Press Release: October 3, 2006

Statewide Coalition of Nevada Religious Leaders Announce Support for Marijuana Regulation
Dozens of Religious Leaders Publicly Support New Policy Alternative to Failed Marijuana Laws

CONTACT: Patrick Killen, Director of Communications, 702-425-2242, ext. 808, or
Eliet Henderson, Assistant Director of Communications, 702-425-2242, ext. 805

RENO, NEVADA -- A statewide coalition of dozens of religious leaders throughout Nevada today announced their support for a resolution calling for the regulation of marijuana. If passed, an initiative on the November ballot -- Question 7 -- would accomplish this by removing penalties for marijuana use by adults aged 21 and older in the privacy of their own homes, and creating a system for the legal cultivation, distribution, and sale of up to one ounce of marijuana to adults. The full resolution can be downloaded at http://www.RegulateMarijuana.org/home/pdf/religious_resolution.pdf.

In announcing his support for changing Nevada’s marijuana policy, local African-American civil rights leader Rev. William C. Webb -- the Senior Pastor of the Second Baptist Church (Southern Baptist/Missionary Baptist) in Reno -- stated, “Make no mistake. I don’t think using marijuana is a wise choice for anyone. Drugs ruin enough lives. But we don’t need our laws ruining more lives. If there has to be a market in marijuana, I’d rather it be regulated with sensible safeguards than run by violent gangs and dangerous drug dealers.�? Rev. Webb is a prominent leader in the Reno-Sparks community, having been recognized for his contributions by the City of Reno and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, among others.

The diverse coalition of religious leaders in support of regulating marijuana represents 15 different religious denominations and includes leaders from Las Vegas, Reno, Sparks, North Tahoe, Laughlin, and Stateline.

“In cases of private personal adult marijuana use, the use of police, guns, and courts is an inappropriate response,�? said Rev. Paul Hansen, Senior Pastor at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas. “The faith community, parents, peers, and educators are the appropriate institutions in society equipped to discourage this kind of personal behavior.�?

"Some of us Protestants believe that one of the functions of government is to curb sinful behavior. But our marijuana laws are not curbing marijuana use and they are causing more harm than good by filling the pockets of dangerous criminals and ensuring that children have the easiest access of anyone,�? said Rev. Ruth Hanusa, chaplain for the Campus Christian Association at the University of Nevada in Reno. “Controlling marijuana through regulation makes more sense.�?

Rev. Jerry Pruess of Laughlin -- a retired Lutheran minister from the conservative Missouri Synod denomination -- stated, “When something is not working, we, as a society, must have the courage to try something different. Thankfully, we had the courage to abandon the experiment of Alcohol Prohibition when it became obvious that it was doing more harm than good. Even the most conservative among us do not advocate that we return to that disastrous policy, which made violent criminal gangs rich and wreaked havoc on our streets. It has now become obvious that it is time to abandon our experiment with marijuana prohibition in favor of a system of strict regulation with sensible safeguards like those proposed in Question 7.�?

“Finding a sensible alternative to our state’s failed marijuana laws is an issue that resonates with a diverse array of Nevadans, including people of faith,�? said Neal Levine, campaign manager for the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana. “We’re honored these religious leaders have chosen to speak out on this issue.�?

The following Nevada religious leaders support marijuana regulation:

• Rev. William C. Webb -- senior pastor, Second Baptist Church, Southern Baptist/Missionary Baptist, Reno
• Rev. Jerry Pruess -- retired Missouri Synod Lutheran minister, Laughlin
• Rev. Emmanuel Wasson III -- senior pastor, Holy Trinity AME, Las Vegas
• Rev. Paul Hansen -- senior pastor, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
• Rev. Peter Courtney -- retired Episcopal priest, Las Vegas
• Rev. Sylvester Tanner -- Faith Chapel, Church of God in Christ, Las Vegas
• Rev. Gene Savoy -- International Community of Christ Church, Reno
• Rev. William G. Chrystal -- senior pastor, First Congregational Church, Reno
• Rev. Ivan Gunderman -- senior pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
• Rabbi Myra Soifer -- Temple Sinai, Reno
• Rev. John Auer -- senior pastor, First United Methodist, Reno
• Rev. John Emerson -- pastor emeritus, First United Methodist, Reno
• Rev. Richard Van Hoosen -- retired Disciples of Christ minister, Las Vegas
• Rev. Leonard Jackson -- recent former associate pastor, Holy Trinity AME, Las Vegas, former president of the Los Angeles Council of Churches, current senior advisor to the Mayor of Los Angeles and associate pastor, First AME Church, Los Angeles
• Sister Toni Woodson -- Roman Catholic nun, Community of the Holy Spirit, Las Vegas
• Rev. Carol Rudisill -- interim minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada, Reno
• Rev. Deborah Grundman -- former Minister of Music, Sparks United Methodist Church, current executive assistant to the Bishop of the California-Nevada Conference, and Deacon
• Rabbi Oren Postrel -- North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation, North Tahoe
• Rev. Kurt Sortland -- senior pastor, Lakes Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
• Rabbi Jonathan Freirich -- Temple Bat Yam, Stateline
• Rev. Ruth Hanusa -- ELCA chaplain, Campus Christian Association, UNR, Reno
• Rabbi ElizaBeth Webb Beyer, R.N., J.D. -- ethics professor, UNR, Reno
• Sister Timothy Malone -- Roman Catholic nun, Community of the Holy Spirit, Las Vegas
• Rabbi Craig Rosenstein -- hospice chaplain, Harbor House, Las Vegas
• Rev. Greg Stewart -- recent former senior minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada, Reno
• Rev. Paul Daniel -- recent former senior minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas
• Rev. David Scheuneman -- Unitarian Universalist community minister, Las Vegas
• Rev. Abigail Aft -- Las Vegas
• Rev. J. Stuart Wells -- recent former co-minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Las Vegas
• Rev. Gail Wells -- recent former co-minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Las Vegas
• Paula Povilaitis, MTS -- masters in theological studies, former teacher, Evangelical Lutheran, Reno
• Rabbi Richard Schachet -- Rabbi Emeritus, Valley Outreach Synagogue, Las Vegas (recently deceased)

  *Affiliations used for identification purposes only.

  ###

  The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana (CRCM) is the Nevada ballot group that is dedicated to passing Question 7, the initiative to tax and regulate marijuana. The initiative would remove all penalties for marijuana use by adults aged 21 and older in the privacy of their own homes, as well as create a system for the licensed manufacture, distribution, and sale of up to one ounce of marijuana to adults. In exchange, the initiative would institute reasonable safeguards on who may purchase marijuana and how marijuana is sold, double the maximum penalty for vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or any drug, and double the maximum penalty for giving or selling marijuana to a minor. To learn more about the initiative, please visit our Web site at www.RegulateMarijuana.org.

  *****

  Quotes from Nevada Religious Leaders Who Support Marijuana Regulation

  Peter Courtney, retired Episcopal Priest, Las Vegas: "As a Christian who has been in addiction recovery for 24 years, I know how devastating drug use can be especially to the naïve or unwary. Our current marijuana laws fail to protect our most vulnerable citizens -- young people. Our legal system encourages the drug dealer who sells marijuana as well as more damaging drugs like meth and heroin. The dealer is the gateway, not the substance. A regulated and taxed market would cut out the gateway.�?

  Rev. Ruth Hanusa - ELCA chaplain, Campus Christian Association, UNR, Reno: "Some of us Protestants believe that one of the functions of government is to curb sinful behavior. But our marijuana laws are not curbing marijuana use and they are causing more harm than good by filling the pockets of dangerous criminals and ensuring that children have the easiest access of anyone. We don't live in a perfect world, and often we don't have ideal choices, but we look to find the lesser evil. Part of our call to be good stewards of our community's resources requires us to recognize that. The current policy is overkill and does not promote the common good. Controlling marijuana through regulations makes more sense."

  Rev. William C. Webb – senior pastor, Second Baptist Church, Southern Baptist, Reno: “Make no mistake. I don’t think using marijuana is a wise choice for anyone. Drugs ruin enough lives. But we don’t need our laws ruining more lives. If there has to be a market in marijuana, I’d rather it be regulated with sensible safeguards than run by violent gangs and dangerous drug dealers.�?

  Rev. Paul Hansen – senior pastor, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Las Vegas: “We need to ask ourselves if any policy, whatever the motivation, can be moral if it punishes blacks more than whites, leads to widespread use among young people, funds the activities of violent gangs and drug dealers, and ruins the lives of vulnerable individuals. In cases of private personal adult marijuana use, the use of police, guns, and courts is an inappropriate response. The faith community, parents, peers, and educators are the appropriate institutions in society equipped to discourage this kind of personal behavior.�?

  Rev. Jerry Pruess - retired Missouri Synod Lutheran minister, Laughlin: “When something is not working, we, as a society, must have the courage to try something different. Thankfully, we had the courage to abandon the experiment of Alcohol Prohibition when it became obvious that it was doing more harm than good. Even the most conservative among us do not advocate that we return to that disastrous policy which made violent criminal gangs rich and wreaked havoc on our streets. It has now become obvious that it is time to abandon our experiment with marijuana prohibition in favor of a system of strict regulation with sensible safeguards like those proposed in Question 7. Truly, if we are unable to learn the lessons of history, we will be condemned to repeat its errors.�?

  Rev. Richard Van Hoosen, retired Disciples of Christ minister, Las Vegas: “The use of force by a society is a responsibility that should be used with great caution. When you look at marijuana’s relative harm in comparison to other legal behaviors and then you consider the exorbitant cost of marijuana prohibition, its failure to reduce availability or use, the fact it enriches violent gangs and dangerous drug dealers, and the harm it causes to otherwise law-abiding citizens, it is hard to see our current marijuana laws as anything other than a frivolous use of government force and an affront to human dignity. Question 7 is a much better solution."

  *Affiliations used for identification purposes only.

  ###