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Republican and Democratic senators agreed Friday that they must pass a law that makes it easier for Nevadans with medical marijuana cards to acquire marijuana.
During a three-hour Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, members acknowledged it is nearly impossible for the 3,645 people legally authorized to use marijuana in the state to obtain the drug.
The Nevada medical marijuana law, approved in 2001 after two elections where voters overwhelmingly backed medical marijuana, requires card holders to grow their own marijuana. Witnesses testified that even acquiring seeds is illegal and people have difficulty growing pot in the Las Vegas climate.
The hearing Friday was informational and attracted only about 20 people.
Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, said after the hearing that he soon will introduce a bill to set up a regulated system where marijuana is grown at farms and then distributed and taxed through licensed dispensaries. He said his plan is based on the Colorado system, where 24-hour video surveillance is required at farms and dispensaries.
Colorado and Washington voters legalized recreational marijuana in November, but Nevada is one of 18 states that only allows medical marijuana to patients with the permission of doctors.
"The voters have spoken," Segerblom said. "It (medical marijuana) is in our control. It is time to come up with a system."
He said he favors the Gaming Control Board taking over the regulation of medical marijuana with controls similar to "the casino cage" where "everything in and everything out" is carefully charted and videotaped. The program now is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services.
When asked after the hearing why he was sponsoring the medical marijuana bill, Segerblom, 64, said "I am from the '60s" and he was carrying out the will of voters.
During the hearing, witnesses emphasized how former Clark County District Judge Donald Mosley last year threw out criminal charges against two men who were dispensing marijuana and declared the marijuana law unconstitutional.
The judge noted the constitutional amendment approved by voters required legislators to pass a law with "appropriate methods for the supply of the plant to patients authorized to use it" and they had failed to do so.
His decision is on appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Mosley wrote he was not a supporter of medical marijuana, but "the court is sworn to uphold the constitution of the state of Nevada."
Regardless of senators' feelings on marijuana, Sen. Mark Hutchison, R-Las Vegas, said, they must follow the dictates of the constitutional amendment.
"It is a constitutional mandate by the people," he said.
In reading the history of the federal prohibition of marijuana, Sen. Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, noted marijuana, once legal and readily available, was criminalized in the 1930s after reports that it led to crime and was popular among "racially inferior" people. He asked state Health and Human Services officials if they had evidence that marijuana truly is harmful and leads to crime. He was told they only carry out laws, and don't take sides.
"Marijuana use is harmful," responded Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno.
He was referring to a statement found on the website of President Barack Obama's Office of National Drug Control Policy. But Brower, a U.S. attorney under President George W. Bush, also called the current state law "hopelessly confusing."
About the only levity in the hearing came when Ford said he understood that marijuana kills brain cells.
"I have lost some brain cells but I am still alive," Segerblom responded.
Officials with state medical marijuana program presented reports that show it is the 55-64 age group that holds the largest number of medical marijuana cards, not younger people.
No medical marijuana users testified, but Gerald Mager of Sparks said he hopes there will be no change to laws that make people stoned on marijuana subject to drunken driving laws. He said his 17-year-old son was killed by a driver high on marijuana.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: lvrj.com
Author: Ed Vogel
Contact: Contact the Review-Journal - About - ReviewJournal.com
Website: Legislators seek help for Nevadans with medical marijuana cards - News - ReviewJournal.com
During a three-hour Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, members acknowledged it is nearly impossible for the 3,645 people legally authorized to use marijuana in the state to obtain the drug.
The Nevada medical marijuana law, approved in 2001 after two elections where voters overwhelmingly backed medical marijuana, requires card holders to grow their own marijuana. Witnesses testified that even acquiring seeds is illegal and people have difficulty growing pot in the Las Vegas climate.
The hearing Friday was informational and attracted only about 20 people.
Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, said after the hearing that he soon will introduce a bill to set up a regulated system where marijuana is grown at farms and then distributed and taxed through licensed dispensaries. He said his plan is based on the Colorado system, where 24-hour video surveillance is required at farms and dispensaries.
Colorado and Washington voters legalized recreational marijuana in November, but Nevada is one of 18 states that only allows medical marijuana to patients with the permission of doctors.
"The voters have spoken," Segerblom said. "It (medical marijuana) is in our control. It is time to come up with a system."
He said he favors the Gaming Control Board taking over the regulation of medical marijuana with controls similar to "the casino cage" where "everything in and everything out" is carefully charted and videotaped. The program now is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services.
When asked after the hearing why he was sponsoring the medical marijuana bill, Segerblom, 64, said "I am from the '60s" and he was carrying out the will of voters.
During the hearing, witnesses emphasized how former Clark County District Judge Donald Mosley last year threw out criminal charges against two men who were dispensing marijuana and declared the marijuana law unconstitutional.
The judge noted the constitutional amendment approved by voters required legislators to pass a law with "appropriate methods for the supply of the plant to patients authorized to use it" and they had failed to do so.
His decision is on appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Mosley wrote he was not a supporter of medical marijuana, but "the court is sworn to uphold the constitution of the state of Nevada."
Regardless of senators' feelings on marijuana, Sen. Mark Hutchison, R-Las Vegas, said, they must follow the dictates of the constitutional amendment.
"It is a constitutional mandate by the people," he said.
In reading the history of the federal prohibition of marijuana, Sen. Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, noted marijuana, once legal and readily available, was criminalized in the 1930s after reports that it led to crime and was popular among "racially inferior" people. He asked state Health and Human Services officials if they had evidence that marijuana truly is harmful and leads to crime. He was told they only carry out laws, and don't take sides.
"Marijuana use is harmful," responded Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno.
He was referring to a statement found on the website of President Barack Obama's Office of National Drug Control Policy. But Brower, a U.S. attorney under President George W. Bush, also called the current state law "hopelessly confusing."
About the only levity in the hearing came when Ford said he understood that marijuana kills brain cells.
"I have lost some brain cells but I am still alive," Segerblom responded.
Officials with state medical marijuana program presented reports that show it is the 55-64 age group that holds the largest number of medical marijuana cards, not younger people.
No medical marijuana users testified, but Gerald Mager of Sparks said he hopes there will be no change to laws that make people stoned on marijuana subject to drunken driving laws. He said his 17-year-old son was killed by a driver high on marijuana.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: lvrj.com
Author: Ed Vogel
Contact: Contact the Review-Journal - About - ReviewJournal.com
Website: Legislators seek help for Nevadans with medical marijuana cards - News - ReviewJournal.com
