Coalition of Nevada Religious Leaders Support Marijuana RegulationA statewide coalition of dozens of religious leaders throughout Nevada Tuesday announced their support for a resolution calling for the regulation of marijuana.
If passed, an initiative on the November ballot -- Question 7 -- would accomplish this by removing penalties for marijuana use by adults aged 21 and older in the privacy of their own homes, and creating a system for the legal cultivation, distribution, and sale of up to one ounce of marijuana to adults.
The full resolution can be downloaded at:
http://www.RegulateMarijuana.org/home/pdf/religious_resolution.pdfThe diverse coalition of religious leaders in support of regulating marijuana represents 15 different religious denominations and includes leaders from Las Vegas, Reno, Sparks, North Tahoe, Laughlin, and Stateline.
"Finding a sensible alternative to our state's failed marijuana laws is an issue that resonates with a diverse array of Nevadans, including people of faith," said Neal Levine, campaign manager for the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana. "We're honored these religious leaders have chosen to speak out on this issue."
The following Nevada religious leaders support marijuana regulation:
Rev. Jerry Smith - District Superintendent, United Methodist Church, Reno
Rev. William C. Webb -- senior pastor, Second Baptist Church, Southern Baptist/Missionary Baptist, Reno
Rev. Jerry Pruess -- retired Missouri Synod Lutheran minister, Laughlin
Rev. Emmanuel Wasson III -- senior pastor, Holy Trinity AME, Las Vegas
Rev. Paul Hansen -- senior pastor, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
Rev. Peter Courtney -- retired Episcopal priest, Las Vegas
Rev. Sylvester Tanner -- Faith Chapel, Church of God in Christ, Las Vegas
Rev. Gene Savoy -- International Community of Christ Church, Reno
Rev. William G. Chrystal -- senior pastor, First Congregational Church, Reno
Rev. Ivan Gunderman -- senior pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
Rabbi Myra Soifer -- Temple Sinai, Reno
Rev. John Auer -- senior pastor, First United Methodist, Reno
Rev. John Emerson -- pastor emeritus, First United Methodist, Reno
Rev. Richard Van Hoosen -- retired Disciples of Christ minister, Las Vegas
Rev. Leonard Jackson -- recent former associate pastor, Holy Trinity AME, Las Vegas, former president of the Los Angeles Council of Churches, current senior advisor to the Mayor of Los Angeles and Associate Pastor, First AME Church, Los Angeles
Sister Toni Woodson -- Roman Catholic nun, Community of the Holy Spirit, Las Vegas
Rev. Carol Rudisill -- interim minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada, Reno
Rev. Deborah Grundman -- former Minister of Music, Sparks United Methodist Church, current executive assistant to the Bishop of the California-Nevada Conference, and Deacon
Rabbi Oren Postrel -- North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation, North Tahoe
Rev. Kurt Sortland -- senior pastor, Lakes Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
Rabbi Jonathan Freirich -- Temple Bat Yam, Stateline
Rev. Ruth Hanusa -- ELCA chaplain, Campus Christian Association, UNR, Reno
Rabbi ElizaBeth Webb Beyer, R.N., J.D. -- ethics professor, UNR, Reno
Sister Timothy Malone -- Roman Catholic nun, Community of the Holy Spirit, Las Vegas
Rabbi Craig Rosenstein -- hospice chaplain, Harbor House, Las Vegas
Rev. Greg Stewart -- recent former senior minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada, Reno
Rev. Paul Daniel -- recent former senior minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas
Rev. David Scheuneman -- Unitarian Universalist community minister, Las Vegas
Rev. Abigail Aft -- Las Vegas
Rev. J. Stuart Wells -- recent former co-minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Las Vegas
Rev. Gail Wells -- recent former co-minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Las Vegas
Paula Povilaitis, MTS -- masters in theological studies, former teacher, Evangelical Lutheran, Reno
Rabbi Richard Schachet -- Rabbi Emeritus, Valley Outreach Synagogue, Las Vegas (recently deceased)
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Submitted by Herbmon]
