Pubdate: Tue, 05 Sep 2000
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Copyright: 2000 Las Vegas Sun, Inc.
Contact:  P.O. Box 4275, Las Vegas, NV 89127
Fax: (702) 383-7264
Website: http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Forum: http://www.vegas.com/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi
Author: Cy Ryan,  Sun Capital Bureau

HIGH COURT RULING CONCERNS NEVADA MARIJUANA BACKERS

An order by the U.S. Supreme Court stopping distribution of marijuana
in California has Nevada backers worried about a vote in November that
would legalize medical uses of marijuana in this state.

"I'm still cautiously optimistic," said Dan Hart, spokesman for
Nevadans for Medical Rights, a group supporting the initiative. "I
felt a lot more comfortable before this story. I don't know how
opponents will use and distort this."

Two years ago voters -- by a 241,510-to-170,264 margin -- passed the
medical marijuana ballot initiative. It must be approved again in November.

If voters approve it a second time, the Legislature must write a law
on how the drug can be distributed. In California, the federal
government has stymied efforts for sale to those who have prescriptions.

The Supreme Court ruling centered on one method of distribution in
California -- through clubs. "There are different ways of
distribution, and I'm sure they will be adjudicated," Hart said.

Keith Macdonald, executive secretary of the Nevada Board of Pharmacy,
said the federal government has been "intractable" in its opposition
to the drug, which is against federal law to use.

But Macdonald said a committee of doctors, pharmacists and others is
working on a possible solution. A preliminary proposal suggests the
University of Nevada School of Medicine or some other group may set up
a research project that could prescribe and deliver marijuana. Such a
program would monitor and evaluate whether the drug is effective.

"Someone has to say if it's a beneficial public policy and look at
it," he said.

Macdonald said the committee has one more meeting before it reaches a
final recommendation. But the medical research proposal is not
endorsed by everybody on the committee. "One member felt it was
inappropriate to open the door in any manner," Macdonald said.

A recommendation from the committee could help the Legislature decide
on how it could comply with the wishes of the voters, Macdonald said.

Hart called it "a fundamental issue of compassion. People who need
this medication should have it available." He added the initiative
"takes the government out of the process and lets the physician decide."
- ---