ANOTHER MARIJUANA INITIATIVE PROPOSED IN NEVADA

A new medical marijuana initiative has been filed in Nevada, and
advocates said Friday it'll clear up confusion over an earlier plan
that got strong voter support.

The latest plan, filed with the secretary of state's office, would
amend the Nevada Constitution to ensure that mere possession of three
ounces or less of marijuana by anyone 21 or older wouldn't be cause
for arrest.

However, penalties could be imposed for driving cars or operating
heavy machinery while under the influence of marijuana, or smoking in
public. Also, marijuana couldn't be used or sold at schools, jails or
prisons or jail.

The measure also calls for a tax structure on marijuana that's similar
to tobacco taxes, and a distribution system to ensure that marijuana
can be obtained at low cost by people with chronic and debilitating
diseases such as AIDS, cancer and glaucoma.

Gail Tuzzolo of Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement said the
lawmakers weren't clear enough, and the latest initiative will ensure
"easier access and more reasonable laws for getting medical marijuana."

"The goal is to put more pressure because the 2001 Legislature failed
to implement a system," she added.

Proponents have until June 18 to turn in more than 61,000 signatures
to county clerks and registrars. From there, the proposal would go to
the secretary of state for verification and placement on the November
ballot.

The 2001 Legislature authorized people with terminal illnesses or
nausea associated with those illnesses to grow a modest amount of
marijuana for their own use. The law allows for up to one ounce of
usable marijuana and a maximum of seven growing plants.

The current law lets medical marijuana users grow their own plants,
with assistance from licensed caregivers -- typically spouses or
partners. The program is modeled after one operating for several years
in Oregon.