Lit_Match

Nevada Voters Could Legalize All Marijuana
10-26-06|kbcitv.com|Kiersten Throndsen


First marijuana was legalized for medical purposes, now Nevada wants to take that law one step further and hopes their voters will agree in less than two weeks. If Nevada passes this measure it would be the first state ever to tax and regulate pot but even if the measure passes Idaho law enforcement says you'll want to think twice before driving over the border.

It's surrounded by a cloud of controversy, legalizing marijuana for recreational use. In less than two weeks Nevada voters will have their say.

"It's an amazingly rationale way to deal with the subject of cannabis or marijuana as it's commonly called," Tim Teater, Idaho's coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told CBS 2 News.

Teater has worked to get medical marijuana legalized in Idaho.Unsuccessful so far, he believes what Nevada is trying to do could force other states to take a closer look at what legalizing marijuana could mean.

"We would be able to control who sells and who buys cannabis a lot more effectively than we are now," he said.

If recreational marijuana becomes legal in Nevada voters could go into any government regulated shop and by an ounce or less. That's about equivalent to a pack and a half of cigarettes.

"If they were to travel through our state with marijuana, thinking that they can posses it because their from Nevada they would be cited for possession of marijuana," Idaho State Police Sergeant John Burke told CBS 2 News.

Sergeant Burke says approving a measure like this in Nevada could mean more monitoring for Idaho State Police as people potentially try transporting the drug but when it comes to legally lighting up here, enforcing Idaho law won't change.

"Our laws are clear on marijuana use and marijuana possession," said Burke.

In Idaho if someone is caught possessing three or more ounces of pot, it's a felony, three ounces or less is considered a misdemeanor. Under Nevada's measure, growing, distributing and warehousing marijuana will still be a federal offense.

If the measure passes organizers say half the money from sales will go to the state for drug treatment and rehab facilities, the other half to the Nevada's general fund