John Lee, an assemblyman, raised $121,654, compared with $116,632 by Controller Kathy Augustine. , a Republican.Note: Those supporting legalizing possession of pot raise more than $1.8 million.Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Author: Ed Vogel, Review-Journal BureauPublished: Saturday, November 02, 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/Local View: Reefer Madness Strikes Againhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14624.shtmlNevada Voters Face Marijuana Initiative http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14605.shtmlNevada Pushes Next Frontier: Legalizing Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14503.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by john wayne on November 02, 2002 at 13:11:07 PT
of Goliaths and Davids
> Sandy Heverly's long-standing belief that she is in the midst of a David versus Goliath battle over legalization of the drug. Yep. The "Goliath" drug warriors just can't believe that a "David" legalization movement has got this far. Just jaw-dropping from their point of view. All those billions spent on drug-war propaganda and now this. I hope prohibitionists are losing plenty of sleep.
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Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on November 02, 2002 at 12:13:45 PT
The Venetian?
>About $71,000 of the money to fund the anti-marijuana movement comes from The Venetian,I'd like to know what the Venetian's interest is in keeping MJ prohibition in place. Maybe they think people would be off smoking pot instead of gambling?Guess that's one place I won't be spending money at on my next visit to Vegas. Does anyone know what casinos Boyd Gaming and Park Place Entertainment run? Maybe if enough out of state cannabis users boycott these establishments they might think again before donating sizable sums to the antis.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 02, 2002 at 08:58:48 PT
knox42897 
I really hope Question 9 passes. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I realize how important this Initiative is for all of us even if we aren't a Nevadan. Good Luck to you and your state.
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Comment #1 posted by knox42897 on November 02, 2002 at 08:54:30 PT:
RESPONSIBLE LAWENFORCEMENT COMING NEAR YOU SOON?
Yes people, once we win in Nevada, Look for resposible law enforcement to be coming near you soon.
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