MPP Nevada's Dave Schwartz appears on KTVN 2 CBS to speak about the benefits of taxing and regulating marijuana in N
evada and the new ballot initiative introduced to treat marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. 01/06/2010
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New Proposal Would Tax and Regulate Marijuana in Nevada in 2012
Today, on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Carson City, Nevada, the group Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws unveiled the details of a proposed 2012 ballot initiative that would establish a taxed and regulated marijuana market in that state.
The campaign will need to collect 97,002 valid signatures by November 2010 in order to qualify for the November 2012 ballot. If the initiative were adopted, it would, in the words of NSML campaign manager Dave Schwartz, “give Nevada the best marijuana laws in the world.”
Among its specifics, the proposal would:
- Make the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and any marijuana paraphernalia legal for adults 21 and older,
- Allow adults to purchase marijuana from approximately 120 retail stores spread throughout the state,
- Give state licenses to 50 suppliers to cultivate and distribute marijuana,
- Establish regulations for packaging and regulating marijuana that would ensure consumers know what they’re buying and that their marijuana is free of any additives or contaminants,
- And generate much-needed tax revenue for Nevada, steering the profits away from drug cartels and the criminal market and into the hands of legitimate state businesses.
The proposal would also implement restrictions to prevent abuse and make it more difficult for minors to obtain marijuana. Retail marijuana stores would be required to check customer IDs and face significant penalties for selling to minors. Penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana would be maintained.
Simply put, this is the best proposal ever for a regulated marijuana market.
Similar proposals to tax and regulate marijuana in Nevada failed to win majorities in 2002 (39% support) and 2006 (44% support), but each year more and more Nevadans are realizing the great failure of marijuana prohibition and the need for better, common sense laws, such as the one proposed today in Carson City. Let’s hope they become a majority by 2012. If that happens, Nevada can set a national example for how to lift marijuana prohibition and implement a well-constructed, regulated marijuana market.
For more information about the proposal, visit www.SensibleMarijuanaLaws.org.
Alcohol Is Straining U.K.’s Health Care System
A new report by the NHS Confederation and Royal College of Physicians says the United Kingdom’s drinking culture is straining their health care system. The U.K.'s taxpayer-funded medical system, the National Health Service, now spends 2.7 billion pounds ($4.4 billion) a year treating patients for alcohol-related problems—double the amount five years ago, the report said.
Any strain on the U.K.'s health care system caused by marijuana users was not mentioned. Maybe it’s because they’re not straining the system? A 2006 study by the Canadian government concluded that the health care costs per alcohol user are eight times greater than the health care costs per marijuana user.
The new report also warns that about 10.5 million adults in Britain drink above sensible limits, and 1.1 million people have some form of alcohol addiction. In contrast, dependence on marijuana is both rare and mild. In a report commissioned by the White House, the Institute of Medicine concluded that, “Compared to most other drugs … dependence among marijuana users is relatively rare.” So, why does the substance that’s far less toxic, harmful and addictive remain illegal?
Marijuana No Longer Criminal in Colorado Ski Town
The new year brought new, sensible marijuana laws to the vibrant ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado. In November, citizens voted by nearly a 3 to 1 margin to remove criminal and civil penalties for adults over 21 carrying up to an ounce of marijuana and smoking paraphernalia. The law takes effect today, January 1, 2010.
"There is no sense in criminalizing a substance that is far less toxic, less addictive, and less problematic than alcohol," said Brian Vicente, executive director of Sensible Colorado. "This is a huge step toward more a more sensible policy, in which adults are no longer punished for making the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol."
The new law doesn’t change laws prohibiting use by minors, smoking in public, or driving under the influence. It also doesn't allow for the possession or use of marijuana while skiing. While conflicts with state and federal law remain, this first and necessary step toward ending marijuana prohibition sends a strong message to lawmakers in Colorado and around the country.
Veterans Say Marijuana Works Best for PTSD
It is unfortunately quite common for members of our military to return from the battlefield suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Charlie,” who asked the news service AlterNet not to use his real name in a recent interview, is one of them. On top of a 100 percent disability rating with PTSD, Charlie returned home from Afghanistan with a traumatic brain injury, a back injury, and gastrointestinal problems. Veterans Affairs did everything it could to treat him and to ease his pain, but nothing worked.
What did work was using marijuana, which Charlie says has been the best pain management he’s found. “Me and the rest of my veterans' group talk about it all the time," he says. "Most of them also medicate with marijuana. If you asked any of us what, out of everything, was most effective in PTSD treatment, we would tell you marijuana.” But since VA is a federal agency, it is prohibited from recommending or dispensing marijuana, even in the 13 states where medical marijuana is legal.
Supporting our troops, especially when they return home from battle is an issue I think everyone can get behind. So, why is the federal government not allowing our troops to use the medicine that works best for them?
Movie Given R Rating for Marijuana Use
The romantic comedy “It’s Complicated,” which stars Steve Martin, Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin, was recently given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The rating was not due to explicit language, graphic violence, sex or nudity (many acts often seen in PG-13 movies), but because of a scene in which Martin's and Streep’s characters smoke marijuana, something over 100 million Americans have done, and nearly 15 million do at least monthly.
The most alarming aspect of this story is that the R rating was apparently not given for the actual use of marijuana, but for MPAA’s concern that the movie did not show the negative consequence of the behavior. No drug is harmless, including marijuana, but independent scientific and government studies have concluded that the health risks of marijuana are significantly lower than those of alcohol or tobacco.
Will the MPAA now start giving movies R ratings for alcohol or cigarette use portrayed in a positive light? I don’t think that’s necessary. But neither is giving a silly romantic comedy an R rating for a brief scene in which two responsible adults use a substance far less harmful and addictive than alcohol.
Incoming Seattle Mayor Wants to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol
Seattle Mayor-elect Mike McGinn says he supports efforts to end marijuana prohibition in Washington state.
In an interview Friday Mayor-Elect McGinn said that marijuana should be regulated “like alcohol…not treated as a criminal activity.” In 2003, city voters approved a measure making enforcement of marijuana laws the lowest priority for Seattle police and it now seems Seattle citizens want to go a step further. On Mr. McGinn’s website, which asks for ideas on how to improve Seattle, “Legalize marijuana and tax it” is in second place behind expanding the city’s light rail and subway system. If you recall, “legalizing marijuana,” was the top idea on President Obama’s change.gov website earlier this year.
Last week two Washington state Legislators submitted a bill calling for the end of the state’s prohibition on marijuana, a bill McGinn says he will support.
MPP Gets “Chase-d” Out Of Fundraising Contest
A few weeks ago, we asked our supporters to vote for MPP via Facebook in a holiday fundraising challenge sponsored by Chase Bank. Days before the first round of voting closed, it seemed like MPP had garnered enough votes to place in the top 100 and win $25,000, with the chance of winning $1 million.
But as you can read in this New York Times article, it appears that Chase intentionally excluded MPP and several other groups (including Students for Sensible Drug Policy) from its list of winners, presumably because they did not want to be associated with our cause.
Chase’s PR people have not admitted to any vote tinkering, even though the vote tallies were mysteriously removed several days before the contest deadline. But it is clear that Chase was being dishonest (at best) when it told voters on Facebook, “You Decide What Matters.”
Maybe someone should remind officials at Chase that ending marijuana prohibition is now—without a doubt—a mainstream issue. So why is Chase helping to censor a much-needed national debate?
MS Patient Who Grew Marijuana Found Guilty, Faces 5 to 10 Years
John Wilson, the New Jersey man who had been charged with operating a drug manufacturing facility for the marijuana he grew to treat his multiple sclerosis, was found guilty yesterday of two lesser charges, and now faces five to 10 years in prison.
Throughout most of his trial, Wilson had been prevented from mentioning his condition, any evidence of marijuana’s therapeutic value, or the fact that New Jersey may be weeks away from becoming the 14th state to pass a medical marijuana law.
In a small victory, Wilson was found not guilty of the most serious charge (operating a drug manufacturing facility) perhaps in part because he was finally allowed to mention his disease before the jury in the trial’s closing days. Regardless, this 37-year-old with a debilitating disease is now facing the possibility of spending the next decade of his life behind bars, simply for trying to relieve his symptoms with “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.”
When will the insanity stop?
38% of Californians Consider Marijuana Policy Reform a Very Important Issue
The prestigious Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) published a statewide survey this month showing that 38% of likely 2010 voters in California consider legalizing marijuana a "very important" issue. Another 24% consider the issue "somewhat important." This includes voters who are passionate about ending prohibition and voters who strongly support continuing the war on marijuana.
While the 38% figure is lower than other issues expected to be on next year's California ballots, it's worth noting that just a year ago this question would not have been asked by PPIC and wasn't even on the radar for the mast majority of voters. This is a testament to the success of advocates in putting the problem of marijuana prohibition onto center stage.
How far will we push it next year?