Nevada Pot Legalization Bill Floated, Everybody Must Get Stoned In Vegas

A Nevada pot legalization bill is the latest state-level flirtation with marijuana sales and another small chip away in the federal ban on cannabis.

The Nevada pot legalization proposal in Nevada makes it the sixth state to push for decriminalizing weed, and lawmakers in the jurisdiction seem more than emphatic about the idea of legal pot in Vegas.

Assemblyman Joe Hogan (D-Las Vegas) is introducing legislation today for the Nevada pot legalization bill but without the standard disclaimers about how legalizing pot is no big deal and a minor consideration — Hogan quite bravely sung the praises of dope, saying government has “wasted a tremendous amount of money spoiling teen-agers lives, chasing them around until we can arrest them for something.

The lawmaker introducing the Nevada pot bill added that “marijuana is not just a harmless plant” and said that “the medical benefits are remarkable.” Hogan didn’t even deny puffing the magic dragon, saying casually that he’d welcomed toking up but hadn’t often gotten the chance — he says that “maybe 45 years ago someone gifted me a few puffs, but I have not been a user at all.”

Nevada pot legalization would be the latest step for America toward a legal dope market, as medical marijuana dispensaries have been a booming economic boon to California for some time now. (And the state has not descended into chaos, at least not any more than before everyone was getting high.)

Colorado and Washington also made major decriminalization steps in the 2012 election season, sparking up (heh) speculation that the former would be able to combine the liberal pot laws with its thriving ski-tourism market and earning the premature nickname “Aspendam.” We can dig it.

Hogan has been working with Vegas-based Dr. Stephen Frye, who is also called “Dr. Pot.” As the Nevada pot legalization bill readies for its debut, Hogan says he’s “really hopeful” about the possibility because it “would benefit a lot of people.”