Pubdate: Wed, 09 Oct 2002
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact:  http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Author: Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital Bureau
Cited: Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement ( www.nrle.org )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?162 (Nevadans for Responsible Law
Enforcement)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9 (NV))

LEGALIZING POT: Question 9 opponents replace spokesman

Marijuana Initiative's Supporters Had Criticized Statements

Carson City -- Four days after making a controversial accusation, Clark 
County Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker was replaced as the chief law 
enforcement spokesman opposing the movement to legalize marijuana.

Sgt. Rick Barela, a 23-year member of the Metropolitan Police Department, 
was named Tuesday as the top spokesman against Question 9.

Barela said there was a need to make one person the source of information 
about organized opposition to the marijuana question. Now a public 
information officer, Barela was a patrol officer and handled marijuana cases.

Booker has not responded to phone calls since a Board of Health meeting on 
Friday when he alleged a man with ties to South American drug cartels was 
financing Nevadans Against Responsible Law Enforcement. The organization is 
campaigning for passage of Question 9, which would amend the state 
Constitution and let adult Nevadans possess 3 ounces or less of marijuana 
in their homes.

Billy Rogers, leader of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, 
criticized Booker for the allegation, contending the group never would take 
donations from anyone associated with a drug cartel.

Rogers demanded an apology from Booker and Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas.

Neal said the source of the drug cartel information came from a publication 
owned by perennial presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche. A LaRouche 
newsletter said billionaire investor George Soros had backed movements in 
South America that aided the drug suppliers and also donated to the 
Marijuana Policy Project, the parent organization of Nevadans for 
Responsible Law Enforcement. Neal said he believed the publication to be 
credible.

Rogers said Tuesday he felt vindicated by Booker being removed as a spokesman.

"I hope this means the opposition will stop trying to scare voters and 
start discussing the real issues of this campaign," Rogers said. "We would 
welcome a debate with the new spokesman on the issue of protecting people 
in the privacy of their homes or under the care of a doctor."

Rogers said Booker made several factual errors about marijuana.

At one point, Booker said the state Department of Agriculture provided 
seeds to the 200 people in the state who have legal permission to use 
marijuana for medical reasons. The state does not provide any seeds. 
Participants can grow as many as seven marijuana plants, but must acquire 
their own seeds.

Polls by Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement show residents are split 
on Question 9, Rogers said.

The most recent Review-Journal poll showed 55 percent of residents oppose 
the legal marijuana proposal, while 40 percent back it and 5 percent are 
undecided.

The question needs voter approval Nov. 5 and in 2004 before Nevadans could 
possess marijuana, which is illegal under federal law.

The state Board of Health voted unanimously last week to oppose legal 
marijuana. Dr. Joey Villaflor, chairman of the board, said he feared more 
children would gain access to marijuana if it were legal for parents to 
possess the drug.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Alex