cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Proponents Light Up TV With Ads





Marijuana Proponents Light Up TV With Ads
Posted by CN Staff on October 31, 2006 at 08:35:13 PT
By Steve Kanigher, Las Vegas Sun
Source: Las Vegas Sun
Nevada -- The roots of Nevada's ballot measure to legalize marijuana stretch all the way to Cleveland and New Zealand. Because if a now-retired auto insurance billionaire from Cleveland had not gotten busted for pot possession in New Zealand, Question 7 might never have made it to the Nov. 7 ballot. Question 7, billed as the Regulation of Marijuana Initiative, would permit individuals 21 and older to buy and possess up to one ounce of marijuana in Nevada while allowing the state to collect taxes on its growth and retail sale.
As one of only two marijuana initiatives on statewide ballots this fall, Question 7 will put Nevada in the national spotlight, regardless of the election's outcome. The other initiative is in Colorado, where voters are being asked to adopt statewide Denver's law legalizing up to an ounce of marijuana possession for adults in that city. Television ads to date on Question 7 have been extensive - and entirely one-sided. The pro-Question 7 Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana has purchased $678,960 worth of ads on the four major Southern Nevada TV stations for the final weeks of the campaign, according to records at channels 3, 5, 8 and 13. In contrast, the anti-marijuana coalition of law enforcement and business interests known as the Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable is not spending a penny on TV. Despite that spending imbalance, recent political history suggests that the election is far from a sure thing for proponents. Although Nevada is one of 12 states that has approved marijuana for medicinal purposes, voters in 2002 overwhelmingly defeated a state ballot measure that would have legalized marijuana possession for all adults. And pro-marijuana forces failed in their bid to get another initiative on the 2004 ballot. As in 2002, the pro-marijuana effort this year has been financed mostly by the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, backed primarily by retired auto insurance executive Peter Lewis of Cleveland. The group also has backed proposed marijuana legislation in several other states. Lewis, the retired chief executive of Progressive Auto Insurance Co., one of the nation's biggest auto insurers, was a major financial backer of Americans for Medical Rights, the Santa Monica, Calif.-based group that sponsored Nevada's successful 1998 medical marijuana initiative. His money also helped bankroll the failed 2002 ballot measure, and Lewis also has financed efforts by the American Civil Liberties Union to litigate against drug laws. According to a Wall Street Journal story, Lewis was arrested in New Zealand in 2000 for possession of marijuana and hashish, but was released after making a donation to a local drug rehabilitation center. He told the newspaper that he became involved in efforts to change marijuana laws because, "I have seen it for quite a while as pure patriotism to try to change a policy that is sillier than Prohibition." Neal Levine, a Las Vegan who is managing the Question 7 campaign, argues that this year's ballot measure has a better chance of approval than the proposed constitutional amendment that failed in 2002 because it is more restrictive and more tightly written. In addition to the 1 ounce possession limit, the measure would stiffen the criminal penalties for selling marijuana to minors, limit sales to certain types of retailers and double from 20 to 40 years the maximum prison term that a motorist could receive for causing death or substantial bodily harm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. "Marijuana use is already prevalent in our society," Levine said. "If Question 7 passes, it would probably be statistically improbable that you would have a huge jump in marijuana use. Anybody who wants to use it can already get it. The problem is that the current laws don't work. "What marijuana laws are doing now is funneling millions of dollars to violent criminals." The TV ads promoting Question 7 chastise law enforcement for, from proponents' perspective, wasting police officers' time on marijuana arrests while thousands of violent crimes remain unsolved. The ads also reiterate supporters' contention that current laws benefit violent gangs and drug criminals. The anti-marijuana Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable, backed by groups that include Stop DUI, the Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, is relying on mailers and radio ads to get its word out, spokesman Patrick Smith said. "It's easy to make fancy ads and paint this issue like it will be a panacea for Nevada," Smith said. "But ... voters will see what this does to legalize street drugs, and they will vote against it. We're never going to have a Nevada where you have a regulated pot store. All this does is to allow drug dealers to walk around with an ounce of marijuana, and that's bad for kids." Clark County District Attorney David Roger also opposes Question 7. "The people of the state of Nevada are resolute in their opinion that drugs should not be legalized in our state," Roger said. "For the most part the pro-marijuana group has been under the radar until recently but I don't think their media blitz will make a difference." Note: Buzz over Question 7 backed by billionaire once pinched for pot.Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)Author: Steve Kanigher, Las Vegas Sun Published: October 31, 2006Copyright: 2006 Las Vegas Sun, Inc.Contact: letters lasvegassun.comWebsite: http://www.lasvegassun.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Regulate and Control Marijuanahttp://www.regulatemarijuana.org/Nevadans To Vote on Legalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22294.shtmlMr. Walters Goes To Nevada http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22284.shtmlClergy Supports Effort To Legalize Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22235.shtml 
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Comment #18 posted by whig on November 01, 2006 at 09:26:54 PT
Truth
I saw The Who perform on the Kids Are Alright Tour. Have a good time. I wish I could go but my budget is already strained.
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Comment #17 posted by Truth on November 01, 2006 at 09:13:23 PT
whig
I concure with what you said. The problems with alcohol increased dramatically when distillation was discovered.Have a great day in Berkeley. Martha and I are coming down for the Stones on monday and The Who on wednesday.Hey, heyMy, myRock and rollwill never die!
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on November 01, 2006 at 06:54:37 PT
comment 8
It is amazing, Toker. Absolutely. It has something to do with selective blindness on the part of the lawmakers.The world will be a much better place when people stop persecuting other people for cannabis consumption.
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Comment #15 posted by whig on October 31, 2006 at 23:31:33 PT
Truth
Well, that's not so good about the water diversion. I do think that we have to offer some sort of a compromise position to the wine growers, who have an established presence that they have developed through a lot of hard work and dedication to produce a good product that people want. I don't want to prohibit alcohol, and I certainly don't think wine is as dangerous as strong spirits so as another example of the safer alternative, we can and should agree to share.
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Comment #14 posted by Truth on October 31, 2006 at 21:27:41 PT
thanks
Thank you folks for your words of wisdom.whig, one thing I learned about the vineyards up here. The demand for water at those alcohol farms is so great that the Eel river has a big lot of it's water rerouted down the Russian river to water the wine vines. As a result the Eel is stagnant and the Salmon can no longer use it like they should. 
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Comment #13 posted by The GCW on October 31, 2006 at 18:09:50 PT
Truth,
Good.Killing is bad ju ju.In John 14-16, the Christ tells Us that when We obey and love one another, We've obeyed all the commandmentsAND when We do that,He gives Us the "spirit of truth"which will teach Us all things.-We have that.-The killers do not.Killers have no access to the spirit of truth.They are lost and don't know it but think they are righteous.-Stay put, You are pleasing the creator.PS1 John backs it up.& take comfort in John 14:12;(in red)"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father."Truth,It sounds like You were doing what the Christ would have done.And more.
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Comment #12 posted by Celaya on October 31, 2006 at 17:33:07 PT
RE This article...
Did you ever notice how prohibitionist "journalists" who attempt to appear 'fair and balanced' reveal themselves by the way they end an article?
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Comment #11 posted by whig on October 31, 2006 at 16:51:30 PT
Let the vineyards grow
We need to restore the wine of old, too. There is too much hardness of spirit today. I'm trying to solve alcohol, and cannabis is part but cannot be the whole.
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Comment #10 posted by whig on October 31, 2006 at 16:49:21 PT
This is a picture
http://cannablog.wordpress.com/2006/10/31/beautiful-vision/
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Comment #9 posted by dongenero on October 31, 2006 at 15:58:26 PT
Truth + alcohol poisoning
Truth, you did a fine job, I think. Furthermore you made your point without resorting to insulting your narrow minded relative as he did you by questioning if you were with the terrorists! That BS really irks me. You did great in my opinion Truth.The other subject is Hope's posting about alcohol poisoning in Russia.Russian media have linked the current outbreak to a state crackdown on contraband and unlicensed alcohol, which has led to an increase in consumption of products containing industrial alcohol, which is poisonous.An "outbreak" of alcohol poisoning? As is an outbreak of mumps or measles? C'mon, their government is so innocent, just as our prohibitionists are.......here is what it is really an outbreak of "a state crackdown on contraband".
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Comment #8 posted by Toker00 on October 31, 2006 at 15:50:36 PT
Hope
Isn't that amazing? You've never seen death and sickness like that with natural cannabis, and you never will. It seems to me that most reasonable, thinking, caring human beings would find that astounding. Plus the fact that it doesn't contribute to, but rather, calms violence. Plus the fact that your body has cannabinoid receptors ALL OVER IT, mostly in the brain, but EVERYWHERE. Alcohol receptors? I think not. Plus the fact everyone could afford it, gardening allowed. Health benefits. It's just maddening. Our government has succeeded in creating a REAL Twilight Zone with Cannabis Prohibition. End it now!Toke. 
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Comment #7 posted by Toker00 on October 31, 2006 at 15:39:43 PT
Truth
You did excellent in defending Love. Not once did Frank mention human suffering, or death, except to blame the Dems for ending the war that killed his friends. I suppose not enough friends of his died there? Would more have been better for him, as long as we WON? Won what, more oil to pollute with? It was all about profit, nothing about humanity, and no power for society from Frank. Typical, heartless, ruthless, imperialist Republican Fascist.Sorry. Didn't mean to call your friend a name. It just seemed to fit. You stood your ground real good.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 31, 2006 at 15:30:43 PT
Alcohol poisoning
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/30/061030164624.nrdiufvm.html
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Comment #5 posted by whig on October 31, 2006 at 15:21:34 PT
Sam Adams
Who could despise you for speaking the truth?
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 31, 2006 at 12:11:30 PT
Sam
I understand what you are saying.
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on October 31, 2006 at 11:55:24 PT
my view
I'm sure many will despise me for this, but here goes.I get up every morning and work hard at my job to earn a living. I work in business to help create the wealth that drives our economy.I sure do resent having to pay for other Americans to get to go off and hunt people and play with guns and big vehicles in the desert. The truth is, they wouldn't be able to do sh*t without me and everyone else working our asses off to pay for their military adventures. It'd be nice if I could take 50% of everyone else's pay to go risk my life climbing and mountaineering in the Himalayas and other exotic spots, with millions of dollars of gear and machines.I'm sorry but that's my take.  The guys I knew in college who were in ROTC were eager for us to get into another war in Angola or Central America, purely so they could kill people.  They openly admitted this, it isn't some conspiracy.  This isn't some propaganda I saw on Fox News, this is my real life experience and what it taught me. Don't tell me that fighting in Korea, Viet Nam, or Iraq has made me any safer or freer over here. What a joke. Those wars made it safer here just like the marijuana laws make it safer for kids. Why do we have to live with these lies?
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 31, 2006 at 09:38:01 PT
Truth
That is how most Republicans feel and it really is sad to me. I agree with how you think. Thank God we ended Vietnam when we did or many more young men and women would have been killed. Peace is always better then war because ultimately the only way to end a war is to sit down and talk about it. I am not into killing people for oil or anything. They could have gotten Bin Laden but it didn't matter to them so we went into Iraq for the oil and have killed over 600,000 people in Iraq, men, women and CHILDREN. What about the children?
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Comment #1 posted by Truth on October 31, 2006 at 09:28:41 PT
Off topic advise
I've been lurking in here for a few years, occasionally commenting but mostly reading. I have great respect for most of the folks that post here. Some brilliant folks to say the least. I want to ask your opinion on something. I have a relative that was a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam. He is a strong Bush supporter. He sent me a letter from Laura Bush wanting my vote so I wrote back my opinion. He wrote me back and then I wrote him back. I'm going to post the letters in order. If you want, please read them, and tell me if I'm out of line or if I'm speaking the truth? Did I go to far?. Frank,
>
>I neither support Bush or his killing ways. I'm a believer of "thou shalt
>not kill". It's time to vote for change. Bush and his kind have distroyed
>our reputation as a country not to mention their attack against our
>constitution. Freedom?, yeah right. He spies on us in our own homes.
>Shame on him and shame on folks that support the erosion of our civil
>rights.
>
>Mark.Mark, sure hate to see you vote for the Socialist Party!! I'm not kidding
>either!! Of course I disagree with you with a passion!! Do you really want
>Polosi as the Speaker of the House and 3rd in line for the President??
>Please reconsider!! If the Dems get in, all we will get is a Depression and
>many-many jobs will be lost. The Stock Market will drop as much as it did
>after we were attacked. Bush doesn't spy on you unless you are talking to
>the Terrorist!! What difference would it be anyway?? I could care less if
>they listen to me, as I have nothing to hide. You aren't talking to them,
>are you?? Seems you would be on our side in that we are trying to stop the
>killing?? My brother is in Iraq now. I was going over to see him while he
>was in Kuwait, but he got moved. Do you support the Iraqi's or the
>Insurgents?? Sure would like to talk you out of your D vote-it will only
>hurt the Country in more ways than you can think. Please think hard and
>long before you vote Dem!! If you remember, Vietnam was lost because the
>Dem's cut off all aid to them. Therefore all my friends that I lost there
>and the 200,000 South Vietnamese that were killed, died for nothing. I would
>hate to see that happen again and if the Dems get back in, it will!! Then
>somewhere shortly down the road, Iran will take over Iraq and Israel will be
>destroyed and we will have a Nuke proliferation throughout the Middle East.
>Is that a scenario you would like to see? Not a very pretty outlook to me!!
>Think hard and long!!
>
>Happy Halloween!!!! Frank.Frank, I would take N. Polosi as president over Bush everyday of the week.How does Bush know if one is talking to the enemy or not unless he spies on folks? If you think he spies on only terrorists you're sadly mistaken. What difference does it make? Have you read your Bill of Rights? Bush has done more damage to our civil rights then any terrorists ever has and you support him?I've got a relative in Iraq. I wish he was home. We've lost thousands of good kids to support bush's oil economy. War is about profit and it's not for you or me. We got into Vietnam because our SS was tired of seeing France get all the heroin money. Look at the damage that their policies caused with addicted Americans both there and home.They lied to put us into the war and they lied about the reason. Never did see that domino theory come true. Sure did loose a lot of fine Americans to kill even more Vietnamese.Don't you believe in God's commandments? Are our lawmakers better then God where they can second guess him? God says on the first page of the bible that all herbs bearing seeds are good and for us to use yet folks like bush want to lock up cannabis users (even though cannabis has never killed anyone) while he sells beer at his baseball games. Have you checked to see how many folks alcohol has killed lately? Do you feel comfortable with the hypocrisy? Do you feel even more comfortable when you know the hypocrisy and dishonesty is used to put someone in a cage and take away their freedom? This is supposed to be the land of the free. If you want others spying on your phone calls and e-mails fine, it's your freedom you're giving up. If you expect your fellow Americans to give up their freedoms, their rights, it's you that would be supporting the enemy. I would expect you, as a patriot, to stand up for our rights, to protect them, not give them away to an ass like bush. Did you know Laura kiilled someone? Did you know she's a deceptive closet smoker? Have you checked out the criminal records of this family? They are not the outstanding Americans you think they are. They are dishonest profiteers that could give a shit about human life unless it's folks that are just like them. I think George has bought himself a ticket to hell, just my opinion.I have thought hard and long. Even though I think the Democratic party isn't much different then the repubs I think the current Republican policys as so repugnant that I will vote for change. It's time to turn the page and I don't mean that in the Foley way.Have a great day. Sorry we disagree so much but that is our right in America, at least it used to be.Mark
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