Op-ed: What’s the matter with Nevada?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has “Question 4” on their November ballot, which mirrors Nevada’s “Question 2”—the commercialization of legalized marijuana in the two states. Both initiatives were drafted and are promoted by the Marijuana Policy Project (Washington, D.C.) and are each locally sponsored by a “ Committee to Regulate and Tax Marijuana Like Alcohol”.

Surprisingly, the push-back to legalization for the commercial marijuana industry has been much more emphatic in liberal Massachusetts than in Nevada.

In May, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker made common cause with three leading Democrats —Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Attorney General Maura Healey. Together, they formed an opposition organization –“The Committee for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts.”

Currently, 120 bi-partisan state legislators( 84 D’s and 36 R’s) have signed up in opposition to “Q 4” in the Bay State —while only 10 legislators have endorsed it. Moreover, opposition to “Q 4” has been registered from important and diverse groups throughout the state: the Massachusetts Medical Society; Hospital Association; Boston’s Teaching Hospitals; their Municipal Association; school superintendents; business organizations — industries, retail and contractors; Mental Health Association; chiefs of police; Sheriffs Association and all 21 district attorneys.

As a result, Massachusetts public opinion on “Q 4” has shifted dramatically. An initial poll in the state had legalization leading with 57 percent support. Two recent Massachusetts polls show it now losing - by 10 percent most currently.

In contrast, support for Question 2 in Nevada has been limited to a very small number of state legislators, marijuana champion Senator Tick Segerblom and nine others.

But opposition to “Q 2” has been muted. Gov. Brian Sandoval has voiced opposition and Sen. Harry Reid said he was “very, very dubious and concerned” about recreational legalization.

While formal opposition is growing, there are still many Nevada officeholders and organizations yet to take a position.

Voters need to read the 13-page initiative on the ballot as Question 2. It’s a business plan written by the marijuana industry to exclusively benefit themselves.

Its provisions include a self-serving industry overreach providing no local government opt-outs for any of Nevada’s 17 counties, unlike provisions found in Colorado’s legalization law and in Nevada’s medical marijuana law. Section 14 of the initiative actually criminalizes personal cultivation within 25 miles of a retail marijuana establishment. It’s phony legalization drafted by the commercial marijuana industry.

Liberal Massachusetts knows what’s at issue and their state has come together united in opposition to the commercial marijuana legalization initiative. If Massachusetts can do it, what’s the matter with more conservative Nevada?

Jim Hartman is a attorney in Genoa and president of Nevadans for Responsible Drug Policy.