Pubdate: Fri, 12 Apr 2013
Source: Ely Times (NV)
Copyright: 2013 The Ely Times
Contact:  http://www.elynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2325
Author: Lukas Eggen

AB 402 RENEWS MARIJUANA DEBATE IN NEVADA

The clock is ticking on AB 402, which would legalize, regulate and 
tax marijuana. The bill had a hearing last Friday that drew debate 
from proponents and opponents of legalizing the drug. Washington and 
Colorado have legalized marijuana in the past.

"I'll tell you they're doing some swapping in the hallways to get it 
out," Assemblyman John Ellison said.

Nationwide, the discussion on whether to legalize marijuana has 
picked up steam with groups like Law Enforcement Against Prohibition 
supporting the legalization and regulation of marijuana. Under the 
proposed bill, Assemblyman Andrew Martin told the hearing that it 
could generate a large sum of money for education funding for the 
state. The bill would put a 25 percent tax on all growers, 
manufacturers and buyers of marijuana. LEAP argues that the ban on 
marijuana has had the reverse effect and helps to keep the drug 
cartels in business by making them the only source for marijuana.

But not everyone fully supports the idea of legalizing marijuana 
unless care is taken as to how it will be regulated in the future. "I 
don't care if someone is dying of cancer what they give them to make 
them comfortable," Ellison said. "But look at what California did. 
They misused it and school kids were getting prescriptions like 
crazy. I know it will be a large cash cow for the state. But I don't 
want to see our kids running around with it. How are you going to 
control it? How do you operate when people are going to work with it? 
It gets a little wacky."

State Senator Pete Goicoechea said he is opposed to legalizing 
marijuana, calling it a "gateway drug" that could lead to issues down 
the road. Goicoechea also expressed concerns about passing a state 
law that was in opposition to federal laws.

The biggest issue facing is time. The committee hearing took no 
action last Friday. As of press day, no action had been taken and 
with this being the final week for bills to get out of committee, 
time could be AB 402's biggest enemy. If AB 402 were to pass, people 
could see law enforcement react quickly to a change in the law. "I 
will say that if something did pass, without a prospective date of 
effect, there will be immediate effects," Deputy District Attorney 
Mike Wheable said. "If you look at other states that have passed 
similar laws, its citizens immediately began taking advantage. Even 
if technically the law does not have immediate effect, once something 
like AB 402 passes, law enforcement policies across the state could change."

While AB 402 is being considered in Carson City and states such as 
Washington and Colorado legalizing marijuana already, Wheable said 
it's imperative for people to know that it's still illegal in Nevada 
and can carry significant penalties.

Wheable also said he is against legalizing marijuana because of 
potential effects it could have on communities like White Pine 
County. "People should know that while marijuana use and possession 
may be legal in surrounding states, it is still a felony in Nevada 
and carries up to a four-year prison term," Wheable said. "Personally 
I believe marijuana use destroys the human body and sprit and 
frequently leads to using even more dangerous poisons like 
methamphetamine. Our community needs to wake up and shake off the 
accepted drug culture. Apathy to White Pine's drug problem is 
unacceptable, our quality of life as a close community depends on 
it." Regardless of what happens with AB 402, the legalization of 
marijuana will likely remain a big topic both in Nevada and on a 
national level. Now the question becomes whether state lawmakers 
believe it can be worth regulating.

"I'm all in favor of making someone's quality of life better but I 
don't want to see it in every high school like California," Ellison said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom