MARIJUANA VOTE -- PRINCIPLE V. PRINCIPAL

It's both amazing and appalling that one of the issues before Nevada voters
this fall is legalizing marijuana.

As proposed, the initiative would allow possession of up to 3 ounces of
marijuana by persons 21 and older for smoking in their private homes, but
not in their cars or in public places.

If the initiative becomes law, the state would have to figure out who would
grow the marijuana and how to make it available through state- licensed
retail outlets. Some suggest the state's agriculture department should grow
the weed. Have we fallen through Alice's looking glass?

There's some time to work out those details, though. Even if the measure
passes in November, it still would need either approval by the legislature
or face a second ballot test in 2004.

Law enforcement officials are strongly opposed to the initiative, which
made it onto the ballot after a petition drive collected more than 100,000
signatures.

That's a lot of signatures. In the last presidential election, about
580,000 ballots were cast in the state.

Interestingly, most politicians are being silent on the issue, including
Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn, saying they will defer to the voters' wishes.

Secretly, they may be wishing for the initiative to pass, for it would
provide a new revenue stream, something the state needs. The state doesn't
tax personal or non-gambling corporate income, and the powerful casino
industry opposes raising taxes on its gambling profits.

So lawmakers see the potential for bringing in tens of millions of dollars
annually on legalized marijuana.

Considering that Nevada led the way in legalizing gambling and also has
legalized brothels, perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that the state would
consider legalizing marijuana, even at a time when smoking of even legal
tobacco products is being discouraged.

The quiescent attitude among public officials outside law enforcement
underscores how easily principles can be put aside when the lure is money.

Other states, including Kansas, have become addicted to lottery revenues.
Now slot machines keep coming up as the next thing the state needs.

Anymore, it's not just the principle of the thing; it's also the principal
- -- how much money it brings in.