EX-CANDIDATE OFFERS TO FUND MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani said Wednesday she is willing to take
$30,000 from former gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo to start the
medical marijuana program.

"I would be happy to entertain that," said Giunchigliani, the author of
Assembly Bill 453, which puts into effect the voter-approved constitutional
amendment allowing marijuana for people who need it for medical reasons.

But Giunchigliani , D-Las Vegas, added she may not need Russo's money. She
said she was contacted by the administrator of a family trust in Las Vegas
that also is willing to put up the $30,000 needed to start the medical
marijuana program.

Assembly Ways and Means Chairman Morse Arberry, D-North Las Vegas, said
Monday that the state does not have the money to start the marijuana
program because of budget shortfalls. All legislation that increases state
spending could fail this year because the Legislature must cut $121.5
million from Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposed $3.8 billion budget. Guinn did not
include the medical marijuana program in his budget, though 65 percent of
the voters in November's election authorized marijuana for people with
AIDS, cancer and other illnesses.

Jack Finn, Guinn's press secretary, said Guinn omitted initial costs in
part because he fears the federal government would shut down any program
the state tried to start. The use of marijuana, even for medical purposes,
remains a federal crime.

In response to Guinn's omission, Russo said Tuesday that the governor is
violating his sworn duty to serve Nevada voters, who overwhelmingly
approved the marijuana program.

"He simply does not care about the needless pain endured by those whose
suffering would be relieved by medical marijuana," Russo said.

Russo pledges to raise the $30,000 necessary to start the program if the
governor agrees to put the program in effect when he receives the money.
Russo was defeated by Guinn in the 1998 Republican primary.

Giunchigliani said her bill could be amended to allow the acceptance of
contributions for the $30,000 startup costs by the Department of
Agriculture and the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety.