Foes are against pot issue

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

The leading candidates for the state's and county's top law enforcement positions all say they are adamantly opposed to a ballot question seeking to legalize possession of three ounces of marijuana.

Both candidates for sheriff and the Republican and Democratic candidates for Clark County district attorney and for attorney general all said they will vote against Question 9. The Independent American Party candidates for district attorney and attorney general said they will vote for the initiative.

But the organizer of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement -- the group which put the initiative on the ballot -- said politicians' views mean little to the voters.

"It doesn't concern me that politicians are voting no," Billy Rogers said. "The good news is that this will be on the ballot again in two years and it wouldn't surprise me if they changed their minds after the voters have spoken."

The ballot initiative, which seeks to amend Nevada's Constitution, must pass in 2002 and 2004 before taking effect.

In the district attorney's race, Democrat Mike Davidson, the assistant district attorney, said he can see no justification to make marijuana possession legal.

"I am not prepared to make Las Vegas the dope capital of America," Davidson said.

His Republican opponent, David Roger, a deputy chief district attorney, agreed, saying the initiative sends a wrong message to youth.

"The use of marijuana may lead to the use of other drugs," Roger said.

IAP candidate Joel Hansen, a Las Vegas attorney, said he will vote for the initiative because he believes resources can be better spent on non drug-related offenses.

In the attorney general's race, both Republican Brian Sandoval and Democrat John Hunt are against the proposal.

Sandoval said the proposal "undermines law enforcement."

Hunt said: "I don't want to see Las Vegas and Nevada become the Amsterdam of America."

However, IAP candidate Jonathan Hansen said he will support the initiative.

"Although I don't condone the use of marijuana, I don't think the government should be involved in that aspect of people's lives," said Hansen, a Las Vegas attorney and son of Joel Hansen.

The conservative Independent American Party has the third largest number of registered voters in the state, although it ranks behind the number of people who decline to state a party. The IAP believes in less federal control or involvement in local and state issues.

In the sheriff's race, Randy Oaks said he is "adamantly opposed" to Question 9, and Bill Young said he will vote a "big fat no" on the initiative.