NEVADA GOVERNOR SIGNS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL; OTHER LAWS EASED

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A bill that lets seriously ill patients use
marijuana for medical purposes was signed into law Thursday by Nevada
Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The measure signed by the Republican governor also relaxes one of the
toughest drug possession laws in the nation, downgrading the charge for
possession of small amounts from a felony to a misdemeanor.

The law change was sought by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las
Vegas, who said, ''it's time that Nevada closed the door on antiquated
drug policies and reduced possession of an ounce or less to a
misdemeanor and focused its efforts on prevention and treatment.''

Seriously ill Nevadans will be able to have up to seven marijuana plants
for personal use. A state registry will be created for patients whose
doctors recommend they use marijuana for medical reasons.

Also, the state will be able to apply to the federal government for
permission to sponsor medical research into whether marijuana helps ease
pain, nausea or other symptoms of seriously ill patients.

For people other than registered patients, possession of an ounce or
less of marijuana now is a misdemeanor carrying a $600 fine, with
escalating fines for subsequent offenses. Possession won't become a
felony until the fourth offense.

Until now, Nevada has made it a felony to possess an ounce or less of
marijuana. Typically, fines of several hundred dollars have been
imposed, and parole has been mandatory. But parole violations could
result in prison terms.

Nevadans voted overwhelmingly in 1998 and 2000 to amend the Nevada
Constitution to authorize use of marijuana by those suffering from
cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other painful and potentially terminal
illnesses.

The task of implementing the voters' mandate was left to the 2001
Legislature. The lawmakers took action despite a recent U.S. Supreme
Court ruling in a California case that determined a federal law
classifying the drug as illegal makes no exception for ill patients.

The high court's action leaves those distributing the drug for medical
purposes open to prosecution

Besides Nevada, voters in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine,
Oregon and Washington have approved ballot initiatives allowing medical
marijuana. In Hawaii, the legislature passed a similar law and the
governor signed it last year.