NEV. LAWMAKERS OK BILL TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- State lawmakers voted Monday to legalize
marijuana for medical purposes and relax penalties for possession of the drug.

The Assembly's vote puts the state on a potential collision course with the
federal government. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that a federal
law classifying the drug as illegal includes no exception for medical uses.

The state Senate has already approved the bill, and it is expected to
receive Gov. Kenny Guinn's signature.

The bill would allow seriously ill Nevadans to have up to seven marijuana
plants for personal use.

It says a person with an ounce or less of marijuana could be charged with a
misdemeanor and fined up to $600. A second offense would carry a higher
fine and placement in a treatment or rehabilitation program; three-time
offenders would be charged with a gross misdemeanor and pay a still-steeper
fine.

The Senate amended the bill to add felony charges for a fourth or
subsequent possession charge.