Re "Is Obama in control?" (Editorial, Dec. 22): In Ken Burns' outstanding PBS documentary Prohibition, it was revealed that alcohol prohibition corrupted all levels of our government-all the way up to the Warren G. Harding White House. The alcohol cartels had hundreds of politicians on their payroll. Is it unreasonable to suspect that the drug cartels of today are following in the footsteps of the alcohol cartels? It's obvious that medical marijuana dispensaries were making a major dent in the income of the drug cartels. Would a $10 million bribe motivate Obama to change his policy regarding medical marijuana? We will never know. But I certainly suspect so. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
Re "Is Obama in control?" (Editorial, Dec. 22): Obama could be in control of the marijuana problem by upholding the rule of law, the Constitution of the United States. The marijuana laws impinge upon fundamental rights, a justiciable controversy under Article III. Criminalizing marijuana because marijuana has no medicinal use is unreasonable and unnecessary regulations of my fundamental rights to liberty, to property and to privacy. Marijuana and the private use of this property does not threaten the rights of others. Who have presidents been afraid of? National police? [continues 58 words]
Re "Is Obama in control?" (Editorial, Dec. 22): When the last number of presidents have used cannabis (marijuana) recreationally, there should be no question cannabis prohibition should automatically be terminated, especially since roughly 70 percent of Americans support it. Roughly 50 percent of Americans support-and that number is increasing-legalizing and regulating cannabis because it is one of America's worst policy failures in history. Cannabis prohibition is perpetuated exactly because President Obama is in control. If citizens were in control, cannabis prohibition, persecution, discrimination and extermination would end immediately. Ending cannabis prohibition is one of the most important issues of our time. Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
Federal prosecutors have been conducting a war against California medical marijuana shops, in defiance of President Obama's stated policy. When he was campaigning for the presidency, Obama said, "What I'm not going to be doing is using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue simply because I want folks to be investigating violent crimes and potential terrorism. We've got a lot of things for our law enforcement officers to deal with." After Obama became president, his attorney general quickly reinforced that stance. Eric Holder said this: "For those organizations that are doing so [allowing medical marijuana] sanctioned by state law and do it in a way that is consistent with state law, and given the limited resources that we have, that [prosecuting medical marijuana cases] will not be an emphasis for this administration." [continues 433 words]
Re "Dear President Barack Obama" (Guest Comment, Oct. 13): Kudos to publisher Jeff vonKaenel for his outstanding letter to President Obama. I'd like to share with the readers a short letter I wrote to President Obama: Like millions of other voters, I voted for you in 2008, campaigned for you, and donated to your campaign for two basic reasons: 1. Candidate Obama said that the war on drugs was an utter failure. 2. Candidate Obama said he would not go after medical marijuana users or their caregivers. Obviously, I was duped. As a result I will vote for and campaign for your opponent in 2012. One final question: Why do you want marijuana to remain completely unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminal gangs? Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
Re "Dear President Barack Obama" (Guest Comment, Oct. 13): Mexican drug cartels are no doubt thrilled with the Obama Administration's crackdown on voter-approved medical marijuana dispensaries. So much for change and 2008 campaign promises to respect states' rights. So much for jobs. The medical marijuana industry is one of the few job creators in the current down economy. If Obama succeeds in destroying the domestic medical marijuana industry, international drug cartels will move in to meet demand and reap the profits. This is basic economics. As long as there is a demand for marijuana, there will be a supply. Replacing domestic growers with organized crime groups that also sell cocaine, meth and heroin is not a good thing. Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy. Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. [end]
Re "Dear President Barack Obama" (Guest Comment, Oct. 13): I wonder if your publisher, Jeff vonKaenel, who directed his commentary to President Obama last week, has any knowledge of the political tenets of Ron Paul. It's always puzzling to me when someone whom I suppose to be a democrat complains about something like medical marijuana rights being trampled upon, yet neglects to conclude that those who want to do something about this should support Ron Paul's bid for the presidency. Since this issue began, Dr. Ron Paul has always championed the rights of Americans to have the freedom to pursue any medical avenue they desire. In his support of freedom, he has called for the end of the War on Drugs, and for this wasteful, ruinous program to be replaced with drug education and rehabilitation in addition to legalization. I won't use up space listing all the positive benefits of ending the War on Drugs, but I will say that whatever your political persuasion, you should really take a look at Ron Paul's position on these issues. Cynthia Kennedy Virginia City [end]
I've got some bad news for you today, and the situation appears as if it will only get worse. The cartel wars in Mexico continue unabated, and the violence and the gangs themselves are increasingly appearing in American cities, including here in Northern Nevada. The gangs are tied into Mexican cartel drug operations, and they also smuggle illegal immigrants into the U.S., ship other contraband and carry cash for money-laundering. The cartels control large swaths of territory in Mexico and many municipalities. They are waging violent turf battles over control of key smuggling corridors, employing hit men and groups of enforcers. Some of the cartels are using grenade launchers, auto matic weapons, and even ar mored vehicles against outgunned Mexican law enforcement. More worrisome, many have mastered the road side-bomb techniques employed by insurgents in Iraq and Afghan istan, and are using these improvised explosive devices against badly outgunned law enforcement agencies. [continues 575 words]
Re "Has Nevada lost its nerve?" (News, July 14): More than 30 states still have a moral issue with pot, but the time is ripe to harvest some of those pot tourism dollars before they all go to Denver. Reno could use the money right now, cash flow should be king, but do not tell that to a politician hiding behind special interest money, etc. Tax and regulate and watch an economic miracle happen. Denver and Seattle are actually encouraging the emerging pot industry (a billion-dollar-plus business). John Stoker Reno [end]
By the Numbers 2 percent -- Share of the guns from the United States that originated in Nevada. The majority of firearms come from the border states of Texas, California and Arizona. Two years ago, the case of Zorra Penunuri put Las Vegas on the national map in the fight against cross-border contraband. The gun-smuggling kingpin from Southern California had purchased $100,000 worth of rifles and pistols from Las Vegas gun dealers to shuttle to drug cartels in Mexico, where the weapons would be used in the proliferation of an illicit drug industry that reaches into most U.S. cities. [continues 1222 words]
Billionaire financier George Soros and his army of drug legalizers will be back in action in Nevada next year in their continuing campaign to legalize "personal doses" of marijuana. Although we've already defeated them twice on 60-40 votes, they keep trying. Soros and his allies aren't satisfied with the legalization of so-called "medical marijuana" in Nevada and several other states. They want to go much further. So let's take a closer look at the murky world of medical marijuana, where weed is "medicine" and potheads are "patients." [continues 416 words]
CARSON CITY -- A bill that would start a pilot program to allow medical marijuana card-holders to legally purchase the drug is being pushed in the Legislature. Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, said the bill "would eliminate the head shops" that are illegally selling marijuana. Those with a valid registry identification card to use marijuana for medical purposes face felony charges when purchasing it on the street, he said. Senate Bill 336 would set up a company or facility to grow, warehouse and distribute marijuana under the direction of the state Board of Pharmacy. [continues 133 words]
Re "Stairway to hell" (Feature story, May 19): Imagine if we could eliminate all of our nation's heroin dealers-Switzerland did. Imagine if we could reduce the number of heroin addicts by 82 percent-Switzerland did. Imagine if we could dramatically reduce our overall crime rate-Switzerland did. Imagine if we could eliminate virtually all deaths from heroin-Switzerland did. How did they do it? In 1994, Switzerland started an experimental program to sell heroin addicts the drug at very low cost, even giving it to the addicts who couldn't afford it. In 2008, 68 percent of the Swiss voted to make the program permanent. Have Swiss heroin-addiction rates skyrocketed? No, they have fallen dramatically. So has their overall crime rate. Will we adopt Switzerland's heroin policy? Probably not. Too many people, industries and institutions have a vested financial interest in maintaining the status quo of drug prohibition. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. -- Below is a question from one of our readers, Bill, for this week's column: I am not a "pot head," but if I have a medical marijuana card, what are the restrictions with driving? If I need to smoke marijuana for pain relief, how do I know when I can legally drive? Marijuana stays in your system for a while, so does this mean I can't drive for the day? What if I there is an emergency and have to get to the hospital or something like that? I am not the only one wondering the same thing. Please help. Thanks. [continues 440 words]
Re "Drug tests" (Feature story, July 8, 2010): Salvia is pretty crazy. In my time I've experimented with some crazy substances so it wasn't Earth-shattering for me. The first time I took it, I didn't really know what to expect, and it almost felt like I took a circus balloon of nitric oxide. That's the closest experience I could tie to it. I actually am obviously behind on the game because I just heard of Tranquility today and picked up two jars. I don't know if they've changed the recipe since this came out, but I want my money back. Obviously, the amount that worked for he who wrote this article was enough. I used the full 500 mg and don't feel much of anything. Eighty bucks down the drain. I've never used the synthetic pot, but my brother uses it, seeing as how his job drug tests, and he lives in Texas. I, however, live in the Denver metro area, and marijuana's legal medically. For 25 bucks, you can get an eighth of some lower grade crondos. Therefore the prices have dropped a little all around, and I don't really feel like overpaying for the fake thing. The main reason I'm writing is because the Tranquility sucks, and I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience. I did try E a couple of times when I was younger (before 18, as much of my experimentation was) and much the same I didn't seem to feel what everyone else did, so I never really messed with it at all. Your article was informative. Much appreciated. Devin Sweet Castle Rock, Colo. [end]
An advocate for loosening medical marijuana restrictions in Nevada was arrested Saturday at her southwest valley home with her husband after police say they found a marijuana grow operation in the house where their 13-year-old son also lived. Rhonda Shade and Lowel Shade, both 37, were charged with child endangerment, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, trafficking in a controlled substance and conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Lowel Shade also was charged with possession of a firearm by an ex-felon. Rhonda Shade has denied selling marijuana. [continues 406 words]
Once again Nevada legislators are trying to win the unwinnable war on drugs by putting the burden on ordinary and innocent citizens. This year, Washoe County Sen. Sheila Leslie is sponsoring legislation to change over-the-counter cold medicines into prescription drugs, thus increasing the cost of health care in order to make the ingredients for meth more difficult to obtain. This legislation was not requested by health care professionals, drug counselors or anyone who knows anything about how to combat drug use. Rather, it was requested by the Nevada District Attorneys Association as one more step in a punitive enforcement strategy that has failed for decades, designed by law enforcement officials with little knowledge of this health care issue. [continues 440 words]
A number of community leaders from Lyon County attended a statewide summit on the Impact of Marijuana Use recently to help hone local programs to curb marijuana use. The summit, held in Las Vegas, featured a dynamic group of local and national experts who presented the latest research and data on marijuana and its impact on community, the environment, enforcement of laws regarding marijuana, business and economy, treatment, and legislation. The summit was called to increase general understanding of the drug, and possible outcomes that could arise if the use of the now illegal drug were legalization. [continues 278 words]
Nevada is known for letting just about anything slide, whether it's booze, bets or brothels. But even here there are limits. It has been OK to smoke marijuana to treat illness for 10 years. But don't think about selling it. Lately, federal agents and local police have taken notice, raiding several pot shops in and around Sin City. All of it has pot advocates scratching their heads: How is a state that has long lured visitors with promises of unconstrained debauchery stricter with pot than its more wholesome neighbors of Colorado, Arizona and California? [continues 296 words]
A California woman who legally smoked marijuana in her home state and then drove across the Nevada state line with an "inactive" marijuana metabolite in her system is still guilty under the state's impaired driving law, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled. Shira Garfinkel was convicted in Incline Justice Court of being over the legal limit of marijuana metabolite, which is the "inactive" substance the body produces to get rid of marijuana's active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Her lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Priscilla Nielson appealed, arguing that since the metabolite is an "inactive" substance, it "does not affect the person's ability to drive" and the law is unconstitutional. [continues 514 words]
Inside Nevada
