Pubdate: Sun, 01 Dec 2002 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2002, The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 Author: Stephen Heath Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2170/a03.html GAINING GROUND Regarding "Defeats For Marijuana Legalization" (Our Opinion, Nov. 27): The Nevada initiative received more than 39 percent of the vote, not 35 percent as the Partnership For A Drug-Free America reports. The four-point difference is significant since it is much higher than the summer 2001 USA Today poll, which showed 34 percent of Americans believe we should legalize marijuana for responsible adult use. Also, Nevada and Arizona included additional measures within the initiatives mandating a state-run distribution system. This extra "baggage" resulted in more "no" votes than would have been recorded had there been only one question - whether an otherwise law-abiding adult should be subject to a jail cage and long-term criminal record merely for marijuana possesion. And the PDFA omits telling you that both U.S. Drug Czar John Walters and Drug Enforcement Administration Adminstrator Asa Hutchinson spent taxpayer time in both states lobbying against the initiatives - a blatant violation of campaign and election laws. Thankfully, 72 percent of Americans polled agree that decriminalizaing marijuana is preferable to our current policy of arresting almost 2,000 people a day for possession alone (more than for all violent crimes combined). As we watch Canada, Great Britian and most of Western Europe embrace both medical marijuana use and also decrim possession for adults, we can confidently view American opinions moving closer towards ending the War Against Americans, formerly known as the War Against Marijuana. Stephen Heath, Clearwater The writer is public relations director of Drug Policy Forum of Florida. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex