Nevada Voters to Decide on Legalizing Marijuana July 10, 2002
News Summary
In November, voters in Nevada will decide whether to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, the Associated Press reported July 9.Under the measure, up to three ounces of marijuana would be sold to adults in state-licensed shops and taxed like cigarettes and other tobacco products. A distribution system also would be established to provide low-cost marijuana for medical uses.
"Three ounces is quite a bit," said Lt. Stan Olsen, lobbyist for the Las Vegas police, which, along with other law-enforcement groups, opposes the measure. "If we legalize it, what is next? A lot of people don't use drugs now because they are illegal, and they stand to lose in their personal or professional lives if they use."
A petition drive to place the measure on the ballot has obtained the required 75,000 signatures. "The success of our petition drive provides solid evidence that most Nevadans think it's a waste of their tax dollars to arrest people for small amounts of marijuana," said Billy Rogers of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement.
Up until last year, Nevada had the nation's strictest marijuana law, with smoking one marijuana cigarette considered a felony punishable by a year in jail. Lawmakers revised the law to make possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a misdemeanor.
The ballot initiative does not change the law in terms of driving under the influence and using marijuana in public places. Both actions would remain illegal.
Before the proposal becomes law, voters must approve the measure this year and in 2004.
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