# nevada votes for MJ **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 11, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363 "2002-07-11T04:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mandielise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@mandielise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandielise)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/1 "2002-07-11T04:18:23Z")
Hey, I’m sorry if someone already started a thread on this, if so, just delete this one and give me a link to the other one. I was just reading an article on CNN stating that Nevada voters now get the opportunity to decide whether one should be arrested for private smoking of, or possession of a small amount of pot. Well, they said it was a small amount, but I don’t know ANYONE who has 3oz at a time!!! I was just wondering what everyone thought about that.😛 ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/2 "2002-07-11T04:49:57Z")
A few years ago, California voters passed into law a measure allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Unfortunately, even though medical marijuana was no longer against California law, it was **still** against Federal law. The Feds jumped in and basically shut everything down. This little States Rights clash eventually made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, who said that the Feds **did** have the right to outlaw marijuana, even for medicinal uses. I suspect a similar thing would happen in Nevada if such a law passed. Without a change to Federal law, a state can legalize marijuana all it wants to, and it will be a moot point. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/3 "2002-07-11T06:37:07Z")
A state-level legalization is still a step forward. If local and state police officers refuse to arrest anyone for possession of marijuana, what’s Washington going to do, send in federal agents to patrol every town in Nevada? ---
**Author:** ![mandielise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@mandielise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandielise)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/4 "2002-07-11T11:53:33Z")
I agree with both of y’all. When did states lose all their rights to make decisions? I live in Louisiana now where the state was FORCED to change it’s legal age for alcohol from 18 to 21. The fed gov’t said they would stop paying all funding for roads if we didn’t change the age. Now, isn’t it possible that this might actually work though? Who in America really thinks people who have a small amount of weed are hardened criminals? Pot smokers don’t hurt anyone. The only reason I think this has a chance of not getting bumped by the feds is that Nevada has already legalized prostitution - or so I hear. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/5 "2002-07-11T13:07:38Z")
> [@](#): > > If local and state police officers refuse to arrest anyone for possession of marijuana, what’s Washington going to do, send in federal agents to patrol every town in Nevada? Hehe, I just a mental vision of a \* Fugitive \* style manhunt by the Federal Marshals for some guy with a joint in his pocket. Guy: “Marijuana’s not illegal in Nevada!” TLJ: “I don’t care” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Zahn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@John\_Zahn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Zahn)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/6 "2002-07-11T16:58:57Z")
There was also a county in CA, that legalized the growing of up to 25 marijuana plants for private use too. But again, the Feds said they were still breaking Federal law, and this wouldn’t stop them from being arrested. I’m convinced even if a State were to legalize it, the Feds would still arrest them too. Our Federal government has gotten to big for its britches. Legalized prostitution in Nevada is only allowed in certain counties. John ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/7 "2002-07-11T19:32:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > This little States Rights clash eventually made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, who said that the Feds **did** have the right to outlaw marijuana, even for medicinal uses. I hadn’t realized this case had made it to the Supremes. Do you have a cite? I’d be curious to know what part of the Constitution they used to justify this, given their ongoing campaign to narrow the reach of the Interstate Commerce Clause. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/8 "2002-07-11T19:38:53Z")
Whew—for a minute, I thought you meant Michael Jackson had been elected Governor of Nevada! ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/9 "2002-07-11T19:47:48Z")
The certain counties being, essentially, every county except those housing Reno and Las Vegas, if I recall. I think its worded as “every county having a population of less than X”. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-votes-for-mj/118363/10 "2002-07-12T03:43:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > \*\*I hadn’t realized this case had made it to the Supremes. Do you have a cite? I’d be curious to know what part of the Constitution they used to justify this, given their ongoing campaign to narrow the reach of the Interstate Commerce Clause. \*\* The case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court last year. It was called “U.S. v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative et al.” The full text of the decision can be found at: > **[FindLaw's United States Supreme Court case and opinions.](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/532/483.html)** > > FindLaw's searchable database of United States Supreme Court decisions since