DRUG CZAR CONDEMNS NEVADA POT INITIATIVE

RENO, Nev. -- The nation's drug czar says Nevada's ballot issue to legalize
possession of marijuana is ludicrous, and its supporters are relying on
distortions in their campaign and voter naivete to succeed in November.
"This is a con and it's insulting to the voters of the state in which it is
presented," John Walters said Friday during a gathering of reporters and law
enforcement officials.

Of a number of marijuana ballot issues in the country, Nevada's is the most
liberal. It would allow adults to possess up to 3 ounces of pot which 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 3 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." 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.

During an appearance Thursday in Las Vegas -- Walters' second there in three
months -- Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani accused the federal government
of getting involved in a state issue. Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, a paid
consultant for the group backing the measure, challenged Walters to a
debate. Walters said in Reno he would debate the backers, but not their
lobbyists.

"The drug czar doesn't seem to understand that in the privacy of a home or
under the care of a doctor, we have the right to use marijuana,"
Giunchigliani said.