FIRST COPS, NOW TEACHERS SUPPORT MARIJUANA DECRIM IN NEVADA

Hell, Next They'll Legalize Prostitution ...

Now that you've all got your hopes up and started scoping out real estate
in Nevada, there's been a significant change in the status of Question 9, a
ballot initiative that would allow adults to legally possess up to three
ounces of marijuana.

In Issue #4.31 (August 17-24), we reported on the surprising (to supporters
and detractors alike) news of the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs'
unanimous support of the initiative. But just days after this coup,
president and founding member Andy Anderson resigned from his post in the
midst of a storm of public and internal outrage. Immediately after the news
broke about the results of Anderson's NCOPS poll, law-enforcement officials
throughout the state expressed their dissent, furious that so large and
influential an organization would vote to "support marijuana use." Just
three days later, NCOPS not only withdrew its endorsement but voted to
oppose the initiative, a decision that led Anderson to turn in his resignation.

So why the sudden change of heart?

Some board members blame confusion, coming forward to say that they didn't
know what they were actually endorsing and blaming this "misunderstanding"
for Anderson's report of unanimous support.

However, proponents of the initiative suspect that the reason might have
more to do with pressure - from the public, from other officers and from
fellow NCOPS members.

Although Anderson clearly stated his reasons for endorsing the initiative
as being solely based on a desire to free up time for cops to make more
important arrests - "As a former law-enforcement officer," he said, "I know
that a simple marijuana arrest takes me off the street for half my shift" -
the endorsement by NCOPS was misinterpreted as a reflection of depravity
and low moral standards.

Despite the controversy, the Marijuana Policy Project reports that while
they may have lost the endorsement of NCOPS, Anderson still stands by his
original decision.

And recently, the initiative has found itself with another supporter almost
as unlikely as an organization comprised of 3,000 former and active police
officials: Assemblywoman and schoolteacher Chris Giunchigliani.
Giunchigliani was recently hired as a consultant to Nevadans for
Responsible Law Enforcement (NRLE) head Billy Rogers - NRLE are the
sponsors of Question 9. With 12 years of experience as a state legislator
and 23 years of experience as a teacher, Giunchigliani may be able to
obtain endorsements from some difficult individuals and organizations. And
should her moral character come under scrutiny, Giunchigliani has a long
list of awards and achievements that should silence any questions of
ethical fortitude, including the "Good Gal" Award of the Southern Nevada
Women's Political Caucus, the Southern Nevada Distinguished Women's Award
and the Parents Advisory Committee Award for Excellence in Special
Education. It almost seems too good to be true; with only 11 weeks left
before the initial vote, let's hope that it isn't.

More information on the initiative is available at www.nrle.org. View all
of Giunchigliani's copious accomplishments at
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/71st/legislators/Assembly/Giunchigliani.cfm,
cross your fingers and resume house hunting.