DOCTORS MAY NOT BE QUICK TO AUTHORIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

CARSON CITY (AP) - Applications to qualify for the Oct. 1 start-up of
Nevada's medical marijuana program can be requested beginning Sept. 24, but
a state official says it may be several months before a doctor risks
authorizing use of the plant.

When a similar program was initiated in Oregon, it took more than 90 days
before a doctor was willing to authorize use of the plant for a patient,
said Ed Foster, a spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture, which
is implementing the medical marijuana program following its approval by the
2001 Legislature.

"After the first doctor did it, the rest followed," he said Friday.

Nevada's program requires the approval of a licensed state physician before
a person is allowed to grow marijuana for personal medical use.

Don Henderson, assistant administrator of the Agriculture Department, said
those qualifying for the program will be immune from state and local
prosecution for marijuana possession, but still could be subjected to
federal prosecution.

Former Arkansas Rep. Asa Hutchinson, who was sworn in earlier this month as
administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has indicated he
will uphold federal laws that ban the use of marijuana.

Henderson said the state agency will not provide lists of doctors who
authorize the use of medicinal marijuana for patients. It also will be up to
qualified users to obtain the seeds needed to grow their own plants, he
said.

The regulations prohibit the use of medicinal marijuana in public.

About 10 people attended a public hearing on proposed regulations for
implementation of the state medical marijuana program, asking questions and
seeking clarification of the rules. Final adoption of the regulations is
scheduled for Thursday in the capital.