Nevada may legalize pot on 11/7

[garybeck]

Nevada to vote on pot shops
CNN.com POSTED: 8:41 p.m. EDT, October 17, 2006



RENO, Nevada (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 November 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 be hypocritical to oppose the legalization of marijuana on moral grounds.

Proponents of the measure also argue that the legal system wastes time and money on low-level marijuana offenses, and that taxing and regulating pot would put drug dealers out of business while freeing law enforcement to focus on violent crime and more dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine.

"Put it into a tightly controlled and regulated environment. We think that makes a lot of sense," said Neal Levine, executive director of the committee.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/17/nevada.marijuana.ap/index.html

[Rick Myers]

1. Go West Young Man!!!

Welcome to Nevada...

[williesgirl]

2. I now a few people who will be VERY interested in this!

[Divine Discontent]

10. the pots already got to you...

lol.. well, I know a family member that could surely use it right now. so worried about getting busted for seeking it out in brownies or whatev...

I'm just concerned about young people getting it from their 18 year old buddies who go buy it constantly. I know 3 17 yr olds that hotboxed a car with it and got toked and slammed into a car at 60mph and one of them looks rather unhinged and handicapped now because of that.

pot's a tought issue to find a line of proper behavior. I would love to read 100 people's SHORT comments about how they feel about this Nev. law, if it were to pass.



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- antibush prodem stickers/shirts

[Mythsaje]

28. The circumstance you outline

obviously happened while it was illegal. Prohibition has done nothing to prevent this sort of thing from happening (and I have to say it's a rarity anyway--we used to do it all the time and never had a problem). I don't know a single person who's been in an accident because they were stoned.

If any state was likely to get away with it, it would be Nevada.

[madokie]

32. 39 years and never an accident that I could attribute to smoking pot

sounds like a blame game going on there to me, nothing more

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I'm booking a trip there if this

passes!

LOL. MKJ

[acmavm]

4. Crap, they do that and it'll be soooo damn crowded that you won't be

able to move.

[and-justice-for-all]

5. Rock On!! nt

[Demobrat]

6. WOO-HOO!

Viva lost wages!

[David Dunham]

7. Big Problem: Federal Law Outlaws Pot and Supersedes State Law

[garybeck]

8. hasn't been enforced so far...

other states have been allowing pot for medical use and the feds have not stepped in. one woman sued ascroft to get a restraining order against the feds for just threatening that they might step in. i'm not sure that suit is over. but so far they haven't messed with people using it for medical use.

[David Dunham]

12. The feds have cracked down on medical use of pot in SF, CA

[garybeck]

14. you are right, there have been some instances, but overall

wouldn't you agree that medical marijuana use is being permitted in most places?

[NobleCynic]

19. True, but the feds don't have tha manpower to enforce

What the real concern is is loss of federal highway and education funds that will ikely be imposed until Nevada caves and changes the law back.

The question is whether or not the marijuana taxes brought in, along with the increased tourism money will be enough to make it a push financially.

[panader0]

9. But where do you get the ounce?

The dealer has to have more than one. As a smoker, I favor the grow your own approach. Arizona passed a law to legalize it, and the feds took it away. Good luck Nev.

[garybeck]

11. the government will sell it

i think that's an ok way to handle it. let the government make some money on it. then maybe other states will look at the cash cow and go for it too.

[Auggie]

13. Uhhhh --- what???

[Rick Myers]

15. Can Cheech and Chong's Sweet Smoke Casino be far behind!!!

[midnight]

16. Our own little Netherlands.

[immoderate]

17. What else can grow in Nevada?

Just sayin' :shrug:

--IMM

[NobleCynic]

18. For some ungodly reason, cantalope and alfalfa

But should this pass, pot would be a better use of the land fiscally speaking. What other crop has the same kind of tourism dollar enhancing benefits?

[immoderate]

21. Seems like the perfect climate for that crop.

Seems like a win-win. :)

--IMM

[Red Right and BLUE]

20. As someone who doesn't smoke it (or otherwise ingest it)

I say woo hoo!!!

[truthisfreedom]

22. i agree. when you compare the damage done by alcohol, there is no reason

to keep pot illegal.

[OnionPatch]

23. That's great!

I hope it passes. But I'm a little jealous....California should be doing this.

[Az_lefty]

24. Gov regulated pot shop????

I never though I would live to see such a thing...sorta like the state run liquor stores. Tax the hell out of it and pay for a state based health care program.

:hippie:

[NoSheep]

25. I say it's the American way. Pursuit of happiness, I believe.

[Swamp Rat]

26. To HELL with Florida! .... Spring Break in Nevada!!!!

:woohoo: :smoke: :woohoo: :smoke: :woohoo: :smoke: :woohoo: :smoke: :woohoo:

[NMMNG]

27. The debate is over

When I move to another state it will be to NV!

[Baclava]

29. You say there's gonna be a revolu-sha-un

Colorado Cannabis Legalization Initiative Certified For November Ballot

August 17, 2006 - Denver, CO, USA



Denver, CO: The Colorado Secretary of State's office announced Wednesday that a statewide initiative that seeks to eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for the possession of cannabis by adults has been certified to appear on the November 2006 ballot.

Sponsored by Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), the measure would amend state statutes to make the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis legal in Colorado for those age 21 or older. Last year, voters in Denver passed a similar municipal initiative by 54 percent.

Sponsors turned in more than 130,000 signatures from Colorado voters to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

"The campaign will highlight the hypocrisy of laws that prohibit the use of marijuana while allowing and even encouraging the use of alcohol, an infinitely more harmful drug," said SAFER Campaign Director Mason Tvert

[Emit]

30. Sadly, I doubt it will pass here.

Maybe. I have to commend CRCM. Their ads are really good, and they get a lot of play. I saw a sign in someone's lawn today supporting this. I haven't seen many counter ads, but there is a concerted counter effort. This weekend we watched a debate, and though we're both for this, my SO and I thought the cop who countered the CRCM guy was articulate and offered up points that the average voter here in Nevada will buy. Really, it will depend on a certain demographic of voters here to get this one passed. This will be an interesting election year.

[lies and propaganda]

31. Its not that simple.

This is its second go round. first time was 2 yrs ago to legalize three ounces, now it is one ounce. If a bill passes in two consecutivce years it becomes part of the Nevada state constitution. So it would need to pass again in 08 if it was able to this year.