COMMITTEE REINSTATES PENALTY FOR GROWING POT

Criminal penalties for growing marijuana are on their way to being
reinstated after a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

The 1999 Legislature accidentally deleted the penalties while passing
language in a different bill. Lawmakers were told because of that error
there has been no criminal penalty for growing marijuana since then.

The committee voted to make cultivation of marijuana a felony. But
Senate Bill 242 provides stiffer penalties for growing larger amounts of
pot.

The original bill would have restored the old law, making cultivation a
category B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The version approved by the Judiciary Committee on Monday makes
cultivation of less than 50 pounds of marijuana a category E felony
normally punishable by a suspended sentence and probation. The penalty
would be 1-4 years for growing 50-100 pounds, up to five years for
growing up to 1,000 pounds.

The old 20-year sentence would still be available for growing more than
1,000 pounds of pot.

The bill goes to the Senate for a vote later this week.

Committee Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said the Legislature can
provide an exemption for those with a medical marijuana card when that
bill arrives at the Senate.

The medical marijuana program was approved by the Assembly Judiciary
Committee on Friday allowing those with certain diseases to register
with the state and have a personal supply of pot or growing marijuana
plants in their possession.