NUMBER OF JOINTS POSSIBLE WITH 3 OUNCES OF POT DEBATED

Question 9 Argument Becomes Food For Commercial

The organization leading the push for the decriminalization of 3 ounces of
marijuana in Nevada is trying to use its opposition's words against them.

In a new commercial expected to begin airing Wednesday, Washoe County
District Attorney Richard Gammick, Metro Police Undersheriff Richard Winget
and Metro narcotics Detective Todd Raybuck are shown saying how many
marijuana cigarettes can be made with 3 ounces of marijuana.

With light quiz show music playing in the background, Gammick says 90,
Winget says more than 120, and Raybuck says more than 250.

"Opponents will say anything to scare us into voting against Question 9,"
the commercial announcer says. "Can we really trust anything they say?"

Question 9 asks voters if possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana should
be legal in Nevada. Because the question would amend the state
Constitution, it must be passed twice by voters.

Billy Rogers, campaign manager for the pro-Question 9 group Nevadans for
Responsible Law Enforcement, said the commercial gives another example of
his opponents' lying.

But the three anti-Question 9 law enforcement officials seen in the
30-second spot said the debate is not about how many marijuana cigarettes
can be made with 3 ounces, it's about legalizing marijuana, and that this
latest commercial ducks the real issue.

During a news conference Monday at the Nevadans for Responsible Law
Enforcement's Las Vegas headquarters, Rogers played the new commercial and
weighed Camel unfiltered cigarettes to show what 250 cigarettes weigh and
how many cigarettes are in 3 ounces.

According to the scales next to Rogers' podium, 250 cigarettes weigh about
8 ounces, and 90 cigarettes weigh about 3 ounces.

Rogers said the difference "goes to the heart of (the Question 9
opponents') campaign. Their campaign has not been truthful."

The varying number of marijuana cigarettes that Question 9 opponents say
can be made from 3 ounces "is intended to scare people" into thinking 3
ounces is a lot of marijuana, Rogers said.

Three ounces of marijuana is enough to keep a medical marijuana user
supplied for a month, Rogers said.

Winget said that when he said 3 ounces of marijuana could be turned into
120 cigarettes, he had just looked at a document that said 3 ounces was
enough for 90 to 120 marijuana cigarettes. But he said once the number
became an issue, he had a detective find out firsthand.

Raybuck said he took 3 ounces of marijuana and rolled it into cigarettes,
and ended up with 250.

Raybuck's marijuana cigarettes were not as big as tobacco cigarettes, but
he said he doubted anyone could roll a marijuana cigarette as tightly as a
machine makes tobacco cigarettes.

Hand-rolled cigarettes or joints are often smaller and the size depends on
the potency of the marijuana. The higher the potency, the smaller the
cigarette.

"The number of joints you get from 3 ounces depends on how fat you roll
them," Raybuck said. "We can argue numbers, but the real issue is how
legalization is a good thing."

Rogers said Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement has been discussing
the issues. He said Question 9 would free up police for more important
crimes and give medical marijuana users a way to get marijuana other than
from illegal drug dealers.

Rogers said the opposition has misled the public, and the changing number
of marijuana cigarettes that can be made from 3 ounces is just one example.

Rogers said some people opposed to Question 9 have also said drug cartels
are supporting the initiative, that medical marijuana users can get
marijuana seeds from the state Agriculture Department, and that Question 9
would allow people to go to work after smoking marijuana. Rogers called
those statements false or misleading.

Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker, who incorrectly
said medical marijuana users can get seeds from the state, is now chairman
of the Nevadans Against Legalizing Marijuana. Booker could not be reached
for comment Monday.

The cartel comment was also attributed to Booker. Sandy Heverly, executive
director of Stop DUI, said Booker said Question 9 supporters were being
backed by cartels, not drug cartels.

"A cartel is just a group," she said.

Rogers said the ad featuring Gammick, Winget and Raybuck will begin running
on Wednesday, and he does not know how long or how often the ad will be
used. The group has made five other commercials, he said.

A poll done by Rogers' group shows voters evenly split on Question 9.