EFFORT SEEKS TO KEEP POT ILLEGAL

PRIDE-Omaha officials announced a campaign Wednesday to combat any
efforts in Nebraska to legalize marijuana in the state.

Susie Dugan, PRIDE-Omaha's executive director, said that the local
anti-drug organization that began in 1978 was unveiling KNOW, Keep
Nebraska Off Weed.

Dugan said the campaign was opposed to at least two efforts in
Nebraska collecting signatures to get a proposed constitutional
amendment on the November 2012 general election ballot legalizing
marijuana. It would take signatures from 10 percent of registered
voters in Nebraska to put a proposed amendment on the ballot. In 2008,
that number was more than 112,000 signatures.

She said the nonprofit organization's website, www.prideprevention.org,
had been updated to reflect the new effort and "tool kits" were being
made available to the media, children, parents, businesses and others
highlighting the dangers of drug abuse and legalization of marijuana.

"Since the 1990s," Dugan said at a press conference at the Safety and
Health Council building southeast of 120th and L Streets, "our nation
has lost its focus on fighting marijuana.

"We challenge" parents, children, officials and others "to know the
truth about marijuana and its legalization." she said. "Not here, not
now, not ever." The KNOW campaign also encourages Nebraskans to sign
PRIDE-Omaha's declaration opposing marijuana legalization.

PRIDE-Omaha is also opposed to legalization for medicinal purposes,
Dugan said.

- -- Jay Withrow