Opponents Say Legalizing Marijuana Not a Money-Maker September 3, 2002
News Summary
Opponents to Nevada's ballot initiative to legalize marijuana said a group's contention that the state would reap millions of dollars from the sale of marijuana was "misleading" and a "pipe dream," the Associated Press reported Aug. 27.Washoe County District Attorney Dick Gammick, who opposes the initiative, said federal laws would prohibit the state from selling and taxing marijuana. His comments were made in response to a statement released by the Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, which said Nevada would profit from legalizing marijuana.
"This is nothing more than another misleading statement to try to get people to vote for its legalization. It's a ruse on the voting public to do nothing but legalize drugs," said Gammick.
Billy Rogers, head of the pro-marijuana drive, countered by referring to comments made by U.S. drug czar John Walters.
"The drug czar has said if this initiative passes the feds won't crack down on Nevada," Rogers said. "He has said people have the right to make their own decisions. Unfortunately, the opponents would rather scare the voters than debate the issue because the facts are not on their side. We're confident the legislature will enact a system for selling and taxing marijuana that will not invite federal intervention."
Tom Riley, a spokesman for Walters, said Rogers was taking the comments out of context. At a July news conference in Las Vegas, Walters said that federal officials would not increase enforcement on small drug-possession cases if the Nevada measure passes.
"That's totally misleading, what Rogers said," Riley said. "The district attorney is absolutely correct when he says we would not allow the state to tax and sell marijuana. The sale of marijuana is a violation of federal law and there is nothing that a state referendum can do to change that."
The initiative would allow adults to possess three ounces or less of marijuana. If voters approve the initiative this fall and again in 2004, the state legislature would be required to create a system to regulate "the cultivation, taxation, sale, and distribution of marijuana."
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