RELAXED MARIJUANA LAW WINS SPOT ON BALLOT

Nevada residents will vote in November on a proposal to ease the state's
once-harsh marijuana laws and allow adults to possess up to three ounces of
the drug.

Susan Bilyeu, deputy secretary of state for elections, said 74,740
signatures turned in by Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement in support
of an initiative petition were valid.

Billy Rogers of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement said his group was
confident of success despite the close margins in the two rural counties.

``The success of our petition drive provides solid evidence that most
Nevadans think it's a waste of their tax dollars to arrest people for small
amounts of marijuana,'' Rogers added.

Until last year, Nevada had the strictest marijuana law in the nation.
Puffing on a single marijuana cigarette was a felony, punishable by a
prison term of a year or more.