Editorial: Just what are they smoking, anyway?

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002 | 8:56 a.m.

The sponsors of a November ballot question that would decriminalize the use of marijuana are upset with Metro Police, accusing the department of illegally campaigning against the referendum. What specifically has the marijuana proponents unhappy are police officers who have appeared on news programs to give the department's views on what they believe the impact would be if the referendum passed. Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, the group backing the ballot question, believes these media appearances violate state law that prohibits government agencies from using public money for campaign purposes.

The law in question is a necessary safeguard, preventing abuses of taxpayer money, but Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement is off the mark in this case. As Undersheriff Richard Winget has explained, Metro Police hasn't actively put forward its views, the department simply has responded to media queries for the department's take on the ballot question. It would be irresponsible to expect that the department would go mute, and not answer questions from the public or members of the media, when asked about such an important issue.