NATION'S DRUG CZAR TO FIGHT NEVADA MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

LAS VEGAS - The federal drug czar is set to visit Nevada again to fight a
state ballot initiative that would legalize possession of small amounts of pot.

John P. Walters, chief of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, will
be in Las Vegas and Reno on Oct. 9-10 to campaign against Question 9 on the
Nov. 5 ballot. He last visited the state in July when he urged Nevada not
to become the center for drug tourism.

"I am going into every state that has a ballot initiative and working with
people in community coalitions," Walters said Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Walters also announced the launch of a nationwide advertising and Internet
effort to prevent young people from smoking marijuana. It will not
specifically target Nevada.

Federal Drug Enforcement Agency Director Asa Hutchinson also visited Nevada
this summer to oppose Question 9.

The ballot measure would make Nevada the first state to allow adults to
possess marijuana - up to 3 ounces, enough for about 100 marijuana
cigarettes. Pot would be sold and taxed like cigarettes, but people would
not be allowed to smoke it in public.

To become law, the change needs voter approval this year and in 2004. But
whether it could ever take effect is unclear. Federal law bans marijuana
possession, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that states cannot
make exceptions for medical use.

The measure is bolder than marijuana-related ballot questions in several
other states.

Arizona voters will decide soon on making possession of up to 2 ounces a
non-criminal violation punishable by a maximum fine of $250. Other
initiatives are before voters in Ohio and South Dakota.