DRUG CZAR ASKED FOR EXPLANATION

CARSON CITY -- Nevada's secretary of state has asked National Drug Czar
John Walters to explain why he hasn't followed the state's campaign
contributions and expenditures law.

Secretary of State Dean Heller released a letter Wednesday that he sent to
Walters, asking the federal official to explain why he has failed to submit
legally required information about his efforts to defeat Question 9. Nevada
voters in November rejected the ballot question, which would have allowed
adults to possess as much as 3 ounces of marijuana in their homes.

During the campaign, Walters made three trips to Nevada to speak out
against the ballot question, and his Office of National Drug Control ran
many television advertisements warning of the dangers of marijuana.

Under a state law, "every person" who advocates the passage or defeat of a
ballot question must submit campaign contribution and expenditure reports.

Walters' office did not return a message seeking an explanation, but his
deputy director said in a Nov. 21 published report that it is the mission
of the office to speak out against drug use at every possible turn.

Heller sought the explanation from Walters after receiving a complaint from
the Marijuana Policy Project about the drug czar ignoring the state law.
The policy project is the parent company of Nevadans for Responsible Law
Enforcement. The Marijuana Policy Project spent $1.8 million last year on
the campaign to pass Question 9, which lost at the polls 61 percent to 39
percent.

"We followed the rules, and they should follow the rules," said Bruce
Mirken, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project.

During the campaign, Billy Rogers, leader of Nevadans for Responsible Law
Enforcement, had complained that he could not compete against the resources
used by Walters to defeat Question 9.

Mirken said Walters' office has a $180 million advertising budget. He
earlier threatened to sue Walters for not complying with the Nevada
campaign law. Mirken said Walters uses taxpayer money and should be
accountable for his use of funds like anyone in a Nevada campaign.