Pubdate: Sun, 14 Jan 2001
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2001 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact:  P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125
Fax: (702)383-4676
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Forum: http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/feedback/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9)

SUBVERTING THE LAW

Dan Hart, director of the medical marijuana advocacy group Nevadans
for Medical Rights, is upset. And justifiably so.

Nearly two-thirds of the state's voters backed a November initiative
that would allow physicians to prescribe marijuana as a means of
relieving pain or wasting syndrome in seriously ill patients. Yet Mr.
Hart makes a credible claim that Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa
is attempting to subvert the will of Nevada voters ... and deep-six
the medical marijuana measure entirely.

Rather than allowing the Legislature to set up a distribution program
for medicinal marijuana -- which the initiative clearly mandates --
Ms. Del Papa has set up a Medical Marijuana Initiative Committee,
based at the University of Nevada medical school, to conduct a
"research study" on ways cannabis can be delivered to patients without
inviting prosecution by federal narcotics agents. She has urged
caution in setting up any distribution program, awaiting a ruling by
the U.S. Supreme Court on the legality of the distribution system put
in place by California after voters there passed a similar medical
marijuana measure.

Ms. Del Papa, however, has overstepped her authority. The makeup of
any distribution system should be decided by legislators, rather than
the attorney general, whose job is to enforce state laws, not write
them.

When the Legislature convenes next month, it should follow the letter
of the law: Approve the use of marijuana to treat the illnesses cited
in the initiative; insulate physicians who prescribe cannabis from
prosecution or other government sanctions; and establish a registry of
patients who are allowed to use the drug for medical purposes.

Attorney General Del Papa should butt out. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake