DEBATE CONTINUES OVER MARIJUANA LAW

My background is not of law enforcement, and I am against the
decriminalization of cannabis.

The people for the right to use cannabis are all basically repeating the
same story: It is not a bad "drug"; it is not "as" addicting as the others.
Well, if this is true, then don't do it! If you know that it is not a big
deal, then stop wasting your money, and if you need to get "loaded" then
buy some legalized alcohol.

I am so tired of listening to the same "pothead" sob story over and over.
You know you're breaking the law, so pay the price.

Amy Youngblood

Reno

Nevada residents, you are blessed with the referendum process. Use it well
and help America crush the cannabis prohibitionist mentality.

For perspective, citizens have the right and need to know if Washoe County
District Attorney Richard Gammick, and that group, also support punishing
citizens by taking away driving licenses even if caught with cannabis while
not involving a vehicle in any way, which is the law in many locales?

Rational citizenry should not support those types of tactics, or the people
that present them.

Sorry for Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick's wallet, but
citizens should not support caging humans for simply having the drug
(cannabis plant) in their system without actually being under the
influence, either.

The worst thing in the world that can happen to you while using cannabis is
being caged. Take away Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick's
authority to cage a human for using cannabis, and the harm is almost zilch.
That seems too elementary.

Vote for cannabis and against irrational and overzealous district attorneys.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.

In November, the citizens of Nevada will have the opportunity to become the
first state in the union to legalize the possession of a small amount of
marijuana.

The facts are simple. Marijuana is probably safer than tobacco or alcohol,
and certainly is no worse. There is absolutely no reason for this relaxing
herb to be illegal when enjoyed by hard-working, taxpaying, otherwise
law-abiding American adults. The state of Nevada should pass this measure
and begin to grow, sell and tax this agricultural commodity. It should be
regulated in much the same way as are alcohol and tobacco, with severe
penalties for those supplying it to minors. Tax revenues will be huge,
police and the courts will be free to deal with real criminals, and the
illicit trade in marijuana will disappear.

There is far too much money in the taxes to let this opportunity pass us
by. Law enforcement, education and a host of other causes could benefit
from these tax dollars, many of which will come from our neighbors in
surrounding states. This is one case where common sense should prevail over
political correctness. Let's get out and support this measure at the poll
booth in November.

Allen D. Atkinson

Reno

The state marijuana initiative should be passed without question, even
though it is a feeble measure compared to what should be done about the
"drug war."

It is better than nothing. The primary reason this measure should be passed
is that criminalization of drug use violates the premises upon which this
nation was founded. A victimless crime has been created.

Secondly, such criminalization fosters the "drug cartel" underworld that
promotes the use of dangerous drugs and recruits users among the youth, as
well as adults. Decriminalization would put the "drug cartels" out of
business and end their recruitment. Not only this, consider what
decriminalization would do to the prison population.

But do not expect the politicians to do anything about this, just as they
have done nothing about the infernal "income tax." They are too afraid of
being politically incorrect.

James M. Young

Reno

I was curious about how many mini marts have been held up because the
robber needed to score some pot? Do the police conduct stings to curb the
sale of pot downtown? How many prostitutes are strung out on weed? How many
families have been torn apart by pot? How many hospital beds do pot addicts
occupy? Isn't pot the gateway drug? When will a local law official speak
his or her mind truthfully about pot, instead of worrying about votes and
ruffling the wrong feathers?

Just curious.

Joe Murphy

Reno