Pubdate: Sun, 24 Dec 2000
Source: Tahoe World (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Tahoe World
Contact:  P.O. Box 138, Tahoe City, CA 96145
Fax: (530) 583-7109
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NEVADA PANEL RECOMMENDS TREATMENT, NOT PRISON, FOR DRUG ADDICTS

CARSON CITY - The Nevada Supreme Court's Judicial Assessment Commission has 
recommended treatment instead of prison for drug users and a misdemeanor 
ticket instead of felony charges for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

Possession of any amount of pot and being under the influence of any drug 
are now classified as felonies under Nevada law. The state's marijuana 
possession laws are toughest in the nation.

But the commission, appointed and chaired by Chief Justice Bob Rose, has 
urged those penalties be sharply reduced. Under their proposal, possession 
of less than an ounce of marijuana would be a misdemeanor and handled by 
issuing a citation.

If the amount was more than an ounce but less than four ounces, the offense 
would be punishable as a gross misdemeanor. Only when more than four ounces 
of marijuana was involved would the charge remain a felony punishable by 
one to six years in prison.

In addition, unless another offense involving a greater penalty was 
involved, those under the influence of an illegal drug would face a 
misdemeanor. But the proposal gives judges the power to order that person 
into a treatment program.
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