New Pot Initiative To Be Filed in Nevada

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) – Backers of a new effort to legalize marijuana in Nevada plan to file an initiative petition to qualify for the 2012 ballot.

A group called Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws say they will file the paperwork with the secretary of state’s office in Carson City on Wednesday. They plan a news conference at 1 p.m. outside the Capitol to discuss details of their proposal to tax and regulate marijuana.

Organizers will need to gather 97,002 signatures by November to send it to the 2011 Legislature. If lawmakers fail to act, it would be put to voters in 2012.

Nevadans rejected other pot initiatives in 2002 and 2006. A similar attempt failed to qualify for the 2004 ballot.