MARIJUANA BILL DIES IN COMMITTEE

CARSON CITY - A bill to tighten the law for growing marijuana has died
in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 6-6 vote.

Eight votes are needed for passage by the committee of Senate Bill
262, which breezed through the Senate on an 18-3 vote.

The bill would have imposed a penalty on the number of marijuana
plants discovered by law enforcement. Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, the
chairman of the committee, said the criminal penalty now is based on
the weight of the marijuana.

The penalty could range up to a felony, depending on the amount
discovered.

Anderson said there is a loophole in the law and authorities sought to
close it. There was testimony from California officials that growers
come to Nevada to plant and harvest the plant and the sell it.

Anderson, D-Sparks, said marijuana is a "gateway" drug to the use of
stronger drugs.

But Assemblyman Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, argued the nation was
going in a different direction in dealing with laws on marijuana. The
movement now is toward treatment, he said.

Two members Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, and John Carpenter R-Elko,
were absent. Friday is the final day the bill could be brought up for
reconsideration.