-Caveat Lector- Libertarian Party Press Releases November 8, 2000 Voters pass six of eight drug-reform measures WASHINGTON, DC -- The War on Drugs took a beating at the polls on Tuesday as six of eight drug reform measures on the ballot around the USA appeared headed for passage - - in most cases overwhelmingly. Voters in California, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada passed measures to legalize medical marijuana, end criminal penalties for drug possession, or reform asset forfeiture laws. However, similar measures in Alaska and Massachusetts were rejected by voters. Overall, the results "confirm what Libertarians and drug reform organizations have been saying for years: The writing is on the wall for the Drug War, even though Democratic and Republican politicians pretend they can't read it," said Libertarian Party National Director Steve Dasbach. "For the past 30 years, Libertarian candidates have been waging a persistent and principled campaign to end the government's War on Drugs," he said. "Tuesday's election results are a well-deserved -- although delayed -- victory for every one of those candidates, as well as for the American people." In positive news around the country: * In California, voters approved Proposition 36, which requires treatment rather than prison for first- and second-time drug offenders. Despite opposition from California's governor, senators, representatives, police chiefs, prosecutors, and the state prison guards' union, the measure passed with an overwhelming 61% of the vote. Supporters of Prop 36 included the Libertarian Party, a coalition of drug reform groups, and a trio of wealthy philanthropists headed by billionaire financier George Soros. * In Oregon, a proposal that would prohibit asset forfeiture without a conviction was passing with 66% of the vote, with 70% of the vote counted. * In Utah, voters passed the Property Protection Act, which forbids police from seizing and selling property involved in a crime in which the owner is not involved, by a margin of 69% to 31%. * In Colorado, voters approved Constitutional Amendment 20, which will legalize medical marijuana, with a 53% majority. * In Nevada, voters approved Question 9 with a resounding 67% of the vote. The measure gives doctors who prescribe medical marijuana protection under the state constitution. * In Mendocino County, California, voters passed a first-in-the-nation law allowing adults to grow marijuana for personal use. The local measure, Proposition G, allows people to grow 25 marijuana plants apiece, and was approved by 58% of the voters. In two states, voters rejected drug-reform measures: * In Massachusetts, voters rebuffed an initiative that would have made asset forfeiture more difficult, and required treatment -- rather than prison -- for drug offenders. It was losing with 47% of the vote, with 76% of precincts reporting. * In Alaska, an initiative to fully legalize marijuana was failing by a two-to-one margin. Some supporters speculated that Alaska voters, who had already approved a medical marijuana law in 1998, didn't want to move so quickly towards complete legalization. Overall, the results are good news for Libertarians and other advocates of drug reform, said Dasbach. "The resounding victories on Tuesday are concrete proof that the Libertarian message about the dangers of the War on Drugs is rapidly becoming the majority view," he said. "Tuesday's elections prove that on the Drug War, as on so many other issues, the Democrats and Republicans are afraid to lead; they refuse to follow; and now it's time for them to get out of the way." 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