NEVADA'S MEDICAL POT LAW IN PERIL

Unfunded Program Can't Go Forward Without Donations

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Applications to use medical marijuana are printed, and
registry cards will go to qualifying patients starting Oct. 1. But without
donations, Nevada's medical marijuana program could go broke.

So far, just $771 in donations has been raised for the state Department of
Agriculture to operate the program.

Ed Foster, the Agriculture Department spokesman in Reno who manages the
medical marijuana program, said his agency needs about $30,000 a year to
run a program that eventually could allow 1,000 patients with debilitating
illnesses to grow their own marijuana.

He has one part-time worker helping him. Much of the money would pay for
entering information about users into computers, for printing costs and for
the registration cards that will be issued by the Department of Motor
Vehicles. The cards are free to patients.

"We cannot charge anything," Foster said of the recently passed law that
implements a voter-approved constitutional amendment making Nevada the
ninth state to allow sick people to use marijuana. "We are operating
completely by donations."

No Cost To State

Gov. Kenny Guinn didn't include costs of operating the medical marijuana
program in his $3.8 billion budget for 2001-03.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, put the $30,000 cost in the
enabling legislation, but then removed the money when it became apparent
the bill might fail if there was a cost to the state government.

Former gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo pledged in May to cover the
$30,000 cost and promptly ran advertisements blasting Guinn for omitting
the funds.

Empty Promise

But to date, Russo hasn't honored his pledge. He said Thursday he thought
the $30,000 had been included in the final version of the bill.

"This is the first I have heard that the money wasn't there," Russo said.
"Believe me, I will raise the money like I said I would."

Accused Of Intent

Russo added that he thinks Guinn deliberately withheld operating money
because he opposes medical marijuana. The governor declined to respond to
Russo's comment.

Under the new law, patients with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other illnesses
need a statement from their physicians that they have medical permission to
use marijuana. The state law, patterned after Oregon's, allows qualified
patients, or someone they designate, to grow no more than seven plants, of
which only three can be mature.