Medicinal marijuana clears legislative hurdles

Tuesday, June 5, 2001 | 10:09 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn will now have to decide whether voters and the Legislature were correct in approving marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The Assembly completed the last legislative hurdle for the measure Monday when it agreed with a Senate amendment ordering a study of the benefits of medical marijuana.

Assembly Bill 453, sponsored by Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, allows people with chronic or debilitating illnesses such as cancer or AIDS to obtain marijuana for medicinal purposes with a doctor's permission.

Patients would need to register and obtain a permit from the state Department of Agriculture to possess an ounce of marijuana, three mature plants and four immature plants.

The Department of Agriculture would have to apply to the federal government for permission to start a seed bank. Federal approval is in question because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that strikes down California's distribution system for medical marijuana.

Voters have twice approved medical marijuana. Although Guinn had not read the bill, his spokesman said the governor is prepared to sign the measure into law.