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Ok this goes along w/ what KiX Was saying. I just came across it on AOL and I believe it's worth reading. One giant step for the counter-culture. First here's a poll I've stumbled onto

Should it be legal to own less than 3 ounces of marijuana?



79% Yes 460,794

21% No 120,216

Total votes: 581,010



NOTE: Poll results are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those users who chose to participate.



Ok, now onto the article. I have found this to be very very re-assuring that there is some dignity in the world.





LAS VEGAS - Famously freewheeling Nevada, home to legal brothels, grocery store slot machines and some of the fanciest casinos on earth, may break another vice barrier this November when voters decide whether to make it the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana.



A trail-blazing initiative appearing on the state ballot asks the public to decriminalize possession of less than 3 ounces of cannabis for people over 21 and to require state legislators to devise a regulatory system for its production and sale.



Under Nevada law, even if the measure passes in November, it would have to be approved by voters again in 2004 to become a constitutional amendment.



But proponents are hopeful the measure will pass, marking a startling break from federal drug laws that bar all marijuana possession.



The petition effort that placed the initiative on the ballot garnered more than 109,000 signatures or nearly double the required number. A Sept. 26 poll by the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas showed a majority of voters supporting the measure, with 55 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed.



In addition, the group promoting the constitutional change, Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, or NRLE, is flush with money -- it has almost $500,000 on hand -- and has run TV ads since Sept. 12.



Opponents, who waited until Sept. 27 to officially form Nevadans Against Legalizing Marijuana, may not even have money for mailers, according to the group's members.



A 'GRASS-ROOTS' FIGHT



"The bottom line is that this is going to take a lot of talking and a lot of shoe leather," said Sandy Heverly, executive director of the anti-drunk driving group Stop DUI, one of the groups opposing the measure. "It's going to be a real grass-roots effort, no pun intended."



Heverly is appalled that the largest newspaper in the state, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, endorsed the measure as a means to "bring compassion and common sense to drug laws" and that Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn won't take sides.



But even if the measure passes, federal agents will still investigate and bust drug sellers, so anyone who sells marijuana -- even under a state law permitting it -- would remain in jeopardy under federal law, according to Tom Riley, spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy.



Pro-marijuana activists acknowledge that they targeted Nevada because it is a small state with a libertarian bent where voters amended the constitution through votes in 1998 and 2000 to legalize medical marijuana.



"This is about responsible adults using marijuana in the privacy of their homes as well as guaranteed legal access to medical marijuana because right now, patients still have to buy it from drug dealers in order to get it," said Billy Rogers, a Texan sent to Nevada to run the NRLE campaign.



But opponents don't view 3 ounces as a small amount. That's enough for 250 marijuana cigarettes and more than what a person would have for their personal use, they say. They're also outraged by what they see as an invasion of the state by an outside activist group that now has 50 paid campaign workers here.



Heverly and others argue that the initiative as worded could invalidate current intoxicated driving laws regarding marijuana, raise auto insurance rates for everyone and turn Nevada into a haven for pot smokers.



"All Nevada is going to do is look stupid and foolish," said Gary Booker, a prosecutor in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas. "It would be like enacting a constitutional amendment that legalizes slavery. It's illegal and it will still be illegal."



AN AMERICAN AMSTERDAM?



Booker insisted that few people are convicted in America solely for low-level marijuana possession. He said most of those who are arrested are accused of other crimes, but plead down to a conviction on just the marijuana charge.



And he noted that Nevada's law is already lenient. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor for which an offender must pay a $600 fine, and possession of between 1 ounce and 100 pounds is a felony that carries a mandatory probation sentence for the first two offenses.



Many Democrats believe that the marijuana question, which is expected to draw liberal voters to the polls, could help them in other races this fall.



And some Sin City businesses are positively high on the prospect of legal pot -- which they see as offering yet another attraction for a city that already boasts casino versions of New York, Paris and ancient Egypt.



"There are unlimited tourism possibilities," gushed Terry Wilsey of A Answer on Travel. "Las Vegas could become the American Amsterdam."



10/04/02 10:06 ET



Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

You haven't heard of that yet? I'm not flaming or anything, just thats been around for a while. I guess it's being advertised since the vote is coming up soon. It's awesome that people are becoming more aware of the vote, hopefully it will be passed. I never thought of posting it, but I'm glad you did now that everyone on MMB can know if they didn't already, especially if any of you live in Nevada. I'll be moving soon =)

I dont think that would ever pass but imagine how much money the gov't could make if they legalized drugs and primarily sold it through gov't channels. They could tax the hell out of you too and make a boat load of money. We wouldnt need wars then we could just buy other countries or be so high we wouldnt care *grin* Seriously though just like with everything else if you prohibit people from it they want it more but if you give it to them they mellow out and noone gets hurt. The general public has the emotions of a 3 year old child and ya gotta play that type of game. Id personally vote yes for legalizing it because there are alot of people that NEED drugs in thier life to ease soem sort of pain (cancer or whatnot) and its sad that the gov't is knowingly letting thier own people suffer.

I think it will pass. It's being publicly advertised all over Nevada, and the governor of New Mexico is pushing for it. They legalized prostitution, they can legalize weed. You have to look at the population of Nevada to realize how much influence the casinos will have over this vote. It's a majority rules vote, and I think more than 50% will vote yes.

I think alot more then 50% will vote yes, theres enough people who smoke that will go and vote even if they have never voted before. I'm almost willing to bet it'll be like 75% legalizes it.





[Zan]---D00d, the only reason it's illegal now is because the goverment is making more money of shipping it in and selling it as they are now. You might all call me crazy or say I am paranoid but this is a very common fact, just do some research. Also they are making money off all the fines and penalties they give out to us citizens, shit for "drug" laws alone I've dished atleast 1,500$$$ out to them myself so imagine everywhere in the country. think about how many people are in prison not jail but prison! I think it's like thirty-two thousand dollars a year per inmate, who the hell pays all that? Us, You, Me, Aragon, KiX, Even We AllShallDie.

So no matter what this descion can indirectly shape the country.:afire1:

The question is, do you really want it passed? Think about it long and hard. Then realize that they will be regulated as heavily if not more heavily than cigarettes and yes that does include taxes. So you'll see the price skyrocket and they'll make it illegal to grow it without specific, albeit expensive, licenses.



As the saying goes, "Be careful what you wish..."

The gov't ALREADY controls the legal shipments of drugs...They control the only legal commerce in marijuana ("mostly" used for medicinal research..but is sold out to the hospitals).

I wouldn't doubt if they already have their hands in the coke market (most likely) and the heroin too...LSD has been short, so they are probably dipping their hands into that right now too...and its more than the market can handle right now..

I know they have hands in meth production (half the chemicals needed are overpriced and taxed ;))

Very true recklass and you've made a valid point, but what's to stop people from growing it and selling it "un-legit"? It would be as Unlegit as a hexxed board and we all know how much trouble you can get in for that >weg<. Anyways don't you think in order to prevent that from happening the goverment will have to make it somewhat affordable but yes, the taxes would be high. I think that making it expensive won't change the fact I can go outside and grow and sell it for less then the goverment(Hypothetically of course, teehee). Really it's up in the air on this one....

I personally would NOT purchase weed commercially. That's what I have growers for. The point of making it legal, isn't to make it legal to sell by the government, I don't care about that. I care about it being legal to SMOKE. That means, when it becomes legal, smart people will STILL be buying from their dealers illegally. The POINT is, that you can legally go somewhere and smoke it, cause they can't say hey, you didn't buy that from the gas station up the road. All they can say is Hey, you're smokin weed, good for you. If the price is $100 an eighth for some mids commercially, I'll still be paying $30-. I just want to be able to smoke it legally, I don't care if they sell it. I would only buy it commercially under three circumstances:

a) It were some really good weed that I couldn't find anywhere.

b) It became extremely affordable (30- for some mids)

c) My dealer goes dry.



If they legalize it to sell commercially, and not privately, I guarantee you that more dealers will crop up. If they make it legal, the pentalties for selling privately will go down, and it'l be more readily available on the private market. They can tax the shit out of it, all I know is that it will only have positive effects on me.

the gov. could sell the best pot on earth, for dirty cheap. and they would have to at first to compeate with a well established black market.