REGENTS DEBATE POT

Ballot Initiative Gets Heat At Meeting

"This is a joint," Regent Stavros S. Anthony said.

The Board of Regents was one vote shy Friday of the seven needed to
adopt a resolution stating the Board's position opposing ballot
Question No. 7, which proposes to amend the Nevada Revised Statutes
to allow and regulate the sale, use and possession of one ounce or
less of marijuana by persons 21 or older.

"It's going to send a very bad message to the youth of this state
that it's OK to get high," Anthony said. He opened the discussion,
which was heated at times, with some statistics that explained why he
feels the board should take a position on the issue.

Impaired judgment and memory lapse are effects of marijuana that
directly interfere with a student's ability to do well in school.
Other negatives about the most widely-used illicit drug are,
according to Anthony, its link to violence, suicidal thoughts and its
reputation as a gateway drug.

"I believe we ought to shout to the world if there is something
destructive to the people," Regent Jack Lund Schofield said, who
opposes the legalization of marijuana and was a strong supporter of
the board adopting the anti-legalization resolution.

Schofield said people don't act the same when they are on substances,
and he wants to see alcohol eliminated at UNLV sporting events.

Although none of the regents voiced support for the legalization of
marijuana, it boiled down to whether or not it was ethical to take a
position on the issue as it's something that people will vote on individually.

"I think we need to leave this up to the legislature," Regent Linda
C. Howard said. "I'll be voting against this because I think it's too
political."

Regent James Dean Leavitt also felt that the issue wasn't up to the
board to decide. "I'm just not sure we can ever be right if we make a
political statement," Leavitt said. "I don't think it's the role of
this board."

It was also said that a board resolution is like a press conference
and that it can't support a candidate or use funds.

"I'm troubled that the board is using state resources on a personal
issue," Regent Jason Geddes said. He said that putting the issue on
the meeting's agenda and taking the time to discuss it was wrongfully
using funds.

Regent Howard Rosenberg didn't vote in favor of the board resolution
because he feels it's an issue involving personal responsibility and
that people should learn how to make decisions at home.

"I'm watching my students smoking (cigarettes), and it scares the
hell out of me," Rosenberg said. "You're in college. You're supposed
to be intelligent. Don't you know it will kill you?"

Intelligent or not, voters will be the ones who determine whether or
not Ballot Question No. 7 will be passed in November.