Pubdate: Tue, 22 Oct 2002
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2002 Reno Gazette-Journal
Contact:  http://www.rgj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/363
Author: Richard A. Gammick
Cited: Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement ( www.nrle.org )
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?162 (Nevadans for Responsible Law
Enforcement)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9 (NV))
Note: Richard A. Gammick is Washoe County district attorney.

YOUR TURN: WHAT ARE THE FACTS ABOUT QUESTION 9?

United States Drug Czar John Walters has called Question 9 "a great con" 
due to all of the misleading and false information that has been 
disseminated by the proponents of this bill who would have Nevada voters 
believe that:

* Question 9 pertains solely to the simple possession of a small amount of 
marijuana.

* Question 9 allows people to smoke only in the privacy of their own home.

* Question 9 has no adverse effect on Nevada DUI laws.

* Question 9 is a "medical marijuana" bill exclusively.

* Marijuana is a safe substance and it is no big deal to smoke it.

* The initiative is a homegrown idea and it is Nevadans against the federal 
government.

The facts show that Question 9 calls for the Legislature to "provide a 
system of regulation for the cultivation, taxation, sale and distribution 
of marijuana" in an amount not to exceed 3 ounces, which will produce from 
90 to 120 cigarettes o not a small amount.

The facts are that Question 9 only prohibits the smoking of marijuana in a 
public place or a vehicle. That allows a smoker to use marijuana in any 
private place, such as an office.

The facts are that Question 9 only prohibits a person from "driving 
dangerously" while under the influence of marijuana. This adds another 
element to the Nevada DUI law and makes it harder, if not impossible, to 
enforce.

The facts are that Question 9 decriminalizes (legalizes) up to 3 ounces of 
marijuana and only makes one minor change to the current "medical 
marijuana" law.

The facts show marijuana as being a dangerous, addictive gateway drug with 
tremendous social impacts, none of them positive. Marijuana is a Schedule I 
controlled substance, which is defined as having a high potential for abuse 
and has no accepted medical use in treatment or lacks accepted safety for 
use in treatment under medical supervision. The American Medical 
Association (AMA) and the Nevada Health Department have both taken a 
position against legalizing marijuana, calling marijuana a "clear and 
present danger to the public safety and health."

In 1999, 225,000 Americans entered substance-abuse treatment primarily for 
marijuana dependence, second only to heroin. A two-month survey of the 
Washoe County Adult Drug Court revealed that 84 percent of the attendees 
started with marijuana, and of those 74 percent were 15 or younger.

The facts show that Question 9 was proposed as part of the Marijuana Policy 
Project based in Washington, D.C., and that spokesman Billy Rogers, a 
non-Nevadan, is a full-time paid representative of that organization. Three 
out-of-state millionaires have spent more than $1 million on Question 9, 
with a total of over $20 million to legalize drugs. Their stated purpose is 
to legalize drugs so users will not face criminal prosecution, regardless 
of the adverse impact on our children and society in general.

The question comes down to whether you want your doctor, dentist, police 
officer, school bus driver or (fill in the blank) to be able to legally 
smoke marijuana knowing it is a dangerous drug that adversely effects 
judgment, functioning and health? Haven't we learned from the misuse of 
alcohol and tobacco? How many more Nevadans need to be killed on our 
highways or die from long-term illnesses?

Vote, and vote no on question 9.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Alex