NEVADA TO VOTE ON LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Prostitution and gambling are already two well-known staples of the
reputation of Nevada. Now a third player, the use of recreational
marijuana, may join in the mix.

Nevada, one of the strictest states on drug-related crimes, now may become
the most lenient. Currently, puffing on a single joint in Nevada could land
you a felony conviction and a year in jail. However, this measure has
rarely been taken.

Those measures began to relax in 2000 when the state legalized the
medicinal use of marijuana. In addition to that, possession of less than
one ounce of marijuana is only a misdemeanor.

Now, the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project has collected
109,000 Nevada voters on a petition seeking to legalize the possession of
marijuana under three ounces. The proposition will be sent to Nevada voters
in November.

The legal use of marijuana would be similar to that of alcohol, but with
some added restrictions.

Smoking would be prohibited in public places and cars. Marijuana would be
sold in state-licensed stores to those over the age of 21.

The possible legalization of marijuana throughout the state poses some
questions for Nevada universities. Officials from the University of
Nevada-Las Vegas said the topic has not been debated on campus.

"It hasn't been a discussion on campus at this point," said Tom Flagg,
Director of Media Relations. "It's far enough down the road that even if
they took action on this legislative session, it would have to go up again
in a year. It's just not an issue we've addressed at this point."

Steve Sisolak, a regent member for the University and Community College
System of Nevada and a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee alumnus, echoed
Flagg's response and added most students wouldn't be of legal age to smoke.

"We haven't talked about it all. The university hasn't taken a standard
position on it," Sisolak said. "My understanding is that the only place it
would be legal is a private home and you would have to be 21 as well. A lot
of those students would not qualify, especially the dorm students. There is
no plan to legalize it on campus if it became legal."

Regent member Douglas Hill said the use of marijuana on campus or anywhere
in the state violates federal law and the university will not violate any
federal conditions.

"You've got the federal issue," Hill said. "The feds the other day busted a
marijuana producing facility in California for medicinal use. I think they
arrested one person, and they were trying to make an issue out of this. It
may be legal according to state law, but it's still illegal according to
federal law. It's not going to affect the university in any way because
it's still going to be in violation of federal law. We're going to comply
with federal law."

Many similar movements around the country follow the movement in Nevada.
One such movement, taking place in Michigan, recently failed.

The Michigan Marijuana Movement recently tried to obtain the number of
signatures needed for their cause to reach ballot.

"We've been trying to pass one here in Michigan that is very similar," said
George Sherfield, director of the MMM. "Grow your own three ounces and
plants for medical marijuana. Our problem is that we don't have enough
people to get the signatures. There are enough people to succeed, but we've
run out of funds for another campaign."

Sherfield said the government would save millions of dollars if they
legalized marijuana to three ounces.

He also said it would spare hardships endured by children whose parents
would be locked away for "petty" drug-related offenses such as growing plants.

"I don't know if it will save the government money," Sherfield said. "It
all depends on the law. If they change over from jail time to treatment for
drugs, they probably won't save a lot of money."

Sherfield noted a situation in Michigan where a four-day standoff ended
tragically in the death of two pro-marijuana advocates.

"On the other side of the coin, kids won't be losing their fathers and
mothers over growing plants," Sherfield said. "I know people who have lost
their lives because they grew 12 plants. The people from Rainbow Farms --
it was kind of a Waco standoff."