In Vegas, having a past tied to marijuana -- even trying to reform local pot law -- might prove a liability in a political campaign. In San Francisco, however, it just might help David Schwartz:

The days when "gambling" with marijuana on the Las Vegas strip could result in lifetime imprisonment are long gone. Reefer now mixes with roulette in the nation's Sin City -- where, it should be noted, you have never needed a medical recommendation to use prostitutes. 

And while there's still no legal way for ill Nevadans to acquire their meds, it's not for a lack of trying on the part of Dave Schwartz, the campaign manager of Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws, which seeks to place before Nevada voters in 2012 a ballot initiative allowing pot to be distributed. 

But not before Schwartz works electoral magic here in San Francisco. He is set to take over former Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier's campaign for San Francisco mayor next week, she confirmed to SF Weekly.