MEDICAL POT PROGRAM STARTS OCT. 1 IN NEVADA

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada will become the ninth state to offer a
state-run medical marijuana program under new regulations allowing
physician-approved patients to grow and use the drug effective Oct. 1.

The Board of Agriculture unanimously approved the rules Thursday
under the measure approved by the 2001 Legislature and signed into
law by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Under the state law, qualified patients suffering from AIDS, cancer
and other illnesses, or nausea related to those illnesses, can grow
small amounts of the drug in their homes for personal use.

"We're ready to run an effective program," said Paul Iverson,
director of the agency.

Despite the unanimous vote, some members of the board expressed
misgivings, both with regard to the use of marijuana and the cost to
the agency of administering a program without funding.

The Legislature, citing budget constraints, provided no money to
operate the program.

"I think this is a major slippery slope here," said board member John
Cooper of Sparks.

He questioned what would happen if a physician was too liberal in
approving the use of medical marijuana, and what would happen to
someone in the program who used the drug while driving.

Iverson said there are a number of prohibitions regarding the use of
medical marijuana. Using the drug in public or driving while under
its influence is illegal.

Anyone caught driving under the influence would be subject to
Nevada's criminal laws, he said.

Gina Session, representing the attorney general's office, said the
Board of Medical Examiners, which governs physicians, will monitor
Nevada doctors' involvement in the program. The law requires a
licensed Nevada physician to sign a form authorizing a patient to
become a member of the program.