Source: Las Vegas Pubdate: March 13, 1998 Author: Cy Ryan, Sun Capital Bureau Contact: Website: http://www.lasvegassun.com/ PETITION FILED TO ALLOW USE OF MARIJUANA IN MEDICAL CASES CARSON CITY -- A petition was filed Friday to amend the Nevada Constitution allowing the use of marijuana to relieve those who suffer from painful diseases. "This is an issue of compassion," says Dan Hart, a spokesman for the committee of Nevadans for Medical Rights. "Nevadans are fiercely protective of individual rights. We believe the individual has a right to use this medical substance." But Carson City District Attorney Noel Waters said, "I don't think the temperament of most of the DAs is in favor of legalizing it. It (marijuana) is still viewed as a drug of abuse." Waters, a past president of the Nevada District Attorney's Association, added that many law enforcement officers believe the use of pot leads a person to harder drugs. The initiative petition says a patient could use, "upon the advice of his physician" marijuana for "treatment or alleviation" of cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, persistent nausea, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other medical problems. It would permit a minor to use the drug only with written authorization by a doctor and parents. The petition would not require insurance companies to pay for marijuana used in these treatments. Under the initiative's proposal there would be a confidential registry of patients authorized to use marijuana. Law enforcement officers would have access to the registry to verify that a person has been authorized to use the drug. Hart said the plant could be grown but not used for illegal purposes. He added that the group which passed the marijuana petition in California plans to throw a "good chunk" of money into the Nevada campaign. That organization has already filed suit in federal court in Las Vegas to invalidate a state attorney general's opinion that groups or individuals would be limited to a $5,000 contribution towards passage of the Nevada initiative. Hart said that after the story on the suit surfaced earlier this week, there were 35 calls in one day by people volunteering to circulate the petition. The backers must gain 46,764 signatures of registered voters by June 16 to qualify for the Nevada ballot. And there must be 10 percent of the registered voters in 13 of the 17 counties who sign the petition. Hart, of Las Vegas, said a signature gathering firm would be hired to supplement volunteer efforts. This organization is also seeking to place the issue on the ballots in other states. "This is an issue of allowing people who have particular symptoms to use the medication that is most effective," Hart said. He added that marijuana doesn't cure people but for those who experience nausea after undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, it stimulates their appetite so "they are healthier." Waters said the federal government is fighting the law in California. "The feds are not willing to open the door," Water said and he agrees. "I don't think this (marijuana use) is the world's worst crime or the worst drug, but I'm not for legalizing it," he said. Waters said this Nevada petition is "pretty loose" since it requires only the "authorization" of a doctor and not a written prescription. It was Waters who prosecuted a man who came from California to Carson City and was found to be in possession of marijuana. The man said he had the approval of his doctor but could never produce any documents.