cannabisnews.com: Nevada Panel Recommends Treatment, Not Prison





Nevada Panel Recommends Treatment, Not Prison
Posted by FoM on December 11, 2000 at 13:58:26 PT
Breaking News Section
Source: S.F. Gate
The Nevada Supreme Court's Judicial Assessment Commission has recommended treatment instead of prison for drug users and a misdemeanor ticket instead of felony charges for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Possession of any amount of pot and being under the influence of any drug are now classified as felonies under Nevada law. The state's marijuana possession laws are toughest in the nation. But the commission, appointed and chaired by Chief Justice Bob Rose, has urged those penalties be sharply reduced. Under their proposal, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana would be a misdemeanor and handled by issuing a citation. 
If the amount was more than an ounce but less than four ounces, the offense would be punishable as a gross misdemeanor. Only when more than four ounces of marijuana was involved would the charge remain a felony punishable by one to six years in prison. In addition, unless another offense involving a greater penalty was involved, those under the influence of an illegal drug would face a misdemeanor. But the proposal gives judges the power to order that person into a treatment program. District judges around the state have said in the past that well over half the cases that come before them involve some form of substance abuse. A bill that would have reduced the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana was defeated in the 1999 Legislature, but another version is being drafted for the 2001 session. In addition, the judges urged a major change in the law to get the mentally ill out of Nevada's jails. They proposed a state law ``requiring the state Mental Health System to take custody of all (mentally ill) persons arrested for committing a crime other than a felony crime of violence.'' The judges are also urging the state executive branch ``re-establish an appropriate and comprehensive mental health program and adequately fund it'' and give judges the authority to divert nonviolent offenders with mental illness into treatment. In addition to changing handling of drug addicts and the mentally ill, the commission report calls for major changes in how judges are selected and in the structure of Nevada's courts. The biggest change would be to impose a version of the Missouri Plan in Nevada where judges would be appointed on merit, then face an election with no opponent after two years on the bench to determine whether the people wanted to retain the judge. If not, another judge would be appointed. Complete Title: Nevada Panel Recommends Treatment, Not Prison, for Drug Addicts Source: Associated PressPublished: December 11, 2000 Copyright: 2000 Associated Press CannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by defenderoffreeworld on December 12, 2000 at 17:33:40 PT:
damn
like thergood jenkins once said '5 years in for weed!! daimn!!'
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Comment #3 posted by dddd on December 12, 2000 at 04:57:55 PT
legal vice/outlaw bud
I hear ya Dr.Ganj....Well spoken.I've known several people who ended up visiting Nevada,and a weekend gambling trip,turned into a law enfocement oddessy.Nevada has some real hardnose laws when it comes to weed. Possession or use of any amount: 1st offense: 1 - 4 years; $5,0002nd offense: 1 - 10 years3rd offense: 1 - 20 years If you're curious,see this link.http://www.norml.org/legal/state_laws3.shtml
http://www.norml.org/legal/state_laws3.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by Dr. Ganj on December 11, 2000 at 23:07:49 PT
Legal Brothels, Gambling, But No Legal Buds? 
This would be a smart move, as I used to live there, and having to deal with the fear of a felony bust for just a few buds was terrible. You can drink yourself sick, go get laid at a brothel, go gamble your money away-all quite legal, but oh know, have a little marijuana in your possession, and you were/are looking at a real live legal nightmare. Not cool at all. Time for a change, and an apology to all the poor stoners that got reamed there in the past.It's one thing to drive all the way out there and lose your money gambling, it's another thing to end up in jail for a few dried flowers of a beautiful herb. We must stop the madness soon, as enough suffering has occurred. Dr. Ganj 
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Comment #1 posted by Occasional Pot User on December 11, 2000 at 16:17:48 PT:
The Wall is Crumbling
As was said before... This is good news for all the Las Vegas tourists, and people who just like to head out to the Nevada desert to smoke a bowl and enjoy the space and freedom.
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