Cannabis News Protecting Patients Access to Medical Marijuana
  Medical Marijuana Law Earns Signature
Posted by FoM on June 15, 2001 at 07:03:50 PT
By Ed Vogel, Donrey Capital  
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal  

medical Gov. Kenny Guinn signed into law Thursday a bill that makes Nevada the ninth state where patients can use marijuana for medical reasons.

Guinn signed Assembly Bill 453, which allows Nevadans with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other illnesses to use marijuana with the written permission of their doctors. They may grow as many as seven marijuana plants and not risk arrest by Nevada law enforcement authorities.

Some studies have shown marijuana use reduces pain and nausea associated with some ailments and improves patient appetite.

"I am signing the bill for two reasons: The people of the state of Nevada opened this ... and it passed the legislative process with public hearings," Guinn said. "It is for medicinal purposes."

The law decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, which is, at present, a felony.

The new law, effective Oct. 1, makes first-time possession of one ounce or less of marijuana a misdemeanor, punishable by a $600 fine. A fourth conviction would merit felony charges.

A panel of judges, including Supreme Court Justice Bob Rose, backed the move to reduce marijuana penalties.

In adopting the medical marijuana law, Guinn and the Legislature put into effect the wishes of voters in the past two general elections.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, came up with medical marijuana legislation similar to Oregon's, where 1,900 people have permission to use marijuana. None have been prosecuted by federal authorities, although the use of marijuana remains a federal crime.

The Nevada law requires the Department of Agriculture to set up a registry program for approved medical marijuana users before Oct. 1. The law does not specify where patients will acquire seeds for growing marijuana. Several Web sites, mostly in Canada, offer seeds for dozens of marijuana varieties.

In passing the medical marijuana law, Nevada legislators thumbed their noses at the U.S. Supreme Court and federal authorities.

The court in May unanimously struck down a medical marijuana program in Oakland, Calif., in a decision that many felt meant the end of similar programs everywhere. But legislative lawyers ruled Nevada still could approve its medical marijuana law.

"The federal government isn't going to come in and bust people," Giunchigliani said. "It is almost like a `don't look, don't tell' type of program."

She added that passage of medical marijuana programs in so many states will put pressure on Congress to remove marijuana from its list of controlled substances and start a national dialogue on the drug's medical benefits.

Nonetheless, the court decision and federal laws against marijuana concerned Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas. At his request, the Senate added a preamble to the law pointing out Nevadans' overwhelming support for medical marijuana. The preamble states: "Nevada as a sovereign state has the duty to carry out the will of the people."

Rawson said no one can predict whether federal agents will arrest people who have permission to use marijuana in Nevada.

At his urging, the law also calls on the University of Nevada School of Medicine to seek federal approval of a research program into the medicinal benefits of marijuana.

Guinn said the federal government could stop the Nevada program, but the law would remain on the books in case Congress changed its view of marijuana.

"Certainly, it is contingent on the federal government and what they do," the governor said.

Note: Guinn approves measure supported by voters.

Complete Title: Will Of The People: Medical Marijuana Law Earns Signature

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Author: Ed Vogel, Donrey Capital Bureau
Published: Friday, June 15, 2001
Copyright: 2001 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: letters@lvrj.com
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/

Related Articles:

Nevada Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10057.shtml

Medical Uses Approved: Lawmakers OK Marijuana Bill
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9973.shtml

Medical Marijuana, Defelonization Approved
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9966.shtml


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Comment #1 posted by Dr. Ganj on June 15, 2001 at 12:55:02 PT:

Go Nevada!
Wow! What a victory for Nevadans! All those years of a looming felony bust, just for a seed, or a joint! Finally reason has prevailed, as it will all across this country very soon. We ARE winning!

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