Pubdate: Fri, 21 Nov 2003
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Copyright: 2003 Las Vegas Sun, Inc
Contact:  http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/234
Author: Cy Ryan, Sun Capital Bureau
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9 (NV))

LEGAL POT SUPPORTERS BACK WITH NEW TACTIC

CARSON CITY -- The organization that tried unsuccessfully to change the law 
last year to allow adults to smoke marijuana is back in Nevada testing a 
new strategy.

Advertisements have been appearing on television stations in Reno sponsored 
by the Marijuana Policy Project Foundation suggesting that more than 67 
percent of teens in Nevada try marijuana before graduating from high school.

The advertisements say that compares with 28 percent of the teens in the 
Netherlands, where marijuana use is allowed under some conditions.

Neal Levine, director of state policies for the foundation based in 
Washington, D.C., said the comparison shows that Nevada's law is not 
working. Reno is the first market in the United States where the 
advertisement is airing, Levine said. He refused to say how much the 
advertising cost or how long it would run.

In the Netherlands, adults can buy marijuana at certain stores but must 
show proof of age if asked.

The foundation last year started an initiative petition in Nevada to allow 
adults to possess up to three ounces of marijuana without being charged 
with a crime. It would have set up a string of state-sanctioned shops where 
marijuana could be sold. Voters rejected the petition 60.7 percent to 39.3 
percent. In Clark County the tally was 188,757 against and 118,633 in favor.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, one of the few legislators 
who publicly backed the initiative petition, said she has not had any 
contact with the national marijuana foundation for some time.

She said she will be working in the 2005 Legislature to bring uniformity to 
the laws regarding driving under the influence of marijuana and being found 
under the influence while on the job.

Nevada law says a motorist is guilty of driving under the influence of 
drugs if he is found to have 10 nanograms of THC in marijuana in his urine 
or 2 nanograms in his blood.

But state Personnel Department rules say that a state worker who has 15 
nanograms of THC of marijuana in his or her urine is considered under the 
influence. The state standard is derived from the National Health Services 
Administration guidelines.

Giunchigliani said that urine tests do not show the actual THC in marijuana 
that can cause erratic behavior. "The blood (test) is more accurate," she said.

Giunchigliani said using the urine sample offers the chance for an attorney 
to argue in court that the test is not valid.

Levine said the foundation wants to gauge the results of its TV advertising 
program in Reno. It offers a website "Stopteenuse.com" to gather reaction 
to the advertisement.

Levine said the government is not telling the truth about the use of 
marijuana among minors. The 67 percent figure comes from White House 
studies, according to the foundation.

While the foundation backs adults using marijuana, it is against kids using 
it, Levine said.

Advocates of marijuana decriminalization have noted that during a debate in 
Boston earlier this month, three of the six Democratic candidates for 
president admitted they had smoked marijuana. Sens. John Kerry and John 
Edwards and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean all said they had used 
marijuana in the past.

Giunchigliani said their answers show that marijuana is not addictive 
because they would not have risen to their present positions if they were 
hooked on the drug.

Levine said he was not surprised by their comments but found them 
interesting. He said Edwards has pushed for the Drug Enforcement 
Administration to crack down on sales in California. He said Dean, as 
governor of Vermont, helped defeat a medical marijuana bill.

At a later appearance in Iowa, Dean was asked if the drug should be 
decriminalized. He answered that would not solve the problem. But he added, 
"I think substance abuse should be treated as a medical problem, not a 
judicial problem."

Those at the Boston debate who said they had not used marijuana were Rep. 
Dennis Kucinich, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom