cannabisnews.com: Senate Likely To Block Medical Pot Bill





Senate Likely To Block Medical Pot Bill
Posted by FoM on May 24, 2001 at 16:18:42 PT
By Jennifer Crowe
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal
Sick Nevadans soon could soon be smoking marijuana to ease their pain, after the Assembly Wednesday approved a medical marijuana plan that also lowers penalties for possessing the illegal weed.On a vote of 30-12, the Assembly approved AB 453, which creates a state registry of sick people whose doctors prescribe the drug. Those suffering from debilitating illnesses like cancer, AIDS and glaucoma would be able to grow up to seven plants for their personal use.
“AB 453 simply implements the will of the people,” said sponsoring Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas.Nevada voters have twice approved the use of medicinal marijuana, but some questioned whether AB 453 would survive after last week’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices ruled that cannibus growing clubs in California, which also allows for medical marijuana use, violated federal law banning the possession or use of marijuana.But a legislative legal opinion given to lawmakers last week said the Supreme Court ruling does not “ in any way address the impropriety or legality of the decision of a state to exempt persons from state prosecution for the medical use of marijuana.”But some lawmakers disagree. Assemblyman Greg Brower, R-Reno, said he supports the concept of medical marijuana but AB 453 “creates more problems than it solves.”“This bill puts Nevadans in a Catch-22,” Brower said. “It says we’re not going to prosecute for use, it’s a federal crime, but don’t worry about that.”AB 453 goes to the Senate for consideration, where it’s likely to encounter trouble. Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, has said he doesn’t see how Nevada can approve medicinal marijuana when possession is still banned in federal law. Nine of the 12 votes against AB453 were Republican, so the Republican-controlled Senate may reject the measure.Brower also said he’s uncomfortable with the sections of AB 453 that reduce marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor and fine. Giunchigliani said the change is just to put into law what’s already in practice. During hearings on the bill, lawmakers were told that judges rarely send first-time drug offenders to jail instead reducing the penalty to a misdemeanor. Nevada is one of only a few states where first-time marijuana possession is a felony.“The drug court judges I’ve talked to don’t like this bill,” Brower said.Elko Republican John Carpenter said he voted for the bill because it requires first-time drug offenders be evaluated by the court. If the offender has a drug problem, he can be ordered to treatment.“If we’re going to make any headway on the drug problem it’s going to be through treatment,” he said.Voters in Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon and Washington have approved similar initiatives. Hawaii’s legislature passed a similar law and the governor signed it last year.Also approved by the Assembly Wednesday: AB 250: Sponsored by Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, the measure would require all hospitals in the state to offer a hearing screening to the parents of every newborn. Hearing loss is the number one birth defect in the U.S. Nationally, 46 percent of newborns get a hearing test but in Nevada the number plummets to 16 percent. The bill goes to the Senate.AB 278: Rather than donate state money to the World War II Veterans Memorial Fund, the Assembly voted to allow the Nevada Office of Veterans Affairs to take donations from the public. The bill goes to the Senate.SB 415: Plans for an audit of the Nevada Department of Transportation are moving forward. Sens. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, and Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, requested this measure to get information about how NDOT decides how to prioritize road projects. Several lawmakers have made allegations that politics, not need, dictate what projects make the priority list.SB 39: This measure expands the way the Airport Authority of Washoe County can spend money raised from taxes on jet fuel. The bill doesn’t increase the tax, but allows the airport to use it on projects to promote air service, not just capital projects on airport property.Source: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)Author: Jennifer CrowePublished: May 24th, 2001Copyright: 2001 Reno Gazette-JournalWebsite: http://www.rgj.com/Contact: rgjmail nevadanet.comRelated Articles:Assembly Defies U.S. Supreme Court http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9852.shtmlNevada Assembly Approves Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9845.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill Moves On in Legislature http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9792.shtml
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