cannabisnews.com: Subverting The Law Subverting The Law Posted by FoM on January 14, 2001 at 08:02:08 PT Editorial Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal Dan Hart, director of the medical marijuana advocacy group Nevadans for Medical Rights, is upset. And justifiably so. Nearly two-thirds of the state's voters backed a November initiative that would allow physicians to prescribe marijuana as a means of relieving pain or wasting syndrome in seriously ill patients. Yet Mr. Hart makes a credible claim that Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa is attempting to subvert the will of Nevada voters ... and deep-six the medical marijuana measure entirely. Rather than allowing the Legislature to set up a distribution program for medicinal marijuana -- which the initiative clearly mandates -- Ms. Del Papa has set up a Medical Marijuana Initiative Committee, based at the University of Nevada medical school, to conduct a "research study" on ways cannabis can be delivered to patients without inviting prosecution by federal narcotics agents. She has urged caution in setting up any distribution program, awaiting a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the legality of the distribution system put in place by California after voters there passed a similar medical marijuana measure. Ms. Del Papa, however, has overstepped her authority. The makeup of any distribution system should be decided by legislators, rather than the attorney general, whose job is to enforce state laws, not write them. When the Legislature convenes next month, it should follow the letter of the law: Approve the use of marijuana to treat the illnesses cited in the initiative; insulate physicians who prescribe cannabis from prosecution or other government sanctions; and establish a registry of patients who are allowed to use the drug for medical purposes. Attorney General Del Papa should butt out. Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV) Published: Sunday, January 14, 2001Copyright: Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2001Address: P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125Fax: (702) 383-4676Contact: letters lvrj.comWebsite: http://www.lvrj.com/Related Articles: Medical Marijuana Advocate: Voters Wishes Thwartedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8272.shtmlMedical Marijuana Advocate Blasts Research Plan http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8269.shtmlMedical Marijuana Group Opposes Limitshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8156.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 21, 2001 at 13:28:03 PT: Related Article Don't Blame Nevada AG http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8397.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: