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  Board of Agriculture: Panel Adopts Marijuana Rules
Posted by FoM on August 31, 2001 at 07:51:03 PT
By Sean Whaley, Donrey Capital Bureau  
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal  

medical A state-run medical marijuana program allowing physician-approved patients to grow and use the drug will begin Oct. 1 after unanimous approval of regulations Thursday by the Board of Agriculture.

Nevada is the ninth state to offer a medical marijuana program after action by the 2001 Legislature. Under the state law, qualified patients suffering from AIDS, cancer and other illnesses, or nausea related to those illnesses, can grow small amounts of the drug in their homes for personal use.

The Department of Agriculture was designated as the agency to administer the program. Regulations were approved by the board after a public hearing that prompted testimony from only one person.

"We're ready to run an effective program," said Paul Iverson, director of the agency.

But some members of the board had misgivings, both with regard to the use of marijuana and the cost to the agency of administering a program without funding. The Legislature, citing budget constraints, provided no money to operate the program.

"I think this is a major slippery slope here," said board member John Cooper of Sparks.

He questioned what would happen if a physician was too liberal in approving the use of medical marijuana, and what would happen to someone in the program who used the drug while driving.

Iverson said there are a number of prohibitions regarding the use of medical marijuana. Using the drug in public or driving while under its influence is illegal. Anyone caught driving under the influence would be subject to Nevada's criminal laws, he said.

Gina Session, representing the attorney general's office, said the Board of Medical Examiners, which governs physicians, will monitor Nevada doctors' involvement in the program. The law requires a licensed Nevada physician to sign a form authorizing a patient to become a member of the program.

At a public hearing on the program held by the agency last week, there was some discussion about whether Nevada doctors would be willing to sign the form required for a person to enroll in the program.

Larry Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association, said Thursday he does not know what to expect when the law takes effect. A physician may feel strongly about the program and decide to authorize, he said.

"We're taking it step-by-step," Matheis said. "We just want to make sure that neither the physician or the patient is harmed."

Officials with the Board of Medical Examiners have declined to comment on the program. Members of the board could not be reached either.

At the public hearing last week in the capital, Ed Foster, a spokesman for the Agriculture Department, said when a similar program was initiated in Oregon, it took more than 90 days before a doctor was willing to authorize use of the plant for a patient.

Once the first doctor committed to the program, others quickly followed, he said.

Nevada's program is modeled after the Oregon plan.

Don Henderson, assistant administrator of the Agriculture Department, told the board that so far the federal government has not moved to enforce its laws against marijuana use and possession in states where medical marijuana programs are in place.

But participants in the program would still be subject to federal prosecution, he said.

The Agriculture Department will process the applications, but the agency will not be a major source of information on medical marijuana. Participants will have to obtain their own seeds and grow their own plants.

Iverson said about 100 people have contacted the agency expressing an interest in an application. There is no fee for the application, although participants have to be fingerprinted at their local law enforcement agency and obtain a photo identification from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Iverson said the agency has received about $1,000 in donations to operate the program.

Note: Program starts in about a month for some patients.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Author: Sean Whaley, Donrey Capital Bureau
Published: Friday, August 31, 2001
Copyright: 2001 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: letters@lvrj.com
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/

Related Articles & Web Site:

Medicinal Cannabis Research Links
http://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htm

State Won't Give Medical Marijuana To Patients
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10737.shtml

Growing Pot: Questions on Marijuana Use Abound
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10716.shtml


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Comment #4 posted by Ed Carpenter on August 31, 2001 at 09:49:08 PT:

Board of Agriculture: Panel Adopts Marijuana Rules
It's a start.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #3 posted by Doug on August 31, 2001 at 09:41:37 PT
What about driving?
I find it interesting that it is illegal to drive while under the influence of medical marijuana, but the instructions for Marinol only say that you shouldn't drive until you are familar with the effects of the drug. Do they think that Matinol is less powerful than the natural substance?


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #2 posted by ekim on August 31, 2001 at 08:52:17 PT:

Jesus made water into wine and Docs wont sign
The Ag dept won't give seeds. Does anyone see something wrong with this picture.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on August 31, 2001 at 08:19:51 PT:

hmmm...
I know this is a step forward and all... but why does someone have to be fingerprinted and get a photo ID? Do such rules apply to medical morphine, or Prozac?

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