cannabisnews.com: Common Sense on Drugs





Common Sense on Drugs
Posted by FoM on December 17, 2000 at 08:43:16 PT
Editorial
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal 
Nevada lawmakers have traditionally lacked the guts to implement more rational approaches to minor drug crimes -- witness how Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani's biennial effort to soften the state's toughest-in-the-nation marijuana law ends up in the circular file each session. Privately, many legislators agree that Ms. Giunchigliani's effort is a worthy one. But publicly they tremble at the notion of seeing an opponent's campaign flier paint them as soft on crime or drug use. 
On Monday, though, a panel of the state Supreme Court offered the Legislature a bit of cover. The court's Judicial Assessment Commission recommended that possessing a small amount of marijuana be treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony and that certain minor drug users be diverted to treatment programs instead of sent to prison. These reforms make eminent sense. And if lawmakers still erroneously believe the public won't tolerate such change, how do they account for the fact that Nevada voters have twice overwhelmingly approved a ballot question supporting the medicinal use of marijuana? And why, despite vociferous opposition from law enforcement groups, did California voters just last month give the go-ahead to an initiative that sends minor drug users to treatment rather than jail? Lawmakers should do the right thing and heed the state Supreme Court panel's suggestions. They'll be surprised at the reaction.Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Published: Sunday, December 17, 2000Copyright: Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2000Address: P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125Fax: (702) 383-4676Contact: letters lvrj.comWebsite: http://www.lvrj.com/Related Article:Nevada Panel Recommends Treatment, Not Prisonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7972.shtml
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