Pubdate: Thu, 10 Mar 2005
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2005 Reno Gazette-Journal
Contact: http://www.rgj.com/helpdesk/news/letter_to_editor.php
Website: http://www.rgj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/363
Author: Anjeanette Damon
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Cited: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition ( www.leap.cc )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/marijuana+initiative
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

PANEL WANTS VOTERS TO DECIDE ON POT PROPOSAL

A panel of Nevada lawmakers refused Thursday to take a position on
whether the state should legalize marijuana, choosing instead to let
voters decide next November.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee tabled a citizen initiative petition
that would allow adults to possess one ounce of marijuana, meaning the
question will appear on the 2006 ballot.

Although lawmakers did not take a formal vote on the issue, many
seemed uncomfortable with the prospect of making Nevada the first
state in the nation to legalize pot.

"Somehow I just believe deep down in my heart that this is wrong,"
said Assemblyman Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas. "I don't have the
opportunity to vote no today, but I think I'll get my opportunity in
the fall."

The Marijuana Policy Project, a national organization advocating the
legalization of pot, organized the initiative petition last year,
gathering nearly 70,000 signatures.

Those testifying in support of the initiative Thursday included the
project's executive director, a former undercover narcotics agent and
a clinical psychologist who specializes in addiction.

They argued America's war on drugs isn't working, claiming the country
has wasted billions of dollars fighting the problem through law
enforcement.

"The kicker to this is that with all this money so ill-spent, all
these lives crippled if not destroyed, drugs today are cheaper, more
potent and far easier to get," said Jack Cole, a retired police
officer who now leads the Massachusetts-based Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition.

"To me, that is the very essence of a failed public policy. We need to
correct some of these horrors we've created."

Rob Kampia, director of the Marijuana Policy Project, estimated the
state would earn more than $26 million if it taxed and regulated the
sale of marijuana.

Under the initiative petition, half of all marijuana tax revenue would
be earmarked for drug addiction treatment. The rest would go into the
state's general fund.

A phalanx of law enforcement officers and prosecutors from across the
state testified against the initiative.

"Sending the message to our young people that the legalization of
marijuana is the correct way we want them to lead their lives is
totally irresponsible," said Clark County Sheriff Bill Young.

"We would be the laughing stock of the country. This thing makes no
sense. It has no logical basis in fact and is simply the wrong thing
for our citizenry."

Police argued marijuana addiction leads to more serious crimes such as
burglaries and robberies and is a gateway drug to more serious substances.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, a deputy police chief,
also spoke against the petition. He said he favors medical marijuana
use, which voters legalized in 2000, but opposes legalizing it entirely.
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