Pubdate: Fri, 06 Sep 2002 Source: Union, The (CA) Copyright: 2002 Nevada County Publishing Company Contact: http://www.theunion.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957 Author: Little Wing NEVADA MARIJUANA INITIATIVE MAKES SENSE The largest newspaper in Nevada - the Las Vegas Review-Journal - just ran a huge front-page story on Saturday entitled "Marijuana Initiative: Economic Benefits Touted." The article estimated that bringing marijuana into a regulated market would generate $200 million in annual tax revenues for the state; this economic boon does not count the savings that will result from eliminating the law-enforcement expenditures that are currently wasted on marijuana "crimes." And, in the same article, the spokesperson for Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn said that he is not opposing the Initiative! Imagine! If enacted, the ballot measure will save Nevada taxpayers millions of dollars because marijuana users will no longer be arrested by police, prosecuted by district attorneys, and dragged through courtrooms, jails and prisons The new initiative also calls on the legislature to set up a system whereby adults can purchase marijuana through a legally regulated market, rather than from the criminal market. Marijuana that is sold through the legal market would be taxed, just as alcohol and tobacco are taxed. The marijuana sales tax is a win/win situation for marijuana users and non-users alike. The 10,000's of Nevadans who already use marijuana would prefer to purchase marijuana from a regulated market rather than from the criminal market. And those Nevadans who don't use marijuana will feel good about marijuana users' contributing money to the state's tax coffers - at no cost to the non-users. This is a huge story which is making media all over the country. I would like to wish the people of Nevada best of luck! Little Wing Nevada City - --- MAP posted-by: Beth