cynicallyoptimistic
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Jason Whited | Las Vegas CityLife | Jul. 19, 2011
Nevadas medical marijuana program might be on life support, but one of its chief architects has found political rebirth running a big-time mayoral campaign.
Dave Schwartz, head of medical marijuana reform group Sensible Nevada, will lead the San Francisco mayoral campaign of Michela Alioto-Pier, front-runner and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Schwartz tells CityBlog hes leaving Las Vegas soon and heading to what promises to be one tough job. Ive had it described to me as a sprint with multiple marathons in between, he laughs.
Schwartz, who in addition to his med-pot advocacy served in 2006 as Southern Nevada director for U.S. Sen. Chris Dodds presidential campaign and Jack Carters U.S. Senate quest, takes over Alioto-Piers effort at a fortuitous time. Recent polls have shown her leading a field of at least half a dozen candidates vying for the seat left by Gavin Newsom, who was elected California lieutenant governor. Alioto-Pier, who finds much of her support in Hispanic and working-class neighborhoods of the nations 11th largest metropolitan area, will face a field of tough challengers whom polls show are running closely behind (in some cases right on top of) her. Her campaign did not return calls asking for comment about Schwartz or her chances of victory this November.
Indeed, Schwartz hopes his new job provides him more success than hes had trying for years to convince the Legislature to revamp Nevadas anemic medical marijuana program, which because of budget cuts, understaffing and inattention from lawmakers continues to let state-issued medical marijuana registration lapse for patients who still have no safe, legal access to the plant 10 years after the program started.
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