SENATOR WANTS STATE TO GROW MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

A Republican senator called Thursday for state-run farms to grow
marijuana for medicinal use, a plan that would conflict with a medical
marijuana bill the Assembly approved just hours later.

In 1998 and 2000 Nevada voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative
that would allow medicinal use of marijuana. In a case that will help
Nevada and other states craft their rules, the U.S. Supreme Court is
considering the legality of a marijuana-buyers club in Oakland, Calif.

On Thursday, Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said he supports state-run
farms because it would be tough to track sick patients growing their own
marijuana. And forcing people to seek it on the street will only boost
illegal drug operations.

"We need to do everything we can to implement medical marijuana without
aiding the drug import crime organizations," said James, chairman of the
Senate Judiciary Committee. "We need a state-run, licensed procedure for
growing and making marijuana available for those who need to get it."

James' comments came during a hearing on Senate Bill 242, which would
close a loophole created in 1999 when lawmakers inadvertently deleted
the law that would make it illegal to grow certain amounts of marijuana.
The committee delayed action on SB 242 but is expected to vote on the
measure today.

Just a few hours later, the Assembly Judiciary Committee approved a bill
creating a medical marijuana program in Nevada. Assembly Bill 453 would
allow sick people to grow their own marijuana to combat the ravages of
such diseases as AIDS, cancer and glaucoma.

"I'm concerned about the state running pot farms," said Assembly
minority leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. "I don't think the state
would be very good at it."

AB 453 sponsor Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D- Las Vegas, said she
also opposes the state getting into the marijuana growing business.

As approved, AB 453 would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to
issue identification cards for patients granted marijuana prescriptions
from their doctors. AB 453 also reduces the penalty for possession of
one ounce of marijuana or less, from a felony to a misdemeanor and a
fine.

The decriminalization for possession of smaller amounts of marijuana
prompted Reno Republicans Greg Brower and Sharron Angle to vote against
AB 453.

"I recognize the majority of Nevada have voted in favor of the (medical
marijuana) concept, and I support that," Brower said. "But there's not a
consensus that defelonization is the way to go."

Since the Assembly and Senate judiciary committees have such different
ideas on the best way to create a medical marijuana law, it's likely the
issue will wind up in a conference committee of the two houses toward
the end of the session.

James said state-run operations would ensure consistency and quality of
the marijuana that sick people smoke. He also wants to ensure that SB
242 not punish medicinal users but, at the same time, that it would
maintain stiff penalties for people who grow marijuana for sale.

Giunchigliani said that although her bill initially called for a
state-run program, she thinks the task of growing is better left to
individuals. AB 453 doesn't address how people would get seeds to grow
or how many plants constitute personal use. Those issues likely will
have to be clarified when AB 453 goes to Assembly Ways and Means for
consideration of the program's cost.