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CNN Saturday Morning News
Las Vegas Casinos Not Taking High Road
Aired November 02, 2002 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, HOST: Las Vegas casinos are not taking the high road, literally. Many of them are against an issue on the ballot that would legalize marijuana in the state.
As CNN National correspondent Frank Buckley reports, opponents are facing some stiff competition come Election Day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The place they call Sin City may someday have yet another vice on offer. Marijuana -- pot -- is on the ballot in Nevada in the form of an initiative. Question Nine. That would amend the State Constitution.
The amendment would allow buyers here in Nevada who are at least 21 years old to purchase up to three ounces of marijuana for use in their homes. Any use in a vehicle or in a public place, like the Las Vegas strip, would be prohibited.
Assemblywoman Chris June Killiani (ph) who wrote the state's medical marijuana law says patient's need legal access to pot.
CHRIS JUNE KILLIANI (PH), ASSEMBLYWOMAN: All this simply recognizes is that in the privacy of your own home, if you're an adult, you don't get busted for it.
BUCKLEY: But federal drug czar John Walters sees it different.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll hear from John Walters about the dangers of the evil weed.
BUCKLEY: Walters recently toured Nevada to campaign against this initiative and other efforts across the U.S. to decriminalize or legalize pot use.
JOHN WALTERS, NATL. DRUG CONTROL POLICY: No community, no city, no state, is better off with more drug use. We have had two decades of experience in this country of this problem -- it's into a victimless crime. Every family has been touched.
BUCKLEY: The pro-pot people are backed by big money from the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project, and they're up on TV in Nevada with ads like this one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As the former president of Nevada's largest teacher's association, I'm voting yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a retired 27-year street cop, I'm voting yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As medical marijuana makes sense, we're voting yes.
BUCKLEY: But federal officials are countering with ads of their own.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check this out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cool; is it loaded?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. (GUN SHOT)
BUCKLEY: Local law enforcement officials in Nevada have been among the loudest opponents.
SGT. RICK BARILLA (PH): This is a lot of dope. It's a lot of marijuana.
BUCKLEY: It's what three ounces of marijuana looks like, according to police sergeant Rick Barilla (ph). He says passage of Question Nine would create an enforcement nightmare.
BARILLA (ph): Can a person keep three ounces in their vehicle? Keep three ounces in their briefcase for work, and three ounces in their home?
BUCKLEY: But supporters say the federal government is out of touch with the millions of people who either tried or currently use marijuana and they're fighting a battle they'll eventually lose in the war on drugs.
Frank Buckley, CNN, Las Vegas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 2, 2002 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, HOST: Las Vegas casinos are not taking the high road, literally. Many of them are against an issue on the ballot that would legalize marijuana in the state.
As CNN National correspondent Frank Buckley reports, opponents are facing some stiff competition come Election Day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The place they call Sin City may someday have yet another vice on offer. Marijuana -- pot -- is on the ballot in Nevada in the form of an initiative. Question Nine. That would amend the State Constitution.
The amendment would allow buyers here in Nevada who are at least 21 years old to purchase up to three ounces of marijuana for use in their homes. Any use in a vehicle or in a public place, like the Las Vegas strip, would be prohibited.
Assemblywoman Chris June Killiani (ph) who wrote the state's medical marijuana law says patient's need legal access to pot.
CHRIS JUNE KILLIANI (PH), ASSEMBLYWOMAN: All this simply recognizes is that in the privacy of your own home, if you're an adult, you don't get busted for it.
BUCKLEY: But federal drug czar John Walters sees it different.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll hear from John Walters about the dangers of the evil weed.
BUCKLEY: Walters recently toured Nevada to campaign against this initiative and other efforts across the U.S. to decriminalize or legalize pot use.
JOHN WALTERS, NATL. DRUG CONTROL POLICY: No community, no city, no state, is better off with more drug use. We have had two decades of experience in this country of this problem -- it's into a victimless crime. Every family has been touched.
BUCKLEY: The pro-pot people are backed by big money from the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project, and they're up on TV in Nevada with ads like this one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As the former president of Nevada's largest teacher's association, I'm voting yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a retired 27-year street cop, I'm voting yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As medical marijuana makes sense, we're voting yes.
BUCKLEY: But federal officials are countering with ads of their own.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check this out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cool; is it loaded?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. (GUN SHOT)
BUCKLEY: Local law enforcement officials in Nevada have been among the loudest opponents.
SGT. RICK BARILLA (PH): This is a lot of dope. It's a lot of marijuana.
BUCKLEY: It's what three ounces of marijuana looks like, according to police sergeant Rick Barilla (ph). He says passage of Question Nine would create an enforcement nightmare.
BARILLA (ph): Can a person keep three ounces in their vehicle? Keep three ounces in their briefcase for work, and three ounces in their home?
BUCKLEY: But supporters say the federal government is out of touch with the millions of people who either tried or currently use marijuana and they're fighting a battle they'll eventually lose in the war on drugs.
Frank Buckley, CNN, Las Vegas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
