cannabisnews.com: Pot Placed On Ballot in 4 States





Pot Placed On Ballot in 4 States
Posted by FoM on October 08, 2000 at 10:33:40 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Anchorage Daily News
Alaska isn't the only state with a marijuana proposition on the November ballot. Proposals to allow its medicinal use will appear on ballots in Colorado and Nevada, and a proposed measure would let marijuana flourish in the pot-growing "Emerald Triangle" of Northern California. Recent polls suggest the proposals are likely to pass in Nevada and Colorado. In the past four years, similar medical-marijuana measures have become law in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Maine and Hawaii. 
Nevada's Question 9 would let doctors prescribe marijuana for severe illness and pain. Nevada voters approved medical marijuana by 59 percent in 1998, but adding it to the state's constitution requires another yes vote on Nov. 7. Nevada has strict anti-marijuana laws, yet a recent Las Vegas Review-Journal poll found 63 percent of likely voters back the measure, with 28 percent opposed. And the state's policy-making drug commission, which fought the measure two years ago, has been silent this year. "Nevada voters get it. They know this is a public health issue completely unrelated to the war on drugs," said Dan Geary, a leader of the movement in favor of the measure. Colorado's Amendment 20 would permit marijuana use for people with serious or chronic illnesses who are under a doctor's care. A recent Denver Rocky Mountain News poll found 71 percent of registered voters favor the measure and 23 percent oppose it. It is "the wrong message to send to our children," said Dr. Joel Karlin, a past president of the Colorado Medical Society and spokesman of Coloradans Against Legalizing Marijuana. Advocates of medical marijuana use say it helps people suffering from ailments like glaucoma, nausea from chemotherapy and appetite loss from AIDS. Opponents, including the American Medical Association, say marijuana can contribute to cancer and affect eye disorders and multiple sclerosis. Out-of-state money is pushing both measures. Their chief backer is Americans for Medical Rights, bankrolled by three tycoons: New York financier and philanthropist George Soros, Cleveland insurance mogul Peter Lewis and University of Phoenix founder John Sperling. Since 1998, people supporting the Colorado and Nevada measures have reported raising at least $1.4 million. Opponents said they have raised less than $40,000. Not surprisingly, there is no organized opposition in California's Mendocino County, where passage of Measure G would allow adults to grow 25 pot plants apiece as long as they are not for sale or transport. The Northern California area produces an illegal marijuana crop with an estimated annual street value of $1 billion. Last year, more than 300 pot plantations were raided in Mendocino County. Alaska's ballot measure would make marijuana legal for people 18 and older and would give amnesty for marijuana crimes. Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)Published: October 8, 2000Copyright © 2000 The Anchorage Daily NewsContact: letters adn.comWebsite: http://www.adn.com/Related Articles:Voters Favoring Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7257.shtmlFree Hemp Battle Cry for Local Groupshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7254.shtmlPoll Show Nevada Voters Likely To OK Marijuana Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7226.shtmlIllicit Weed May Find a Legal Homehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7211.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #7 posted by EdC on October 09, 2000 at 06:59:25 PT:
initiatives
Massachusetts requires a 30% voter turnout. Vote on these intitiatives and make sure everyone you know votes too.
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Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on October 09, 2000 at 05:06:24 PT:
inch by inch, foot by foot
State by State, every year, the challenge grows. The Feds keep getting slapped in the face, they keep retreating, they keep revealling their anti-democratic agenda by using Federal dollars to try to undermine popular intiatives. According to CNN last night, Barry's office is being indicted for misusing public funds for his Barry-ola scandal because the company he gave the money to for contracting the services for their professional liars are raising a stink, and the GAO wants to investigate possible embezelment. The DrugWarriors' leader, while making loud boasts of invulnerability, is looking over his shoulder. At the ONDCP they hear the rasping sound of many axes being sharpened; it's just a question of *whose* axe connects with Barry's bureaucratic neck *first*.Take heart, reformers! We might have roast barry instead of turkey (any real difference?) for Thanksgiving this year! (That is, if you can stand anything so rank and rotten.) 
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Comment #5 posted by Dan B on October 09, 2000 at 04:42:31 PT:
Actually, it will make nine states. 
Mungojelly,This article forgot Arizona, which makes the current total seven. And let's not forget Washington D.C. Momentum is in our favor.On another note, I am glad to see that both Gush and Bore (Bill Maher's joke) have made clear their positions regarding the WoSD. It is about time for these people to advertise their hypocrisy openly. The fact that Bush brought the issue up means that Nader and Browne now have extremely vulnerable targets at which to shoot. Let's keep on keepin' on. We really are winning this thing.Dan B
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Comment #4 posted by Phyro on October 09, 2000 at 01:22:24 PT
The way the wind blows!!!
      They have no ideia what's abought to hit thoes Politicians.    Like Deer in the head lighys they wont move intel its to late to move!!   We see this in the to major partys. (Bush trying to GET TUFF ON DRUGS) its to late for him and his FUZZY MATH .         Gore is on the same path But Just don't know it.Peace & Freedom for All .
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Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on October 08, 2000 at 19:27:09 PT
Awk! Awk!
>It is "the wrong message to send to our children," said Dr. Joel Karlin, a past president of the Colorado Medical Society and spokesman of Coloradans Against Legalizing Marijuana. Wrong message to send to our children! Awk!Wrong message to send to our children! Awk!Marijuana is a gateway drug! Awk!Marijuana is a gateway drug! Awk!You can't smoke a medicine! Awk!You can't smoke a medicine! Awk!(Somebody muzzle that parrot!)I wish these idiots would quit talking about children (children could care less about MMJ, unless they themselves are gravely ill) and think about the message they are sending to the sick. That message is not only discouraging, it's inhuman. The sick have enough to worry about without having to wonder when they go to sleep if they will wake up to a team of law-enforcement thugs shining laser sights in their eyes.It just shows how vested interests override any thought of human compassion.
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Comment #2 posted by mungojelly on October 08, 2000 at 13:24:56 PT:
i disagree
What we need to convince the politicians of is that the War on Drugs is becoming unpopular. Most of them don't give a damn about the health, welfare and security of the people, but they know which way the wind blows. Medical marijuana initiatives passed all over the country, and suddenly the politicians thought that it needed to be "considered," which was the closest they could come to saying they had changed their minds. Suddenly Hawaii is passing legislation -- trying to avoid being upstaged by their own citizens. After this election we'll probably have medical marijuana in eight states; it can't be much longer before the feds cave in. I know that at least here in Massachusetts we have an initiative on forfeiture reform and treatment on demand, and I believe there are some similar initiatives in other states. This is the next stage: an attack on the corrupt funding model that makes the Drug War a cash cow for the already cash-fat pigs. 
mungojelly
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Comment #1 posted by hempolity on October 08, 2000 at 11:57:09 PT
We need to convince politicians the War on Drugs..
We need to convince politicians the War on Drugs is a failure!
The War on Drugs is a FAILURE
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