Marijuana petition sent to county clerks

CARSON CITY -- A proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution to allow use of marijuana to treat illness and relieve pain has cleared its first hurdle.

Petitions bearing more than 69,000 signatures were submitted to clerks in 13 counties Tuesday by the 5 p.m. deadline. To qualify for the ballot, 46,764 signatures of registered voters were needed.

And there had to be 10 percent of the voters in 13 of the 17 counties signing the petition. So the petition was filed in the bare minimum of counties.

In Clark, the number of signatures totaled 43,694 and there were 16,111 names in Washoe County.

Amy Donaldson, of Progressive Campaigns, which conducted the signature gathering drive, said it would be several weeks before anyone would know if the petition qualifies for the November ballot.

Petitions were not filed in Eureka, Storey and Lincoln counties and in Carson City.

County clerks will start counting the petitions to verify the numbers. And if there are enough, Secretary of State Dean Heller will order a random sample to be taken to determine if the signers were registered voters.

A group called Nevadans for Medical Rights brought the petition to amend the constitution. If it passes the voters in November, it must be approved again at the election in 2000.

The 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.

A minor could use the drug with written permission from his doctor and parents. Insurance companies would not be required to pay for marijuana that is used for treatment.

There would be a confidential registry of patients authorized to use marijuana, which would be accessible to law enforcement officers.

The petition is similar to one approved by voters in California. Medical and law enforcement associations in Nevada have opposed the petition.

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