Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jul 2002
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Webpage: www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-gov/2002/jul/24/513757928.html
Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Sun, Inc
Contact:  http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/234
Author: Ed Koch
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org)

'DRUG CZAR' BLASTS PROPONENTS OF POT LEGALIZATION INITIATIVE

Proponents of a state ballot initiative to legalize the possession of small 
amounts of marijuana are throwing up a smoke screen when they say the 
measure is meant to help law enforcement, the White House drug czar said today.

"Let's not kid ourselves -- this is about helping the marijuana dealers by 
making it easier to buy and sell on a wider scale and eventually legalize 
all drugs," said John Walters, the national drug control policy director 
and so-called "drug czar."

Walters was in Las Vegas today to address an anti-drug law enforcement 
convention at the Hilton.

Prior to a news conference, he told the Sun that Nevada is a key 
battleground in the war on drugs because of the initiative that got put on 
the November ballot by the Marijuana Policy Project.

Billy Rogers, who is on leave from that organization to organize efforts 
for local supporters of the measure, Nevadans for Responsible Law 
Enforcement, said Walters is "out of touch with reality" and doubts he has 
read the initiative.

"It is not true that our goal is to legalize all drugs," Rogers said.

"And if the drug czar had read the initiative he would not have said that 
this would aid the marijuana dealers because it says transfer of marijuana 
in and out of Nevada is strictly prohibited."

Passage of the question in November and again in 2004 would 
constitutionally protect the rights of people to possess up to three ounces 
of marijuana.

Rogers' group argues that the police and the courts are clogged with too 
many minor pot possession cases.

The group also says there are safeguards in place in the initiative that 
would provide stiff penalties for people who smoke marijuana in public, 
sell pot to minors or kill people while operating vehicles under the 
influence of marijuana.

Walters was not impressed.

"We already have stronger prohibitions under current laws," he said. "I 
would not expect that anyone with common sense would accept that the law 
would work any better with passage of this initiative because there would 
be more drugs available and marijuana use would be a lot higher."

Walters said this is an issue that will be highly influenced by marketing. 
He says proponents will spend a lot of money and use marketing tools to 
pass the measure.

Walters said he would make another trip to Nevada as election day draws 
closer to help educate voters.
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MAP posted-by: Beth