cannabisnews.com: Nearly 60 Now Approved for Medical Marijuana Use Nearly 60 Now Approved for Medical Marijuana Use Posted by FoM on December 05, 2001 at 07:58:50 PT By Geoff Dornan, Appeal Capitol Bureau Source: Nevada Appeal There are now 57 people licensed to use medical marijuana in Nevada. In addition, Cecile Crofoot of the Agriculture Department says another nine have been licensed as caregivers.The program was approved by the 2001 Legislature and started Oct. 1. The first six registration cards were approved within two weeks. Crofoot said the number of applications has tapered off since the initial flood of requests for information but that she still ships out about five packets a day. "I still get a steady stream," she said, adding that the program seems to be working smoothly.Altogether, her office has mailed out 687 packets to individuals, but she says only about 10 percent of them have returned applications. She said she thinks many of them drop the idea when they find out the program is controlled to prevent drug abusers from getting a card."Most of the druggies give up," she said.The Nevada law allows individuals suffering from specific chronic and debilitating diseases such as AIDS, cancer and glaucoma to register with the state Agriculture Department.They get a registry card that exempts them from state prosecution for possession and use of small amounts of marijuana. Their names are confidential as are the names of the physicians who signed letters qualifying them for the registry cards.The state law doesn't guarantee them any relief from federal prosecution, but Crofoot says federal drug agents have shown little interest in Nevada's program thus far."I've heard not a thing," she said. She said that's probably because Nevada's program is carefully designed to avoid the situations which have gotten California's program into trouble with federal prosecutors.Nevada doesn't allow anything like a Cannabis Club or authorize anyone to provide pot to cardholders beyond the assistance they get from a licensed caregiver. They must either find it or grow their own without state help and anyone caught providing the drug to some one is subject to state prosecution for trafficking.But she said that doesn't stop people from asking if they can legally get into the business of providing marijuana to the program. One of the first calls she got in early October was from someone who wanted to open a "marijuana store" to provide pot to cardholders."I still get those questions," she said. "They still haven't learned, but I'm real clear on it."For the same reasons, Nevada law prohibits anyone from being a caregiver to more than one patient. She said those approved as caregivers so far are spouses or "life partners" of the patient holding the registry card.Nevada's program is modeled after the one operating several years in Oregon, which has also largely been ignored by federal prosecutors.To qualify for a card in Nevada, the patient must provide a fingerprint card and pass a criminal history screening. They must also provide a letter from a Nevada medical doctor stating that they have one of the chronic and debilitating conditions that qualifies for the medical marijuana program.Crofoot said she is also pleased that there doesn't seem to be just one physician in the state writing those letters.She said the remaining test for the medical marijuana law will come when the first of those registry cards come up for renewal at the end of a year.Complete Title: Nearly 60 Now Approved for Medical Marijuana Use in NevadaSource: Nevada Appeal (NV)Author: Geoff Dornan, Appeal Capitol Bureau Published: December 4, 2001Copyright: 2001 Nevada AppealContact: appeal tahoe.comWebsite: http://www.nevadaappeal.com/Related Article & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmFederal Action On Program Not Expected http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11235.shtmlFirst Week of Marijuana Law Bring Applicationshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11049.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on December 05, 2001 at 11:35:35 PT the effects of propaganda are insidious..... to those of us who are interested in cannabis law reform, the constant propaganda of the anti-s seems like crazy hubris. But it does work. Most people have built-in attitudes that they may not even be aware of. For instance, thinking that somehow the buyer's clubs must be a scam, or that somehow, professional drug dealers will jump at the chance to take part in a govt-controlled medical marijuana program. (of course, most professional dealers and growers DO NOT want to see cannabis legalized).If you get know anyone who uses cannabis for MS, AIDS, or cancer, or any other chronic condition, you will realize that these people have been told by their doctors "I'll prescribe you any drug you want - just tell me what makes you feel more comfortable and I'll prescribe it". But paying $100 per quarter ounce when you use 1/2 ounce a week is completely out of the question for these people, as is growing plants for several months to get the drug. It's impossible for someone who struggles just with the basic daily functions of life, like getting dressed and going to the bathroom.Oh well, here's a preview of what (hopefully) the US will look like in 5 or 10 years:http://www.whspliff.net/cafe.html http://www.whspliff.net/Grow.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by freedom fighter on December 05, 2001 at 11:07:56 PT In Colorado 200 folks already signed up... We do'nt do criminal history screening.. That's crazy... I supposed anyone who murdered someone in that state can get into the program while a person who got caught with a joint 20 years ago cannot.ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dark Star on December 05, 2001 at 09:08:50 PT Suspicion I am as suspicious as the next stellar object, but this public official has a disgusting attitude and deserves censure. People would have to be crazy to subject themselves to this kind of scrutiny for frivolous reasons. I suspect that you will find that these are very sick people who are desperate for the kind of relief the federal government has denied them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 05, 2001 at 08:41:53 PT Sam That druggie sentence really got me fired up. If trying to get Cannabis legally means giving the government all your personal information why do they feel that anyone would do it? Our government doesn't have a good track record in that area. We see the same concerns with our allies in this new sad war. Where are these sick people to get their Cannabis legally? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on December 05, 2001 at 08:28:48 PT What a joke Listen to this bitch:"Most of the druggies give up," she said.then......."To qualify for a card in Nevada, the patient must provide a fingerprint card and pass a criminal history screening. They must also provide a letter from a Nevada medical doctor stating that they have one of the chronic and debilitating conditions that qualifies for the medical marijuana program.""Druggies" giving up? No honey, I would guess the 90% of the sick people not applying are !) afraid to submit to a fingerprinting, 2) searching frantically for a doctor with the balls to write them a letter 3) afraid of the DEA after what's happened in Cali or 4) realizing that they have to grown their own and that they cannot.It's really a sad state of affairs. Many of those with MS have been in wheelchairs for years and cannot deal with growlights, watering, planting....it's absurd to suggest that they can. It's nice that some people have spouses to help them, but many, if not most, disabled people's spouses have divorced them. In reality, the cruel political class has succeeded in keeping 90% plus of sick people away from their medicine, or kept them living in fear of the police. 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