PETITION FILED TO ALLOW USE OF MARIJUANA IN MEDICAL CASES

CARSON CITY -- A petition was filed Friday to amend the Nevada Constitution
allowing the use of marijuana to relieve those who suffer from painful
diseases.

"This is an issue of compassion," says Dan Hart, a spokesman for the
committee of Nevadans for Medical Rights. "Nevadans are fiercely protective
of individual rights. We believe the individual has a right to use this
medical substance."

But Carson City District Attorney Noel Waters said, "I don't think the
temperament of most of the DAs is in favor of legalizing it. It (marijuana)
is still viewed as a drug of abuse."

Waters, a past president of the Nevada District Attorney's Association,
added that many law enforcement officers believe the use of pot leads a
person to harder drugs.

The initiative petition says a patient could use, "upon the advice of his
physician" marijuana for "treatment or alleviation" of cancer, glaucoma,
AIDS, persistent nausea, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other medical
problems.

It would permit a minor to use the drug only with written authorization by
a doctor and parents. The petition would not require insurance companies to
pay for marijuana used in these treatments.

Under the initiative's proposal there would be a confidential registry of
patients authorized to use marijuana. Law enforcement officers would have
access to the registry to verify that a person has been authorized to use
the drug. Hart said the plant could be grown but not used for illegal
purposes.

He added that the group which passed the marijuana petition in California
plans to throw a "good chunk" of money into the Nevada campaign. That
organization has already filed suit in federal court in Las Vegas to
invalidate a state attorney general's opinion that groups or individuals
would be limited to a $5,000 contribution towards passage of the Nevada
initiative.

Hart said that after the story on the suit surfaced earlier this week,
there were 35 calls in one day by people volunteering to circulate the
petition.

The backers must gain 46,764 signatures of registered voters by June 16 to
qualify for the Nevada ballot. And there must be 10 percent of the
registered voters in 13 of the 17 counties who sign the petition.

Hart, of Las Vegas, said a signature gathering firm would be hired to
supplement volunteer efforts.

This organization is also seeking to place the issue on the ballots in
other states.

"This is an issue of allowing people who have particular symptoms to use
the medication that is most effective," Hart said. He added that marijuana
doesn't cure people but for those who experience nausea after undergoing
chemotherapy for cancer, it stimulates their appetite so "they are
healthier."

Waters said the federal government is fighting the law in California. "The
feds are not willing to open the door," Water said and he agrees.

"I don't think this (marijuana use) is the world's worst crime or the worst
drug, but I'm not for legalizing it," he said. Waters said this Nevada
petition is "pretty loose" since it requires only the "authorization" of a
doctor and not a written prescription.

It was Waters who prosecuted a man who came from California to Carson City
and was found to be in possession of marijuana. The man said he had the
approval of his doctor but could never produce any documents.