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| Nevada Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill |
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Posted by FoM on June 14, 2001 at 21:16:48 PT By The Associated Press Source: Las Vegas Sun 
A bill that lets seriously ill patients use marijuana for medical purposes was signed into law Thursday by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn. The measure signed by the Republican Gov. also relaxes one of the toughest drug possession laws in the nation, downgrading the charge for possession of small amounts from a felony to a misdemeanor. The law change was sought by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, who said, "it's time that Nevada closed the door on antiquated drug policies and reduced possession of an ounce or less to a misdemeanor and focused its efforts on prevention and treatment." Seriously ill Nevadans will be able to have up to seven marijuana plants for personal use. A state registry will be created for patients whose doctors recommend they use marijuana for medical reasons. Also, the state will be able to apply to the federal government for permission to sponsor medical research into whether marijuana helps ease pain, nausea or other symptoms of seriously ill patients. For people other than registered patients, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana now is a misdemeanor carrying a $600 fine, with escalating fines for subsequent offenses. Possession won't become a felony until the fourth offense. Until now, Nevada has made it a felony to possess an ounce or less of marijuana. Typically, fines of several hundred dollars have been imposed, and parole has been mandatory. But parole violations could result in prison terms. Nevadans voted overwhelmingly in 1998 and 2000 to amend the Nevada Constitution to authorize use of marijuana by those suffering from cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other painful and potentially terminal illnesses. The task of implementing the voters' mandate was left to the 2001 Legislature. The lawmakers took action despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a California case that determined a federal law classifying the drug as illegal makes no exception for ill patients. The high court's action leaves those distributing the drug for medical purposes open to prosecution. Besides Nevada, voters in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon and Washington have approved ballot initiatives allowing medical marijuana. In Hawaii, the legislature passed a similar law and the Gov. signed it last year. Complete Title: Nevada Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill; Other Laws Eased On the Net: Nevada Legislature: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/ Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV) Related Articles: Healthy Questioning Medical Uses Approved: Lawmakers OK Marijuana Medical Marijuana, Defelonization Approved Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by Nate H. on June 15, 2001 at 05:49:37 PT |
| This makes Nevada the first state since 1978 to "decriminalize" possession of marijuana (ie. to downgrade the penalty and/or make it a non-criminal offence). The other states - which instituted some form of decrim between 1973 and 1978 - are Oregon, Alaska, Maine, Colorado, North Carolina, Mississipi, Minnestota, New York, Ohio, California and Nebraska. Nate [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by sm247 on June 15, 2001 at 00:01:39 PT |
| Good show Gov.Guinn and the Nevada l;egislature. This is a major step in the right direction. [ Post Comment ] |
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