GUINN AGAINST MARIJUANA, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Gov. Kenny Guinn came out against Nevada's marijuana initiative Tuesday,
saying voters are being duped into believing it would help people with
cancer and other patients use the drug.

Guinn's stance on Question 9 matches that of gubernatorial candidate Joe
Neal, but the Democratic state senator disagreed with him on the ballot's
marriage question.

Guinn also said he would vote for Question 2, barring same-sex marriages
because he believes in "traditional family values." Neal said he probably
would not cast a vote on the question, although "for those who have that
interest, I don't have a problem with it."

On the marijuana initiative, Guinn said Nevada already has a medical
marijuana law, passed during the 2001 Legislature, and that law needs to be
given time to be successful.

"We have someone from out of state that is coming in here saying this is
for medicinal purposes," Guinn said during his first news conference in
Carson City since he underwent prostate cancer surgery last month.

"All of you know that we passed a marijuana initiative for medical
purposes, and we probably have 300-plus people who have been issued a card
(for medicinal marijuana). So when I hear that on television, in this case,
it is already there."

State law allows patients prescribed marijuana by a physician to grow their
own and use it at home. Possession of up to an ounce now is a misdemeanor
for adults. First-time offenders face a fine, and if the judge sees fit,
drug treatment.

Question 9 seeks to legalize possession of up to three ounces of marijuana
by people over 21 and build a state system to produce and distribute the drug.

It would not make it legal to sell marijuana to juveniles, smoke it in
public or drive under the influence of the drug. Question 9, however, would
fix a fundamental flaw in current law, allowing Nevada's medicinal
marijuana smokers to get the drug legally. Currently they must grow it,
which is difficult, or buy it from street dealers.

Guinn said the medical marijuana law must be given time to succeed before
it is changed.

"It is time for us to experience that law rather than jumping into a new
law," said Guinn, 66. He said he has never smoked marijuana.

He also said the Question 9 marijuana initiative, like Nevada's current
marijuana laws, is at odds with federal laws against the drug.

"And we have to warn everyone that we issue a card to that the federal
government could come in and arrest them for growing what they have a card
to grow as part of a state ordinance," Guinn said.

Neal, D-Las Vegas, also said he has never smoked marijuana. He said he
opposes Question 9 because the relaxed law could lead people to harder drugs.

"It is shown to be a drug that leads to mainline stuff," Neal, 72, said.
"We already have a law on the books that deals with medicinal marijuana,
and if that needs to be made stronger, we should do that."

The leader of the group pushing the marijuana initiative said he respects
Guinn's views but defended the statewide ad campaign funded by his group,
Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, and its parent organization, the
Marijuana Policy Project of Washington, D.C.

"We have great respect for Gov. Guinn and can appreciate his reasoning for
voting against Question 9," said Billy Rogers, the campaign manager for
Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement. "But under the current Nevada
law, medical marijuana patients are forced to go into the criminal
marketplace and get their medication from drug dealers. Even if you grow
it, where do you get the seeds from? The drug dealers.

"Question 9 would fix that problem by requiring the state (to) license and
regulate the sale of marijuana at low cost to seriously ill people."

Marriage question

Guinn said he bases his support of Question 2 on his views about
"traditional family values."

"I'm a traditional family person, and I've said many times before that I am
voting for traditional family values. But I don't have any objections to
what consenting adults do in the privacy of their own lives," Guinn said.
"I usually don't tell how I'll vote, but for that and the medicinal
marijuana issue I'm telling you."

Guinn, like Neal, said that he did not sign any petition to get the
anti-gay marriage question on the ballot and is taking no active role in
pushing Question 2.

Neal said he has purposely been quiet about his views of same-sex marriages.

"I have refused to answer questions on this in the past," Neal said. "But
it is my position that I was married to a wonderful woman for 32 years
before she passed on, and I am not interested in marrying a man now. But
for those who have that interest, I don't have a problem with it. It is
just not for me."

Jan Gilbert, spokesperson for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of
Nevada, a group that opposes Question2, said she was disappointed when told
about Guinn's and Neal's opinions on the measure.

"I'm disappointed in politicians who think they have to vote yes on
something that is not needed," said Gilbert, who is running as a Democrat
in the District 26 Assembly race. "I do not feel this is something that
needs to be out in the (state) constitution. This is mean-spirited and has
nothing to do with protecting marriage. I have been married 30 years and do
not need the government to protect my marriage."

Prostate cancer

Guinn said he would curtail his public appearances while recovering from
his prostate cancer operation. He said he would focus on state business,
rather than on campaigning, since polls show that he is far ahead of Neal.
Guinn added that he would spend about $500,000 in TV and radio campaign
spots before the election and saw no need to debate Neal.

"The polls show that I'm no less than 40 points in front, so people are not
interested in taking the time on television for a debate under the
circumstances."

Neal, however, would like to debate Guinn. "We have been trying to get him
to debate," Neal said.

Guinn said he has had few side effects from the operation, adding, "the
hardest thing about it is that now I have to sleep on my back."