MPP UPDATE #13 - Nevada Ballot Initiative Would Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol 2006-03-13 Voters in Nevada this November will have the opportunity to cast a vote that could make waves around the nation -- when they vote on the Marijuana Policy Project's ballot initiative to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. If passed by a majority of voters on November 7, the initiative would pull marijuana out of the criminal market and put it into a tightly regulated, legal market. The initiative would allow adults over the age of 21 to buy and possess up to one ounce of marijuana, making Nevada the first state in the nation to move to a sensible, more effective system of marijuana regulation and control. Additionally, the initiative would allow adults to buy small amounts of marijuana in state-licensed stores and use it in the privacy of their own homes. Instead of financing gangs and other illegal activity, profits from marijuana sales would go toward state-run health care and rehabilitation programs. But is there strong and convincing evidence that we can win? In a word, yes. POLLING: Gallup recently released a national poll showing that voters in the west are evenly split on the question of making marijuana “legal,†which bodes well for our initiative campaign ... and confirms what our internal polling shows in Nevada. COMPARISON TO ALASKA: In November 2004, 44% of Alaskans voted for an initiative that would have made it legal to possess and purchase an infinite amount of marijuana -- which set the record for the highest vote ever for a statewide initiative to end marijuana prohibition. Given that Nevada and Alaska have similar political climates, it's no surprise that our more mainstream initiative in Nevada already enjoys 50% support ... and that was before the recent launch of our public education campaign there. CITY INITIATIVE VICTORIES: In 2005, 2004, and 2003, voters in Denver, Oakland, and Seattle approved local measures that reduced or eliminated penalties for adult marijuana use within city limits. Increasingly, the country is showing that it's ready to end marijuana prohibition. REASONABLE SAFEGUARDS: Most importantly, the initiative contains sensible provisions that address voters' fears of rampant, irresponsible marijuana use. The initiative (1) allows adults to possess and use up to one ounce of marijuana, (2) taxes and regulates marijuana similarly to alcohol, and (3) earmarks half of the tax revenues for alcohol and other drug treatment programs. If we succeed at passing the initiative, it would be the biggest victory in the history of the marijuana policy reform movement. You don't need to live in Nevada to help pass the initiative. MPP's campaign committee, the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, is building a dynamic Web site where anyone who wants to help us can -- no matter what state you live in. Please get involved with the campaign today and help us pass this initiative. Visit www.RegulateMarijuana.org to read our blog and sign up for our online volunteer action center. We'll soon be rolling out tools that allow anyone in the country to volunteer through our Web site, from the comfort of your own home. So please bookmark us, and check back often. You can also support us by shopping for CRCM merchandise in our online store or making a donation. We are completely dependent on the generosity of our supporters, unlike the federal government, which uses your tax money to run misleading advertisements targeting marijuana users. You don't have to be in Nevada to make a difference. Rob Kampia is the Executive Director of Marijuana Policy Project. For more information, visit www.mpp.org.