Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 Source: Deseret News (UT) Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp. Contact: http://www.desnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124 NEVADANS TO VOTE ON MARIJUANA BILL CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)- Voters in Nevada, which up until last year had the nation's strictest marijuana law, will decide in November whether to let adults legally possess small amounts of pot. State officials said Tuesday that a petition drive to put the measure on the ballot had narrowly succeeded with about 75,000 valid signatures. Under the proposal, marijuana would be sold in state-licensed shops and taxed like cigarettes and other tobacco products. A distribution system would also be set up to provide low-cost pot for medical uses. To become law, the change needs voter approval this year and in 2004. But whether it could ever actually take effect is unclear. Federal law bans marijuana possession, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that states cannot make exceptions for medical use. The new proposal would let adults have up to three ounces of marijuana. Driving under the influence would still be illegal, as would using marijuana in public places. "The success of our petition drive provides solid evidence that most Nevadans think it's a waste of their tax dollars to arrest people for small amounts of marijuana," said Billy Rogers of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement. Law enforcement groups in Nevada are expected to oppose the ballot measure. "Three ounces is quite a bit," said Lt. Stan Olsen, lobbyist for the Las Vegas police. "If we legalize it, what is next? A lot of people don't use drugs now because they are illegal and they stand to lose in their personal or professional lives if they use." In 2000, Nevada voters approved the use of medical marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom