DRUG CZAR BLASTS MARIJUANA ISSUE

RENO, Nev. (AP) - The nation's drug czar said Nevada's ballot issue to
legalize possession of marijuana is ludicrous, and that the measure's
supporters are relying on distortions and voter naivete.

``This is a con and it's insulting to the voters of the state in which it
is presented,'' John P. Walters said Friday during a gathering of reporters
and law enforcement officials.

``We have a momentous decision in this state. We saw the problem that
marijuana was massively underestimated in the public mind and if we didn't
do anything it would grow,'' he said. ``That's why I came.''

Nevada's measure would allow adults to possess up to three ounces of
marijuana that could be sold - and taxed - in state-licensed smoke shops.

``This is the most extreme ballot issue they've done so far,'' he said.
Gesturing to three ounces of marijuana in three sandwich-sized bags, he
added, ``That's enough to make 250 cigarettes. That's not personal use.''

Walters, chief of the office of National Drug Control Policy, called
backers of Nevada's Question 9 ``misguided people who have a lot of money
and decided to make this state a guinea pig.''

Referring to a pro-marijuana television ad featuring a retired Las Vegas
police officer, he told reporters, ``You probably know some goofballs in
journalism, too.''

Question 9 would have to pass twice - in November and again in 2004 - to
change the Nevada Constitution.

Whether it could ever take effect is unclear since federal law bans
marijuana possession, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that
states can't make exceptions for medical use.