Nevada Moves to Allow Medical Marijuana

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June 5, 2001

Nevada Moves to Allow Medical Marijuana

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[C] ARSON CITY, Nev., June 4 — State lawmakers voted today to legalize marijuana

for medical purposes and relax penalties for possession of the drug.

The vote by the Assembly puts the state on a potential collision course with the

federal government. The United States Supreme Court ruled last month that a

federal law classifying marijuana as an illegal drug had no exception for

medical uses.

The Nevada Senate has already approved the bill, and it is expected to receive

Gov. Kenny Guinn's signature.

The bill would allow seriously ill Nevadans to have up to seven marijuana plants

for personal use.

In addition, a person with an ounce or less of marijuana could be charged with a

misdemeanor and fined up to $600. A second or third offense would carry a higher

fine and placement in a treatment or rehabilitation program. The Senate amended

the bill to add felony charges for a fourth or subsequent possession charge.

Under current Nevada law, possession of any amount of marijuana can result in

felony charges leading to prison terms of one to four years. But first offenses

involving small amounts are usually handled as misdemeanors.

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