Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV) Contact: http://www.lasvegassun.com/ Pubdate: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS BALLOT QUESTION 9 CARSON CITY (AP) - "Prescription Pot" will be Question 9 on Nevada's November ballot. The Secretary of State's office on Friday released the official list of statewide ballot questions for the November general elections. The Secretary of State's office numbers the questions, writes explanations of each one as well as arguments for and against non-legislative initiatives. The question whether to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes was designated as number 9 after a list of legislatively approved questions. Arguments for passage include scientific research indicating marijuana has medicinal value for some patients and that safeguards are built in to prevent abuse. The arguments against say there are other medicines that can do the job and that the plan would open the door to more widespread illegal use of marijuana. Also on the ballot is term limits for federal congressional offices. Term limits has already been approved by Nevada voters once. If approved again in November, it will require that Nevada's congressional delegation and state legislators impose term limits on themselves and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The state already has term limits for members of the Nevada Legislature. There are no questions on the ballot numbered 10-16. The term limit issue is Question 17 because the Nevada Constitution requires questions be put to voters two times in consecutive general elections with the same number and language. The marijuana question would allow a patient, on advice of a doctor, to use marijuana to relieve symptoms of major diseases including cancers, glaucoma, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and the effects of treatments such as chemotherapy. It would create a confidential registry of patients authorized to use the drug so police could make sure a user had a valid medical reason. General use of the drug would still be illegal in Nevada. Questions 1-8 are all legislatively approved changes that range from cutting off legislative sessions at 120 days to making Nevada Day a floating three-day holiday instead of fixed at Oct. 31. Question 5 was proposed to cut down the growing length of Nevada's biennial legislative sessions. Nevada hasn't had a Legislature end in less than 120 days since 1977. The 1997 session cost a record $15.5 million before adjourning after 169 days. The proposal would make any legislation passed after 120 calendar days void. Question 2 would remove the Supreme Court from control over the Judicial Discipline Commission, which investigates complaints against judges in Nevada. Question 6 authorizes a property tax break for water conservation and allows district courts in the state to meet in cities other than the county seat. Governmental stores would have to impose and collect sales taxes to make their prices closer to private companies under Question 7. And the lieutenant governor would lose his post as President of the Senate if Question 8 passes. Question 1 sets up a system to resolve unintentional problems caused when one constitutional amendment causes problems with another part of the constitution. - --- Checked-by: Don Beck