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Lothar121

Legalization Intiative: Marijuana Measure Opposed
Poll shows 56 percent reject plan
Ed Vogel | Las Vegas Review-Journal | 04/11/06

CARSON CITY -- Nevadans strongly oppose a ballot question to legalize the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana by adults 21 and older, a Review-Journal poll shows.

The poll found just 34 percent favor the question placed on this November's election ballot by the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana. The measure is opposed by 56 percent of 625 Nevadans who responded to the poll; 10 percent are undecided.

"I think it shows the public is smart enough to realize they are being hoodwinked by a group that wants to legalize drugs," said Lt. Stan Olsen with the Metropolitan Police Department. "The state, the country, the community is tired of it."

The results show a change in the public attitude about marijuana in the last four years. A Review-Journal poll in July 2002 found almost an equal number of residents backing and opposing the legalization of three ounces of marijuana. During the 2002 general election, citizens rejected the proposal by a margin of 39 percent for, 61 percent against.

Olsen, the Police Department's legislative lobbyist, said citizens see that methamphetamine and other serious drugs are ruining lives and they have grown to hate all illegal drugs, including marijuana.

"They see the accidents committed by people high on drugs, they see the violent crimes committed by people on drugs," he said.

The poll was conducted by Washington D.C.-based Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. Registered voters were contacted by telephone April 3 through Wednesday. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Brad Coker, managing partner of Mason-Dixon, said the opposition is strong and he does not give much chance the drug being legalized.

But Neal Levine, campaign manager for the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, said the results "don't jibe" with his internal polls.

"We know we have a tough road to climb, but I don't think we are that far behind," he said.

Levine said legalizing marijuana would take the drug out of the hands of illegal drug dealers and submit it to state regulation.

"There are people who are going to smoke marijuana, regardless of the law," he said. "Are we going to continue to let criminal gangs benefit financially? We think we are putting forward a sensible proposal to a failed marijuana policy."

He said citizens in Denver in November voted to legalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by adults.

Under the committee's ballot question, the state would tax marijuana and set up a system to sell it. The state Legislature would have to decide who would grow marijuana to be sold in state approved stores.

Penalties for people who drive under the influence of marijuana and those who provide marijuana to minors would be increased under the ballot question.

The committee secured signatures in fall 2004 to place the measure on the November 2006 ballot. The Legislature refused to consider the legalization plan in 2005. If voters approve the ballot measure, it could not be changed by the Legislature for five years.

Under current state law, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $600 fine.

Although about 300 people a month in Nevada are listed on uniform crime reports as being "charged" with possession of marijuana, Olsen said few of them end up in jail.

"The idea they are languishing in jail is baloney," Olsen said. "It just doesn't happen. They are charged, but that doesn't mean they get a pair of handcuffs on them. A misdemeanor is as far as the state should go."

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Lothar121

Every person reading this that truly wants to see marijuana prohibition end, put your money where your mouth is without excuse. Donate to the organizations that are making it happen. From the campaign's blog to legalize marijuana in Nevada in response to the poll featured above:

The Review-Journal today published poll results that show 34% in support of the marijuana initiative and 56% opposed to it, with 10% undecided. While that may look like a bad sign on the surface, we here at CRCM don't find it discouraging. Our internal polling has shown much higher than 34% support for the initiative, and November is many months from now. (Fun fact: Jesse Ventura polled with 7% support in April of the year he was elected governor of Minnesota.) After all, we've only just begun to get out our message to Nevadans. In contrast, the federal government spends millions of dollars every year on anti-marijuana advertising in Nevada -- think maybe that's had an impact on voters' initial opinions?

We are going to reach out to every voter in this state with an effective, positive message, and we intend to win this campaign. What's clear is we are currently behind, although we are within striking distance of victory. But here's the hard part: We can't do it without your help. If you support passing the marijuana initiative, please get involved today. Volunteer a few hours of your time. Make a donation, small or large. Tell your friends and family how important the initiative is, and send them to www.RegulateMarijuana.org. And last but not least, register to vote and make your voice heard on Election Day. With your help, we're going to tax and regulate marijuana in Nevada ... and make one heckuva come-from-behind story.

Donate to the Nevada Campaign now!

lost cause

Notice how the police chief or whatever used the word "drugs" yes its true drugs inevitably cause mistakes and problems..... If drugs are the problem its only on a measure of trafficking and organized crime..... Everything you put in youre immune system has side effects. The drugs that the government gives us has side effects... some more serious than others...... are those just as dangerous as marijuana??... i would think not. It's used in recreation just like alcohol.... its a common occurence to make new friends simply by smoking with people you barely know or just met. I know plenty of people that pop legal prescription drugs and watch them fiend for them.... I've watched people crush up ambien and snort it?........ prescription drugs are to be taken seriously.... watch "requiem for a dream".... im done rambling and im prob not making much sense. but peace

troublemaker_42

Nevada seems to mirror the US as a whole, as a gallup (sp?) poll showed that about 1/3 of US citizens favor marijuana legalization

and to lost cause....last I checked, heroin (the basis of Requiem for a Dream) was illegal, and definitely not a commonly prescribed drug

Sec

This is the most serious case of 'rambling' I have ever seen.

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Ilove#

Requiem for a Dream was about much more than heroin, and there was some prescription drug abuse. Go watch it again.

Anyway, since when is 56% "strong opposition"?

Little Nicky

56% is strong opposition when you only have 34% on your side and there are 10% who haven't made up their minds.
I was hoping for better numbers from Nevada...Oh Well.

Lothar121

Keep in mind their internal polling shows our side as having more support.

Dennis

Doesn't mean a thing statistically.

We can expect a dirty campaign from the ONDCP. We are not just campaigning against the opposition in the state, we are campaigning against the US federal government who is using our own blood, sweat and tears in the form of our tax dollars against us.

We should collectively stop paying taxes until they change the law.

nacrypt

Obviously you have never actually taken a statistics course. The size of the sample compared to the population actually is not important. All that matters is that the sample is at least of a certain size, in this case 400+ is a perfectly good sized sample.

What matters is how you ask the question. Also, this sample will not take into account that: A) most people don't vote (~40%) and B) some people may go vote JUST TO VOTE FOR (or even against) this issue. These skewing factors could cause the results to be different than the poll.

Anyway, the show ain't over until the fat lady sings! The only question is: will it be our song!?

Duh!! But I challenge the Drug Czar to actually come up with a way to stop me, you and the thousands of other pot users from smoking the herb. Phat chance, homie!