Nevadans to Vote on Legalizing Marijuana

[Judi Lynn]

Nevadans to Vote on Legalizing Marijuana
Tuesday October 17, 2006 7:31 PM
By SANDRA CHEREB
Associated Press Writer

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Gambling, prostitution, and now pot? Organizers of a Nevada ballot measure hope voters in a state where almost everything goes will go one better and legalize marijuana.

If it passes Nov. 7, Nevada will be the first state to allow adults to possess up to an ounce of pot that they could buy at government-regulated marijuana shops.

The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, which has pushed medical marijuana and decriminalization laws around the country, thinks Nevada - with its embrace of certain vices and its streak of Western independence - is a perfect venue.

In an editorial last spring, the rural Lahontan Valley News argued that gambling, Nevada's most powerful industry, caters to ``visceral pleasures,'' and that it would hypocritical to oppose the legalization of marijuana on moral grounds.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6153572,00.html

[Zhade]

1. THIS is the race to watch this election season.

Even the race in CT, with that Bolton-endorsing scumfuck lieberman, isn't as directly impactful on policy as this issue.

Legalize - it's the right thing to do for this beneficial plant!

[rodeodance]

4. and tax it-----gov. would makes lots of mulla!

[Zhade]

9. Not on homegrown.

:)

[Tace]

14. Yeah, But Few People Brew Their Own Beer... Or Ferment Wine...

I bet 90% of folks would just go to the smoke shop. Besides, pot is easy to grow... but good pot isn't so easy.

[Zhade]

19. True enough. If it's widely available and prices go down due to that...

...I have no problem with taxation on it, like any other good.

[High Plains]

2. Marijuana legalization is also on the ballot in Colorado

It doesn't go as far as the Nevada measure, however. The Colorado measure would simply legalize possession of up to an ounce for adults, while the Nevada measure would do that AND create a system of state-licensed pot stores.

[High Plains]

3. It will be close in Nevada.

Nevada newspaper polls show it losing by about 8-10 points, but methodologically sound internal polls done by the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana (www.regulatemarijuana.org) show it winning...I think it got 41% in 2002.

While up to an ounce in legal in Alaska thanks to state Supreme Court decisions, this would be the first time voters at the state level chose to free the weed (and its users).

[VegasWolf]

13. Nevada newspapers are among the worst conservative rags I have

ever read, at least here in Las Vegas. This ballot measure is getting a ton of pro advertising here and I've only seen one vote "NO" commercial. Hopefully, it will pass this time.

[bluestateguy]

5. Uh huh. Let's say it passes.

And I'm sure the Bush Administration will respect states rights and let Nevada carry out its duly enacted laws. :eyes:

[neohippie]

8. i agree

who really thinks that the federal government will not prosecute anyway, didn't they do that in California with medical marijuanna?

[High Plains]

15. The federal government has limited resources for busting pot heads

Even in California, the raids have been relatively rare and generally aimed at the highest-profile dispensaries. Yes, it would remain illegal under federal law, so let the feds decide to enforce it...if they want to make it a higher priority than say, oh, meth or heroin.

The real sticking point will be the provision instructing the state to set up a licensing scheme for retail sales. I would wager the courts would eventually rule Nevada couldn't do that, but by then--hey, who knows--the seismic shift may have occurred.

[AndyTiedye]

17. They Already Have

let the feds decide to enforce it...if they want to make it a higher priority than say, oh, meth or heroin.

The feds already have made it a higher priority thatn meth or heroin.

They even made it a higher priority than preventing hijackers from flying airplanes into buildings.
In mid-2001, the-Atty-Gen. John Ashcroft redeployed most of the fighter jets that were protecting
our airspace from errant aircraft -- to search for pot smugglers. (Around the same time he stopped
flying on commercial aircraft).

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Is there a provision for legal cultivation?

That's where all the pro-pot movements fall down, in that the feds regulate interstate commerce, and any importing of pot is illegal, and if there is no legal cultivations it must be supposed that any pot found was imported. That's how they closed down California medical pot clinics.

[High Plains]

16. Only for licensed wholesalers...

There is no provision for grow-your-own, and that is a shame. The ideal marijuana regulatory model would be two-tier, one tier commercial and regulated, one tier personal and unregulated, like the home-brew beer model.

If you want to grow your own pot in Nevada, you have to be a registered medical marijuana patient or provider.

Here's the relevant text:

3. A wholesaler or any person who is 21 years of age or older and acting in his capacity as an owner, employee or agent of a wholesaler who acts in compliance with the provisions of this chapter is exempt from arrest, civil or criminal penalty, seizure or forfeiture of assets, discipline by any state or local licensing board and state prosecution for the following acts:

(a) Cultivating, packing, processing, transporting or manufacturing marijuana.

(b) Possession of marijuana.

(c) Selling marijuana to a retailer or a wholesaler.

(d) Purchasing marijuana from a wholesaler.

(e) Aiding and abetting any person who is 21 years of age or older in the possession or use of one ounce or less of marijuana.

(f) Any combination of the acts described in paragraphs (a) to (e), inclusive.

Full text here: full text here: http://www.regulatemarijuana.org/home/06init

[wuushew]

7. Does anyone remember that billboard in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?

Johnny Depp was in the car passing the state line and it said something insane like "one ounce equals twenty years" or something like that?

Somebody must have a screen capture.

[Eikon]

12. Got it

[immoderate]

10. This should bring out progressive voters.

--IMM

[Zhade]

20. This beneficial herb could help swing the vote in NV!

Woohoo!

[Schema Thing]

11. Jesus Christ this is a brilliant business move if nothing else.

[wholetruth00]

18. Been to Amsterdam were they have marijuana shops. Works fine.

[Irreverend IX]

21. I wonder what the anti ads will look like.

Scenes of gruesome weed-induced car crashes? Stoned hippies barbecueing their children? Marijuana-crazed high schoolers shooting up their schools?

[bamacrat]

22. I had to sit down when I read this.

My dreams are coming true. Nevada and Colorado. Hopefully the govt will see the possible money its missing out on and legalize it everywhere.