Marijuana Policy Project Launches Nevada Chapter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
APRIL 7, 2009

Marijuana Policy Project Launches Nevada Chapter

CONTACT:  Neal Levine, director, Marijuana Policy Project of Nevada ............... 702-727-1081

LAS VEGAS -- The Marijuana Policy Project today announced the opening of an official Nevada state chapter, the Marijuana Policy Project of Nevada. Headquartered in Las Vegas, MPP-NV will work to educate Nevadans about the harm caused by marijuana prohibition, with the goal of ending marijuana prohibition in the state in the near future.

     MPP-NV is headed by Neal Levine, who managed the campaign for Question 7, the marijuana regulation initiative that received a record-setting 44 percent "yes" vote in November 2006.

     "MPP has been working to try and end marijuana prohibition in Nevada since 2001," Levine said. "After the enormous progress we made when Question 7 was narrowly defeated, we took a little time to retool and reassess our strategy in the state. MPP has made a long-term commitment to this community and this state. This is the beginning of the end for marijuana prohibition in Nevada.

     "We now arrest almost 20 people every day in this state for simply possessing marijuana," Levine continued. "We have always said this was a failed policy and an egregious waste of tax dollars and police resources. Now with our economy in the toilet and violence raging out of control on our southern border, it has never been more obvious that marijuana prohibition simply does not work. Marijuana is a safer substance than alcohol, and it's long past time we put it into a legally regulated, taxed and safe market. We feel it is irresponsible to do otherwise."

     With more than 26,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. The Marijuana Policy Project of Nevada is MPP's only statewide chapter in the country. For more information, please visit http://www.mppnv.org.

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