Religious Leaders Want to Legalize Marijuana for Adults

At least 33 members of the clergy have stepped forward to endorse the inclusion of Question 7 on the November election ballot in Nevada. Question 7, if it is approved by voters, will make Nevada the first state in the nation to make it legal for adults 21 and older to possess small amounts of marijuana and buy it at government-regulated pot shops, where it will be taxed like other consumable goods.

Nevada is one of 12 states that have decriminalized possession of marijuana but still issue fines. Possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is currently a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $600 fine. But the religious leaders urging voters to endorse legalization for adults argue that doing so will cut down on minors’ access to marijuana, while at the same time reduce gang-related violence. Also, they say, if the government sells the marijuana they will be able to collect taxes for it, which will bring more money to the state to help finance treatment programs instead of making drug dealers rich.

"Our current laws are causing virtually unfettered access to marijuana," said Rev. Paul Hansen, senior pastor at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas. "Marijuana is far easier to access than alcohol because drug dealers don’t card." Hansen said that the current laws dealing with marijuana possession appear to be moral, but they are "a cosmetic morality."

Hansen told reporters at a news conference Tuesday that he recently asked his 16-year old daughter whether she would be able to find marijuana if she wanted to. Before she could answer, Hansen said, his son burst out laughing. "He said, ‘What a stupid question, dad,’" Hansen said.

Rev. Ruth Hanusa, a chaplain at the Campus Christian Association at University of Nevada, agrees with Hansen and the other supporters of Question 7. "Some of us Protestants believe that one of the functions of government is to curb sinful behavior," said Hanusa. "But our marijuana laws are not curbing marijuana use, and they are causing more harm than good by filling the pockets of dangerous criminals and ensuring that children have the easiest access of anyone."

The Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable opposes the idea of legalizing marijuana. Todd Raybuck, who operates their website, said that proposing to legalize another intoxicating drug is not a good idea for Nevada. "The message it sends to youth is that smoking pot is just part of growing up," said Raybuck. Other groups opposed to the measure include the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, and the Nevada AFL-CIO.

Rev. David Scheuneman, a Unitarian Universalist community minister in Las Vegas, said that his church approved of Nevada’s 2002 resolution advocating reform of current marijuana laws. "One of the roles of religion is to point out hypocrisy in society. By any means, marijuana is less dangerous to individuals and society than alcohol," Scheuneman said.
"Ads for alcohol are plentiful. You are allowed to buy unlimited amounts, and in Las Vegas we give it away for free to gamblers in casinos and allow people to drink it on the streets."

Recent polls have shown that opinions aren’t too far apart on the issue. Support for the measure stands at about 42%, with 51% opposing.

Sister Toni Woodson, a Catholic nun and former teacher at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, said that she worries about the Mexican drug cartels who are growing marijuana on national forest land in California, because they protect their turf with dangerous weapons. "Marijuana doesn’t cause this disregard for human life," said Woodson. "Our marijuana laws do."

If approved, the law will impose an excise tax on sales of marijuana, at $45 per ounce, part of which would be used to defray administrative costs. Remaining tax dollars would go to the state’s general fund, with 50% earmarked for alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse programs.