Month of 01/Mar/2006 to 31/Mar/2006

The California Attorney General is trying to get the San Diego County supervisors' lawsuit against medical marijuana thrown out of court, on the grounds that the suit doesn't present an actual dispute for the court to rule on. He seems to think the county needs more than a "dislike" of the law to have it overturned by the state.

A scientific poll commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project revealed that 56% of Alaska voters oppose the attempt to re-criminalize possession of marijuana in the home. Alaskans clearly see right through this outlandish attack on their constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy.

Alaskans support reasonable marijuana laws, Denver passed an initiative to reduce penalties for adult marijuana use, and a recent Zogby poll showed 55% of West Coast residents support a state's right to regulate marijuana. What's it all mean? Support for sensible marijuana policy continues to become more and more mainstream in this country. Here in Nevada, we have a chance to create a policy that makes sense for our state. By removing marijuana from the criminal market, our initiative will take money out of the hands of violent gangs and drug dealers and instead tax it to create revenue for things like building roads and improving education. Please help us pass the marijuana initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

A recent Zogby poll commissioned by NORML shows that 55% of West Coast residents support the right of states to tax and regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol and gambling, while nearly half of all Americans support taxation and regulation. (Unfortunately, the poll didn't specifically reference Nevadans, but you can read NORML's press release for more details.)

It's nice to see more numbers backing up what we've known all along: Increasingly people realize that we need a new system to deal with marijuana use. Nevadans have a chance to implement a tax-and-regulate solution to prohibition when we go to the polls in November. Let's make sure it happens -- please help us pass the marijuana initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

Another marijuana possession arrest in Denver and another court challenge as the city's powers-that-be continue to thwart the will of the voters. Any takers on how well that strategy will work out?

Kentucky is considering a tax on illegal drugs, which would require drug dealers to purchase tax stamps and in turn force buyers to pay a tax on purchases. That doesn't make much sense, you say? Well, Kentuckians witnessed the success of a similar program in Tennessee and figured it might work for them, too. Unfortunately, this is just another illustration of the failure of prohibition to eliminate the criminal market. Only by taking marijuana out of the criminal market can we really tax and regulate it properly -- not to mention have control over who sells it and who buys it.

We Nevadans have a chance to take control of marijuana sales. Please help us pass the marijuana initiative this November. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

The White House drug czar mistakenly claimed that 15% of all high school students under age 18 travel to spring break party spots to drink and do drugs. There is in fact no indication of a trend of high school students heading off to party in college-age spring break destinations, and after being questioned about the basis for the drug czar's statement, the Office of National Drug Control Policy said it will issue a correction.

If only they would issue a correction for all the misinformation they've provided about marijuana over the last three decades. We can see it now ...

We apologize for trying to convince everyone that marijuana is more dangerous than it really is. It turns out we ruined our credibility with that line, since the greatest harm associated with marijuana comes from an unregulated criminal market. Oh, and those ads about how using marijuana will cause you to kill your friend, or to be raped -- those weren't really based on any facts. And the ads that said using marijuana supports terrorism were unfounded as well. We're terribly sorry about that.

On the bright side, we're now working on a new message about responsible adult use ... something about taxation and regulation ...

A recent article examines the questionable data used by the government to declare prohibition a success.

Check out CRCM Campaign Manager Neal Levine on KUNV's "Our Metropolis".

And you thought we thought the gateway theory was absurd.

A recent study claims to have found a new gateway: High school student use of "herbal products" is associated with the use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. Quick! Ban ginseng!

Or, let's try being reasonable and remember that association does not equal causation. Let's guess how many of these kids also ate fast food. Or watched TV. Or took the bus to school. Or had history class before noon. The gateway theory simply falls apart when you take the time to examine it. Are we really supposed to believe that taking herbal supplements leads to marijuana use?

It's time for a more sensible approach to dealing with marijuana. Please help us pass the marijuana initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

Via DRCNet:

March 22, 1972: The Richard Nixon-appointed, 13-member National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse recommends the decriminalization of marijuana, and concludes, "Marihuana's relative potential for harm to the vast majority of individual users and its actual impact on society does not justify a social policy designed to seek out and firmly punish those who use it."

The Nevada Appeal printed a second letter-to-the-editor from a supporter of the marijuana initiative. Tsuyoshi Curtis, of Reno, makes some powerful arguments for why he thinks we should take marijuana out of the criminal market.

Key quote:

Marijuana is a very commonly used drug, and the type of individuals who are currently making money off of it shouldn't be. The government should stop wasting time, money, and effort in trying to arrest these people and focus that energy in helping the neighborhoods across the country that it has affected. Use that money to set up after-school programs and for better education.

Words to vote by. Please help us pass the initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

CRCM had a great time at the Sons of Erin St. Patrick's Day Festival this weekend. Thanks to all the volunteers who braved the chilly weather to help us reach out to supporters.

A second Nevada Appeal editorial argues in support of the marijuana initiative. (The first one opposed it.) The Internet editor of the Appeal makes a compelling argument for why the policy of prohibition simply can't last.

First he takes issue with the arbitrary distinction between alcohol and marijuana:

Telling people they can use alcohol but not marijuana is like telling children they can have Pepsi but not Sprite. It’s a difference without distinction.

Then he makes an interesting prediction:

Will Nevada voters approve the reform of marijuana laws this year? I don’t know. But I do think it’s just a matter of time.

Nevada voters will approve the reform of marijuana laws this year, because they know prohibition is as illogical as "Pepsi but not Sprite." Join the campaign that's going to implement sensible marijuana policy in Nevada. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

Funny how things you say sometimes come back to haunt you. Such as when Sheriff Bill Young claimed on Las Vegas 1's "Face to Face" that: "The hard-core gang element here in southern Nevada isn't selling marijuana for a living. They're selling methamphetamine and they're selling crack cocaine. It's indisputable."

Indisputable, eh? Not according to a former Las Vegas gang member (and today's Las Vegas Sun).

Key quote:

"Gangs are what I felt comfortable with," said Charles, 23, who used to peddle marijuana. "That's what I been with every day of my life."

Help us take marijuana out of the hands of violent gangs. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

CRCM will be in Henderson this weekend for the Sons of Erin St. Patrick's Day Festival. Stop by our booth -- outside Joker's Wild Casino -- on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to sign up with campaign, register to vote, or pick up a CRCM T-shirt (green beer not included).

CRCM has run our own phone calls to residents of Clark County District E as a way to combat the earlier push polls that lied about the marijuana initiative. We want everyone to know the truth about what we're working for -- and we're not afraid to identify ourselves. Listen for yourself here.

As we have reported previously on this blog, some Nevada residents have received a series of nasty, anonymous, pre-recorded push poll calls that blatantly lie about what our initiative would do. As we have also reported, we have been digging into this to try and figure out who is behind these unethical attacks. Unfortunately, it now seems apparent that CRCM is being dragged into a local Clark County Commission race.

Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams just recently sent out a mailer denying she has anything to do with these despicable tactics, but we do not believe this denial. It defies logic that Myrna Williams’ campaign has nothing to do with this ugly smear campaign. Here’s why:

• The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) -- CRCM’s parent organization -- retained Knight Consulting at the beginning of 2005 to lobby the legislature, assist with public relations, and build coalitions for the campaign.
• In August 2005, Mike Sullivan and Jim Ferrence of Knight Consulting informed CRCM Campaign Manager Neal Levine that they needed to terminate the contract because Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams, a long-standing client of theirs, had unexpectedly decided to run for office again. Since Commissioner Williams’ primary opponent would be Chris Giunchigliani -- an Assemblywoman who supported the marijuana campaign in 2002 -- they expected marijuana would be an issue in the campaign. Since they anticipated Commissioner Williams would be attacking Assemblywoman Giunchigliani on the marijuana issue, and they would be directly involved in running Commissioner Williams’ campaign, they viewed their relationship with MPP/CRCM as a conflict of interest.
• In early 2006, Commissioner Williams sent out a mail survey to District E. One of the questions in the survey asked for residents’ opinions on the marijuana initiative. Some may think this is an odd question for a county commissioner to ask her constituents. However, taking Knight Consulting’s reason for dropping us as a client into account, CRCM began bracing for an attack.
• A few weeks later, CRCM received word from supporters that they were being called with a pre-recorded push poll from a blocked number. (Click here to see the definition of a push poll.) The poll lied about the marijuana initiative, claiming it would make marijuana available in grocery stores and convenience stores, similar to buying a pack of cigarettes. In fact, the initiative explicitly prohibits the sale of marijuana in grocery stores and convenience stores. You would also need to be 21 to purchase marijuana under the initiative -- in fact, you would need to be 21 to even legally enter an establishment that would be licensed to sell marijuana under the initiative. You need to be only 18 to legally purchase a pack of cigarettes.
• Everyone who reported receiving these calls just happens to live in Commissioner Williams’ district.
• A few weeks after that, CRCM received word of a second push poll. Again, this poll lied about the content of the initiative, and this time the caller mentioned Assemblywoman Giunchigliani by name. The call was designed to look like it was coming from the County Commission campaign of Assemblywoman Giunchigliani -- Williams' only opponent in the race.
• The campaign heard rumors of a third call, but we have not been able to independently verify those calls.
• Last week, Commissioner Williams sent a mailing to her district, denying her campaign was behind or condoned the calls. Yet the letter opened by reinforcing the message from those very calls in its second line -- which is significant because campaign professionals know that the percentage of people who read such mail pieces declines rapidly after the first couple of lines.

In light of the above, CRCM does not believe Myrna Williams when she states that her campaign has nothing to do with these calls. This looks to us like a coordinated attack on both Assemblywoman Giunchigliani and our campaign. When taking the evidence into account, it’s hard to draw any other conclusion. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck …

CRCM thinks these types of campaign tactics are despicable, and any campaign that resorts to such unethical tactics deserves to lose. If you live in District E and you also believe that Commissioner Williams was behind these push polls, we call on you to let her know how much you deplore these types of tactics and vote against her in the Democratic primary. We also call on all of our supporters to forward this message to everyone they know in the district. Myrna Williams’ phone number is (702) 735-4012, and her e-mail is ccdiste@co.clark.nv.us.

Here’s hoping we can get back to an honest and open discussion of our initiative. We understand if the only way opponents can effectively counter our commonsense proposal is to make up lies about what we are actually proposing, but that is simply not acceptable behavior.

Sincerely,
The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana

The new Conservative government in Canada has refused to continue the previous administration's efforts to reduce penalties for marijuana possession. Instead, they are determined to pursue the misguided policy of prohibition -- despite one Canadian's point about the contradiction inherent in conservatives advocating prohibition:

"It's the antithesis of individual liberty. It is an economic program that's just dumping good money after bad: the courts, the jails, the police time.''

Prohibition doesn't make any more sense in Canada than it does in Nevada.

Help us pass the marijuana initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

The British Parliament recently released a report about the scientific evidence used to classify illegal drugs. (The study was commissioned when they were considering reclassifying marijuana as a more dangerous drug; they didn't. See our earlier post.) The report draws some fascinating conclusions.

Key quote:

[T]he gateway theory has little evidence to support it despite copious research ...

Check out the full deconstruction of the evidence (or lack thereof) for the "gateway theory" on page 59.

Not in so many words, of course, but that seems to be the ultimate point of the U.S. Department of Justice's recently released "Drug Threat Assessment 2006."

Key quote #1:

Most national-level data and law enforcement reporting indicate that marijuana availability is high and stable or increasing slightly.

This despite seizure of 1.1 million kilograms (about 1,100 tons) of marijuana at the borders. Speaking of the borders, it seems that the majority of marijuana is coming from Mexico.

Key quote #2:

Most of the foreign-produced marijuana available in the United States is smuggled into the country from Mexico via the U.S.–Mexico border by Mexican DTOs [drug trafficking organizations] and criminal groups ...

Not surprising, given that the U.S.-Mexico border is home to sophisticated tunnel systems that serve to import tons of marijuana into the U.S. And with street gangs ready to distribute these imports, marijuana availability isn't likely to drop anytime soon.

Key quote #3:

Much of the midlevel and retail distribution of marijuana in these [principal distribution centers] and other cities is controlled by African American, Asian, and Hispanic street gangs ...

(It might behoove our own Sheriff Bill Young to peruse the DOJ's report. As fans of Las Vegas 1's "Face to Face" may recall, it was Young who insisted just last November that: "The hard-core gang element here in southern Nevada isn't selling marijuana for a living. They're selling methamphetamine and they're selling crack cocaine. It's indisputable.")

Despite the federal government's spending 35 years and billions of dollars on the effort to eradicate marijuana from the U.S., anyone who wants to use marijuana can get it. Not only has prohibition not succeeded in eliminating marijuana, it has also led to a thriving criminal market controlled by cartels and violent gangs.

It's time we stopped pursuing this failed policy. Help us pass the marijuana initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

The Los Angeles Times recently wrote about police officers who went after criminals -- and then stole their marijuana to resell it for themselves.

Giant scissors and more. Check out the news coverage of our grand opening.

A columnist for the Dickson Herald says we should consider regulation and taxation as an alternative to prohibition.

Key quote:

We have found out in the legal goods sector of the economy that the quickest way to kill the golden goose is to overtax the production of those goods. The more you regulate and tax any product, the less of it that will be available for consumption.

He seems as fed up with the failure of prohibition as we are. Fortunately, we Nevadans have a chance to choose an alternative to this failed policy. Please help us pass the marijuana initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

A citizen group in Santa Cruz, California, is launching a petition drive to put an initiative on the November ballot that would make marijuana offenses the lowest police priority. And why ever would they want to do such a thing?

Key Quote:

"If police work is about making the public safer," said initiative author Theodora Kerry, "we really feel whether or not adults are using marijuana privately in their homes does not affect public safety."

Hear, hear. It's time we took a more rational approach to using law enforcement resources -- and ensuring personal freedoms. Nevadans will have a chance to do just that by voting for the marijuana initiative in November. Get involved today. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

Today's example of the failure of prohibition: A truck trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico was seized carrying five tons of marijuana worth $5 million. (Yes, we said five tons, and five million.) Any bets on how many tons actually made it across the border? And how much profit it provided to the criminals who sold it?

This morning, CRCM Campaign Manager Neal Levine debated initiative opponents on KNPR's "State of Nevada." He was joined by David McDonough, a medical marijuana patient who supports the initiative. Congrats to both on doing a great job countering the prohibitionists' same tired arguments.

Students at The University of Texas at Austin overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging the university to reduce penalties for marijuana use or possession and make them equal to penalties given for on-campus alcohol use or possession.

Remember when we warned you about the ugly phone calls that are lying to voters about what the marijuana initiative will do? Listen for yourself.

More to come very shortly ...

Help us combat our opponents' lies. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

The Nevada Appeal editorialized against the marijuana initiative. We were going to point out the many weaknesses of the editorial, but Christopher Bellacy, of Carson City, eloquently does the job for us in his response letter.

Contrary to the Appeal's claim, not all Nevadans are willing to continue pursuing the failed policy of prohibition.

According to a recent article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, fewer Nevada high school students are reporting that they have used marijuana. While it's heartening to see a slight dip in the statistical data, a long-term view reveals that teen marijuana use has remained essentially constant since 1993.

In contrast, teen cigarette use has been reduced by nearly 50% over the same period.

Marijuana dealers don't card.

Please help us pass the initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

The Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet) reports on CRCM's efforts to pass the marijuana initiative in Nevada.

CRCM got a great response at both First Friday and Rebelpalooza yesterday. Thanks to everyone who took the time to come by and talk with us! It was terrific to connect with hundreds of Nevadans supporting our cause -- and have a little fun, too.

Last, but not least, a huge thanks to the copious number of volunteers who helped out on Friday. We couldn't have done it without you!

Columnist Rick Holmes of Massachusetts takes on marijuana prohibition and makes some pretty powerful arguments for taxing and regulating marijuana instead.

Some highlights include his take on ...

... prohibitionist politicians:

What message are the politicians sending to millions of adults? That they can’t decide for themselves which mild intoxicant to enjoy. That their government believes they must be treated like children -- or criminals.

... the so-called "gateway" theory:

There’s also a reason why the jump to hard drugs is easier for pot-smokers than drinkers: The man at the liquor store might want to talk you into a finer wine or fancier brew, but he doesn’t stock cocaine or crystal meth. Why not let him put some regulated, taxed marijuana in his humidor along with the cigars?

... and the impact of regulation on teen usage.

Kids have told me it’s easier to get [a] hold of pot than alcohol. There’s a reason for that: Alcohol is sold by liquor store owners who face heavy fines and lost business if they are caught selling to anyone under 21.

Holmes doesn't pull any punches in his attack on marijuana prohibition. This November, we Nevadans have the chance to take on the failed policy of prohibition by voting for the marijuana initiative. Help make sure we pass the initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.

Looking for some fun this Friday? Swing by CRCM's table at the First Friday downtown arts festival, or check out the CRCM UNLV chapter at Rebelpalooza.

We'll be gathering supporter names, registering voters, and selling those cool CRCM T-shirts -- so stop by and join the campaign that's going to end marijuana prohibition in Nevada.

City commissioners in Lawrence, Kansas, passed an ordinance that allows first-time marijuana possession cases to be tried in Municipal Court rather than the state District Court system -- removing the risk that students convicted in District Court may lose their federal financial aid.

Steve Sebelius, editor of the Las Vegas CityLife, opined on the marijuana initiative during last Friday's "State of Nevada" on KNPR. As you'll hear, Mr. Sebelius supports passing the initiative. We're glad to have this trailblazer on board.