Here's an update on the Nevada marijuana referendum on the ballot this November--if it passes, Nevada will be the first state in the country to legalize marijuana. Businesses seem mostly thrilled--it will be great for tourism.

Democrats are also happy because they believe the measure will draw liberal voters to the polls.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the state's largest newspaper, endorsed the measure as a means to "bring compassion and common sense to drug laws." The Republican Governor Kenny Guinn has not taken a position. The Sheriff's organization initially supported the measure but now opposes it.

"Pro-marijuana activists acknowledge that they targeted Nevada because it is a small state with a libertarian bent where voters amended the constitution through votes in 1998 and 2000 to legalize medical marijuana."

For once, the money is on the side of the (former) underdog: "The group promoting the constitutional change, Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, or NRLE, is flush with money -- it has almost $500,000 on hand -- and has run TV ads since September 12. " Opposing groups got a late start and have no money, not even for mailers.

"The petition effort that placed the initiative on the ballot garnered more than 109,000 signatures or nearly double the required number. A September 26 poll by the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas showed a majority of voters supporting the measure, with 55 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed."

Our view: Nevada rocks...It's time to end the laws criminalizing possession and use of personal amounts of pot. We hope the youth in Nevada register to vote because this is a great opportunity for them to demonstrate their voting power and that every vote counts.