Pubdate: Sun, 18 Aug 2002
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Contact:  2002 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Author: John L. Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9 (NV))

ASSEMBLYWOMAN STEPS UP TO ENDORSE MARIJUANA INITIATIVE 

Nevada's Controversial Marijuana Initiative Finally Has A Formidable And
Familiar Face. 

It's Chris Giunchigliani. 

The 12-year assemblywoman and 23-year teacher has been hired as a consultant
to Billy Rogers of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement. Associated with
the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project, the NRLE backs the passage of
Question 9, which proposes to change Nevada's Constitution to allow adults
to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana for private use. 

An unabashedly liberal Democrat and tireless legislator, Giunchigliani is
also known as the driving force in Carson City behind the passage of
Nevada's medical marijuana law, which reduced small-time pot possession from
a felony to a misdemeanor and provided protection for those using the
controlled substance under a physician's care. 

Giunchigliani's official presence in the pro-Question 9 camp -- she's long
been an uncompensated proponent -- is sure to raise questions about whether
she's properly blended her roles as legislator and advocate. Others will
question whether a teacher ought to represent a pro-pot organization. 

Politically, her hiring signals a renewed focus by advocates of
decriminalization at a time Question 9 appeared to be going up in smoke. 

The recent political butchering of an unofficial endorsement of the
initiative by the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs President Andy
Anderson sent several embarrassed cop unions scrambling. Anderson later
resigned, but the damage was done: Question 9 was officially on law
enforcement's radar screen. That spelled trouble for its advocates. 

Enter Giunchigliani. 

She's known for her volatile temper at the Legislature, but in this fight
she's playing the role of clear-headed, well-informed Nevadan. The
initiative petition was, after all, signed by 109,000 of her fellow
residents. 

The politics of pot makes cowards of many, including some cops, lawyers, and
judges, but Giunchigliani predicts those attitudes may change. She doesn't
expect to stand alone. 

"I'll be one face of many," she says. "I think most people in Nevada
understand that government should not be involved in casual at-home use.
That's the main crux of this. This is not about legalization. This is not
about an outside group coming in." 

It is, however, about getting most of the 109,000 out to vote on Election
Day. Endorsements are nice, but it's the ballot that counts. 

Meanwhile, some law enforcement groups have taken up the fight against
Question 9. Leaders of the Police Protective Association Civilian Employees
(PPACE) and Law Enforcement Association of Professionals (LEAP) represent
4,500 members and say they'll fight against decriminalization. 

"We can't fathom that any law enforcement group would condone this at all,"
PPACE President Shannon Greguras says. "This will affect minority areas.
We've tried so hard to keep drugs out of the minority area. To have parents
smoking that, even in the privacy of their own home, is not acceptable at
all." 

Adds Metro Capt. Gary Schofield, head of the Asian Pacific Police
Association: "We don't know that that's the message we really want to send
to the youth in those neighborhoods. The reality is, if it's legal and it's
inside of the house, kids are going to be exposed to it. I don't have a
problem with medical marijuana, but we're not talking about the same thing.
Three ounces of grass for every adult inside a house is a lot of grass. 

"Legalizing drugs does affect other people in the community. There's going
to be a price to be paid somewhere. It's not a free ride." 

Look for these law enforcement groups to focus not only on drug use in
minority neighborhoods, but on marijuana's potential effects on the children
of smoking parents. 

And watch for Giunchigliani, the new face in the Question 9 fight, to raise
awareness of this issue to a new level. 

"You don't want to make criminals out of everyday people who go to work, pay
taxes, go home, love their children and their dog, and also smoke," she
says. "I don't think they should be penalized for that."
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