Marijuana Policy Project

The Cmte to Regulate and Control Marijuana, formed in NV by the nat'l Marijuana Policy Project "wants to make" NV "the first state in the nation to legalize possession of marijuana" and on 2/18 filed an init petition "to legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana" with the Sec/State's office, "a follow-up to a similar measure rejected by voters" in '02. Cmte spokesperson Jennifer Knight: "We're filing this initiative because current marijuana laws don't work. The 2004 marijuana initiative will reduce teenage marijuana use by strictly regulating marijuana."

The init "would allow private use by adults of up to 1 ounce of marijuana," but also "increase penalties for providing marijuana to minors or for causing a fatal accident while driving under the influence of" marijuana. Furthermore, the "sale of marijuana would be taxed, and revenue would be earmarked for drug and alcohol treatment and education programs." To qualify for the ballot, the init first needs over 51K signatures from regis. voters by 6/15. If it passes in 11/04, "it would have to pass again" in '06 "to become part of the constitution."

The '02 campaign, named Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, "qualified a petition with" 110K signatures "seeking to legalize possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana." Advocates "tried to tie the issues to the medical use of marijuana." However, "a coalition of law enforcement and citizens groups, bolstered by independent advertising from the Office of National Drug Control Policy … blocked its passage" in a 61% to 39% vote. voting yes. "Marijuana foes vowed to win again" in '04. Stop DUI exec. dir. Sandy Heverly said Nevadans Against Legalizing Marijuana will meet 2/26 "to come up with a strategy to defeat the new initiative" and "she is hopeful" federal drug czar John Walters "will again visit the state in opposition to the initiative" (AP, 2/18).