cannabisnews.com: Order Favors Group Seeking Nevada Expense Report 





Order Favors Group Seeking Nevada Expense Report 
Posted by CN Staff on May 07, 2004 at 17:05:50 PT
By Brendan Riley, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press 
Carson City, Nev. -- The Nevada Supreme Court has told Secretary of State Dean Heller to explain why he didn't move against federal drug czar John Walters for failing to file expense reports when campaigning against a 2002 marijuana legalization initiative. The high court's order was sought by the Marijuana Policy Project after Heller, represented by the state attorney general, said Walters didn't have to submit a report when he campaigned in Nevada against the initiative.
The Supreme Court directed Heller to file a response by early June justifying his decision to not investigate or penalize Walters. "We're pleased, and we look forward to the issue getting the thorough and fair review we felt all along that it deserves," Marijuana Policy Project spokesman Bruce Mirken said Friday. The Washington, D.C. based group argued in court documents filed April 22 that Walters should file the reports. Walters already has campaigned in Nevada this year against a new marijuana initiative. The Marijuana Policy Project complained to Heller's office in 2002 about Walters' conduct during that election season, saying he traveled to Nevada "with security detail in tow" to challenge the ballot issue. The group had asked Heller to require Walters to file a campaign report or be subject to a fine of up to $5,000. But a federal lawyer for Walters argued the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy was exempt from Nevada law. The attorney general's office followed up with an opinion that Walters didn't have to file campaign expense and contribution reports because he was acting within the scope of his federal duties when he opposed the 2002 plan aimed at legalizing possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana. The policy project has since formed a new group called the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, which is pushing an initiative petition to legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana by adults in Nevada. The latest plan would increase penalties for providing marijuana to minors or for causing a fatal accident while driving under the influence of the substance. Sale of marijuana would be taxed, and revenue would be earmarked for drug and alcohol treatment and education programs. Complete Title: Order Favors Group Seeking Nevada Expense Report from Drug CzarSource: Associated Press Author: Brendan Riley, Associated Press WriterPublished: May 07, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Regulate Marijuanahttp://www.regulatemarijuana.org/MPP Wants Expense Report from Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18769.shtmlDrug Czar's Nevada Expense Report Soughthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18764.shtmlGroup Seeks To Compel Drug Czar To Report http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18756.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by duzt on May 08, 2004 at 07:53:16 PT
Nevada
I'm writing from the Reno area myself and am very pleased with our state leg. at the moment. Nevada is still small enough that you can go talk to your legislatures and they will listen to you and act on what you say if it makes sense. Reno has become much more liberal and art/outdoor oriented and the medical scene is getting much better. Who knows what might happen in November. The rural communities are very conservative here but some are getting sick of the feds attitude, Nevadan's don't like to be told what to do. 
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on May 07, 2004 at 20:20:04 PT
Very
Good.
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on May 07, 2004 at 20:07:55 PT
This Is Good News.
As I am writing from Las Vegas Nevada, it's good to here that the Nevada Supreme Court is holding federal officials to the law, just like federal officials want to hold marijuana users to the law. Hopefully, it will be legal here in November. I'm voting for it.
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on May 07, 2004 at 17:36:07 PT:
Things are finally starting to heat up
So...it would seem that the Nevada Supreme Court does indeed understand the dangers of overweaning Federal interference in State afairs. But then again, Nevada has been used as a radioactive Fed toilet for decades; Nevadans have more than enough reason to take umbrage at this latest affront to their sovereignty. This time, they can make it stick.As much as Johnny Pee hates to be reminded of it, he IS a'public servant', and as such, is no less subject to laws proscribing certain political activities than any other 'civil servant'. It's long past time he be reminded of it...
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