cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana, Defelonization Approved Medical Marijuana, Defelonization Approved Posted by FoM on June 04, 2001 at 15:27:26 PT By Siobhan McDonough, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press Seriously ill patients should be able to use marijuana for medical purposes and no longer will it be a felony in Nevada to possess a small amount of the illegal weed, state lawmakers decided Monday. The Assembly vote on the last day of the legislative session puts the state on a potential collision course with the federal government over medical marijuana and relaxes one of the toughest drug possession laws in the nation. The state Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to the medical marijuana-defelonization bill, AB453, and sent the measure to Gov. Kenny Guinn, who is expected to sign it. "I'm thrilled that the Senate amended the bill, yet kept the intent and the will of the people," said Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas. "I think 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." AB453 lets seriously ill Nevadans have up to seven marijuana plants for personal use. Also, a person with an ounce or less of marijuana could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $600. A second offense would result in a higher fine and assignment to a treatment or rehabilitation program. Third-time offenders would be charged with a gross misdemeanor and have to pay an even steeper fine. The Senate amended the bill to add felony charges on a fourth or subsequent case of marijuana possession. Other amendments allow the state to apply to the federal government for permission to conduct a research program in which doctors would study whether marijuana helped ease pain, nausea or other symptoms of seriously ill patients. Also, the state Department of Agriculture could apply to the federal government for a seed lab. The bill also would create a state registry for all patients whose doctors recommend they use marijuana for medical reasons. 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 Legislature. The lawmakers took action despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that 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 that purpose 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 governor signed it last year. Complete Title: Medical Marijuana, Defelonization Approved in Nevada Source: Associated PressAuthor: Siobhan McDonough, Associated Press WriterPublished: Monday, June 4, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Associated Press Related Articles:Marijuana Bill Passed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9964.shtmlSenate Subcommittee Backs Medical Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9951.shtmlState Senator Suggests Research on Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9918.shtmlSenator Seeks Protection for Users http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9913.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 04, 2001 at 21:52:59 PT Initiatives Hi dedbr,I took this paragraph out of the article below. I'm not sure what the Initiatives will be but Ohio is one of the three states. I hope they work on marijuana issues this time. That's what I'm hope for.Next month, the three men are expected to approve a multimillion-dollar plan to mount ballot-initiative campaigns in 2002 in the politically crucial states of Florida, Ohio and Michigan. The ballot measures are modeled on California's Proposition 36, which last fall produced a voter mandate to prevent state judges from sending people to prison after their first or second conviction for drug use or possession. Instead, those nonviolent offenders will be directed into treatment programs. Threesome Fund Growing War On The War On Drugshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9908.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dedbr on June 04, 2001 at 20:59:13 PT: Victory in Nevada Good news for the gambling state.It's creeping east and I hope it comes back to Ohio soon.Yes,we had it once and they took medical marijuana when the California law was passed.The lawmakers didn't even know they had voted for it.Thats how stupid the people we elect are. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: