Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.
The organization leading the push for the decriminalization of 3 ounces of marijuana in Nevada is trying to use its opposition's words against them.
In a new commercial expected to begin airing Wednesday, Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick, Metro Police Undersheriff Richard Winget and Metro narcotics Detective Todd Raybuck are shown saying how many marijuana cigarettes can be made with 3 ounces of marijuana.
With light quiz show music playing in the background, Gammick says 90, Winget says more than 120, and Raybuck says more than 250.
"Opponents will say anything to scare us into voting against Question 9," the commercial announcer says. "Can we really trust anything they say?"
Question 9 asks voters if possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana should be legal in Nevada. Because the question would amend the state Constitution, it must be passed twice by voters.
Billy Rogers, campaign manager for the pro-Question 9 group Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, said the commercial gives another example of his opponents' lying.
But the three anti-Question 9 law enforcement officials seen in the 30-second spot said the debate is not about how many marijuana cigarettes can be made with 3 ounces, it's about legalizing marijuana, and that this latest commercial ducks the real issue.
During a news conference Monday at the Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement's Las Vegas headquarters, Rogers played the new commercial and weighed Camel unfiltered cigarettes to show what 250 cigarettes weigh and how many cigarettes are in 3 ounces.
According to the scales next to Rogers' podium, 250 cigarettes weigh about 8 ounces, and 90 cigarettes weigh about 3 ounces.
Rogers said the difference "goes to the heart of (the Question 9 opponents') campaign. Their campaign has not been truthful."
The varying number of marijuana cigarettes that Question 9 opponents say can be made from 3 ounces "is intended to scare people" into thinking 3 ounces is a lot of marijuana, Rogers said.
Three ounces of marijuana is enough to keep a medical marijuana user supplied for a month, Rogers said.
Winget said that when he said 3 ounces of marijuana could be turned into 120 cigarettes, he had just looked at a document that said 3 ounces was enough for 90 to 120 marijuana cigarettes. But he said once the number became an issue, he had a detective find out firsthand.
Raybuck said he took 3 ounces of marijuana and rolled it into cigarettes, and ended up with 250.
Raybuck's marijuana cigarettes were not as big as tobacco cigarettes, but he said he doubted anyone could roll a marijuana cigarette as tightly as a machine makes tobacco cigarettes.
Hand-rolled cigarettes or joints are often smaller and the size depends on the potency of the marijuana. The higher the potency, the smaller the cigarette.
"The number of joints you get from 3 ounces depends on how fat you roll them," Raybuck said. "We can argue numbers, but the real issue is how legalization is a good thing."
Rogers said Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement has been discussing the issues. He said Question 9 would free up police for more important crimes and give medical marijuana users a way to get marijuana other than from illegal drug dealers.
Rogers said the opposition has misled the public, and the changing number of marijuana cigarettes that can be made from 3 ounces is just one example.
Rogers said some people opposed to Question 9 have also said drug cartels are supporting the initiative, that medical marijuana users can get marijuana seeds from the state Agriculture Department, and that Question 9 would allow people to go to work after smoking marijuana. Rogers called those statements false or misleading.
Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker, who incorrectly said medical marijuana users can get seeds from the state, is now chairman of the Nevadans Against Legalizing Marijuana. Booker could not be reached for comment Monday.
The cartel comment was also attributed to Booker. Sandy Heverly, executive director of Stop DUI, said Booker said Question 9 supporters were being backed by cartels, not drug cartels.
"A cartel is just a group," she said.
Rogers said the ad featuring Gammick, Winget and Raybuck will begin running on Wednesday, and he does not know how long or how often the ad will be used. The group has made five other commercials, he said.
A poll done by Rogers' group shows voters evenly split on Question 9.
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