CARTEL REMARK ANGERS NEVADA POT-INITIATIVE ADVOCATE

A prosecutor has suggested a drug cartel backs efforts to legalize
possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana in Nevada. But an advocate for the
proposal says the statement is "an outright lie, slanderous and libelous."

Billy Rogers, spokesman for Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, adds
that Gary Booker, a chief deputy district attorney in Clark County, "ought
to have his mouth washed out with soap."

Booker appeared before the state Board of Health on Friday to urge its
opposition to Question 9 on the November ballot. The board agreed, saying
the legalization of marijuana was a "clear and present danger to the public
safety and health" of Nevada.

Rogers, who represents the group that gathered the signatures to put the
question on the ballot, wasn't invited to testify.

At the board meeting, Booker suggested the marijuana campaign was tied to
people connected with organized crime.

"In a word, cartel," said Booker, adding that the proposal has nothing to do
with medical marijuana and "would put the state in the business of drug
peddling."

Rogers countered that Booker has "a long record of lying" about the
proposition and "will say anything to scare people."

He said Booker gave out false information that marijuana seeds were
available from the state Department of Agriculture for those who are in
medical need, that Rogers smoked marijuana and that the proposed amendment
would abolish all drunken driving laws.

Rogers said the initiative would protect people who want to use marijuana in
their own homes, and would help those under a doctor's care.

The proposal would ban smoking of marijuana while driving or driving under
the influence of the drug, he said. It would also allow the state to license
and regulate the sale of marijuana to adults.

So far his campaign has spent $1 million, which includes about $400,000 for
gathering signatures on the initiative petition, Rogers said.