Medical Marijuana Bill Poised for Passage

With some of the toughest drug laws in the nation, Nevada is on the verge of allowing medical marijuana and defelonizing possession of small amounts of the illegal weed.

As the end of the 2001 legislative session neared, the state Senate voted 15 to 6 to return the medical marijuana-defelonization bill to the Assembly, where passage by today's scheduled adjournment was certain.

The bill allows seriously ill Nevadans to have as many as seven marijuana plants for personal use. Also, a person with an ounce or less of marijuana could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $600.