Pubdate: Fri, 28 May 2004
Source: Austin Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2004 Austin Chronicle Corp.
Contact:  http://www.auschron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/33
Author: Jordan Smith
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Cited: Office of National Drug Control Policy (
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/marijuana+initiative
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

WEED WATCH

The Nevada Supreme Court has accepted a case filed by the Marijuana
Policy Project and has ordered Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller
and federal drug czar John Walters to file an official response to the
MPP's complaint.

At issue is Walters' failure to file expenditure reports detailing his
use of taxpayer money to travel to Nevada and campaign against a 2002
state ballot initiative to decriminalize marijuana. The MPP says
Walters' stumping was a clear violation of the 1939 Hatch Act, which
regulates the political activities of government officials. While in
Nevada, the group charges, Walters was on taxpayer time and used his
official title -- director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy -- to campaign against legalization. The group appealed
to Heller's office to force Walters to comply with Nevada's campaign
finance reporting laws; Walters refused, and Heller let the matter
drop, which is when the MPP cried foul and took their case to the
state Supreme Court. The court has given Heller and Walters until
early June to file a response.