MAN WHO LED EFFORT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN STATE TO OPEN LV CONSULTING

CARSON CITY -- The man who tried unsuccessfully to make Nevada the first
state with legal marijuana has decided to move permanently to Las Vegas and
open a political consulting business.

Though he lost on Question 9 in the November election, Nevadans for
Responsible Law Enforcement campaign manager Billy Rogers figures he still
can succeed in the Silver State. He purchased a home and intends to open
his consulting and lobbying business in Las Vegas next month.

"The election seems like a lifetime ago," Rogers said. "I get eight hours
of sleep now and don't have (marijuana opponent) Gary Booker following me
around. I really fell in love with Las Vegas during the campaign."

Question 9 would have allowed adult Nevadans to possess up to 3 ounces of
marijuana in their homes. Voters rejected it 61 percent to 39 percent.

Before leading the drive to legalize marijuana, Rogers, a Texas native, had
been a Democratic political consultant. He also spent three years in Russia
teaching the benefits of capitalism and two years running a sports
information Web site.

In 1998 he managed the campaign of the Democrat Garry Mauro, who lost the
Texas governor's race to George W. Bush. Both of Rogers' parents ran
earlier campaigns for Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Texas.

Rogers, 40, has spent recent months in Washington, D.C., working for the
Marijuana Policy Project, the parent group of the now-defunct Nevadans for
Responsible Law Enforcement. The organization put $1.8 million into the
drive to legalize marijuana in Nevada.

Rogers said he will continue to do some work for the project and handle
political consulting work in other states. He does not expect to do any
lobbying in Carson City this winter or spring.

Rogers doubts another move to legalize marijuana in Nevada will come along
soon.

"We saw a very conservative electorate around the country in November. This
issue will be successful in states where there is a more progressive base
of voters," he said.


Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jan 2003
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2003 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: letters@lvrj.com
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/