CARSON CITY -- Nevadans strongly oppose a ballot question to legalize the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana by adults 21 and older, a Review-Journal poll shows.
The poll found just 34 percent favor the question placed on this November's election ballot by the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana. The measure is opposed by 56 percent of 625 Nevadans who responded to the poll; 10 percent are undecided.
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"I think it shows the public is smart enough to realize they are being hoodwinked by a group that wants to legalize drugs," said Lt. Stan Olsen with the Metropolitan Police Department. "The state, the country, the community is tired of it."
The results show a change in the public attitude about marijuana in the last four years. A Review-Journal poll in July 2002 found almost an equal number of residents backing and opposing the legalization of three ounces of marijuana. During the 2002 general election, citizens rejected the proposal by a margin of 39 percent for, 61 percent against.
Olsen, the Police Department's legislative lobbyist, said citizens see that methamphetamine and other serious drugs are ruining lives and they have grown to hate all illegal drugs, including marijuana.
"They see the accidents committed by people high on drugs, they see the violent crimes committed by people on drugs," he said.
The poll was conducted by Washington D.C.-based Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. Registered voters were contacted by telephone April 3 through Wednesday. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Brad Coker, managing partner of Mason-Dixon, said the opposition is strong and he does not give much chance the drug being legalized.
But Neal Levine, campaign manager for the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, said the results "don't jibe" with his internal polls.
"We know we have a tough road to climb, but I don't think we are that far behind," he said.
Levine said legalizing marijuana would take the drug out of the hands of illegal drug dealers and submit it to state regulation.
"There are people who are going to smoke marijuana, regardless of the law," he said. "Are we going to continue to let criminal gangs benefit financially? We think we are putting forward a sensible proposal to a failed marijuana policy."
He said citizens in Denver in November voted to legalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by adults.
Under the committee's ballot question, the state would tax marijuana and set up a system to sell it. The state Legislature would have to decide who would grow marijuana to be sold in state approved stores.
Penalties for people who drive under the influence of marijuana and those who provide marijuana to minors would be increased under the ballot question.
The committee secured signatures in fall 2004 to place the measure on the November 2006 ballot. The Legislature refused to consider the legalization plan in 2005. If voters approve the ballot measure, it could not be changed by the Legislature for five years.
Under current state law, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $600 fine.
Although about 300 people a month in Nevada are listed on uniform crime reports as being "charged" with possession of marijuana, Olsen said few of them end up in jail.
"The idea they are languishing in jail is baloney," Olsen said. "It just doesn't happen. They are charged, but that doesn't mean they get a pair of handcuffs on them. A misdemeanor is as far as the state should go."
