MARIJUANA MEASURE CLOSER TO 2002 BALLOT

CARSON CITY - An initial count shows there are 109,048 signatures on a
petition to let Nevadans have up to 3 ounces of marijuana without fear of
arrest, the secretary of state's office says.

Verification of the names must be finished by July 8. Even if more than 40
percent were tossed out, the petition to amend the Nevada Constitution
would still meet a minimum requirement of 61,336 signatures to qualify for
the November ballot.

The signatures must represent 10 percent of registered voters in 13 of the
state's 17 counties. The raw count shows the petition had the necessary
signatures in all counties except Elko and Douglas.

If the plan qualifies for the ballot, it would have to be approved by
voters in November and again in 2004.