Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 18:45:32 -0700
From: lvnorml@yahoo.com ("Las Vegas NORML")
Subject: Could Nevada enter pot-growing business?
To: Undisclosed.Recipients@tot-tm.proxy.aol.com
Reply-To: lvnorml@yahoo.com ("Las Vegas NORML")
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April 10, 2001=20
State could enter pot-growing business
By Erin Neff=20
<erin@lasvegassun.com>
LAS VEGAS SUN=20
CARSON CITY -- Voters have twice overwhelmingly supported medicinal uses =
of marijuana, provided patients sign up for a registry.=20
But the bill that would enact the will of the voters contains two =
additional concepts -- state cultivation of the drug and reducing the =
severity of minor possession.=20
Assembly Bill 453, sponsored by Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, is =
modeled largely after Oregon's medicinal marijuana law.=20
An unidentified woman in Las Vegas, who was granted immunity for her =
testimony this morning, said her paraplegic husband does not wish to =
break the law by using marijuana for medicinal purposes to ease severe =
spasms.=20
"We are just struggling to survive," said the woman, called Rose for =
identification purposes. "Our goal, of course, is not to break the law, =
but only to help his condition."=20
The state's involvement in the proposed medicinal marijuana system =
includes a registry form, with identification cards issuedby the =
Department of Motor Vehicles, and the cultivation of marijuana in indoor =
greenhouses.=20
Dan Geary of Nevadans for Medical Rights, which initiated the ballot =
question, said state-run cultivation is the safest way for patients to =
obtain the marijuana and for law enforcement to track the plants.=20
"We have to keep in mind the intent of the voters," Geary said.=20
Voters approved Question 9 in both 1998 and 2000 by a two-thirds margin. =
John O'Brien, regional manager of the state's Agriculture Department, =
said he envisioned a highly secure building -- "a reverse prison" -- to =
serve as an indoor greenhouse. He estimated the cost at $750,000 and =
said his department's chemistry lab could establish tests to check the =
drug's potency, at a cost of about $8,500.=20
Each sample could be tested for about $82, he added.=20
Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, asked who would set the market =
value for the marijuana.=20
"You wouldn't want to 'give it away,' " O'Brien said.=20
O'Brien said his research shows the market value at $350 an ounce, but =
that the marijuana could be sold for $250 an ounce in a program that =
would pay for itself.=20
Assemblyman Greg Brower, R-Reno, wondered why the bill is complicated.=20
"Why can't we simply treat it like any other prescribed drug?" Brower =
asked.=20
Giunchigliani said the federal government doesn't treat marijuana the =
same as drugs such as Valium. However, she said, she does not believe =
the federal government will interfere with the 14 sates that have =
passed medicinal marijuana measures.=20
Giunchigliani said attorneys have cautioned her not to establish a state =
cultivation program.