Medical Marijuana Wins Vote

The state Assembly on Wednesday approved a measure that would authorize medical use of marijuana and would lessen the criminal penalty faced by anyone who possesses the drug.

The bill was approved 30 to 12 and goes to the Senate, which is expected to vote later this month.

Supporter Vivian Freeman, a Democrat, said she’s “puzzled why there are so many hoops to jump through for something that’s so helpful.”

Opponents said lawmakers should heed the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous May 14 ruling that federal law classifying the drug as illegal makes no exception for ill patients.

“This bill puts Nevadans in a Catch-22,” said Greg Brower, a Republican who opposed the measure. “It says we’re not going to prosecute for use--it’s a federal crime--but don’t worry about that.”

Nevadans voted overwhelmingly in 1998 and 2000 to amend the state constitution to authorize marijuana use for people with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other illnesses.

The legislation would allow seriously ill people to have up to seven marijuana plants for personal use. A state registry would list patients whose doctors recommend they use marijuana for medical reasons.

The measure also reduces possession of small amounts of marijuana to a misdemeanor crime rather than a felony.