MARIJUANA BALLOT INITIATIVE VERIFICATION TO BEGIN TODAY

CARSON CITY -- The clerks of 13 Nevada counties will be told today to begin
the signature verification process for a ballot initiative that would
legalize the medical use of marijuana if approved by voters. The secretary
of state's office confirmed Monday that signature gatherers for Americans
for Medical Rights have met the first test to get the constitutional
amendment on the November ballot.

At least 46,764 signatures of registered voters are required. The total must
be obtained with signatures representing 10 percent of those who voted in
the last general election in each of the 13 counties.

A total of 74,439 signatures were turned in to the clerks of 13 counties on
June 16. The minimum signature requirement needed in each of the 13 counties
also was met, based on a count of the raw numbers. County clerks now will
sample the signatures to ensure they are from registered voters in the
county in which the petition was signed. The sampling process requires a
review of either 5 percent of the total number of signatures or 500,
whichever number is greater.

That means in Clark County, where 45,955 signatures were turned in, nearly
2,300 signatures will have to be checked. A total of 26,509 valid signatures
are required in Clark County. In Esmeralda County, where 78 signatures were
submitted, each one will have to be checked.

Esmeralda requires 55 of those be valid to meet the 10 percent requirement.
The random sampling of signatures must be completed within nine working
days. If the sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is less than
90 percent, the petition fails.

If 100 percent, it automatically qualifies. If the number of signatures is
between 90 percent and 100 percent, the clerk of each county must verify
each signature. If the initiative makes it onto the ballot and is approved
by Nevada voters this fall and again in 2000, the marijuana proposal would
amend the constitution to let doctors prescribe marijuana to people who
suffer from cancer, glaucoma and other medical problems.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett