Monday, April 17, 2017 | 10:05 a.m.
CARSON CITY — A legislative audit of Nevada’s medical marijuana program found people with criminal backgrounds were able to purchase the drug and nondoctors were able to authorize program applicants to qualify for a state permit.
The law also says individuals can grow their own medical marijuana if they are at least 25 miles from a dispensary. The audit found a number of violations of the provision and that the state never checked the locations.
The state Division of Public and Behavioral Health has a poor record-keeping system, according to the audit released Friday. The division accepted nine recommendations in the audit.
As of December, 25,358 people received cards from the state to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana in a 14-day period. Cardholders must get approval from a doctor and undergo a background check by the state.
“We found the program’s enforcement of the requirements to prevent the sale to those with disqualifying criminal histories to be deficient,” the audit said. But it said less than 1 percent with unsavory backgrounds were permitted to buy marijuana.
The report suggested the Legislature eliminate the requirement for background checks because the state’s recreational marijuana program does not require them.
The audit found that eight nondoctors, including physician’s assistants, medical residents and nurses, signed approvals for patients to obtain medical marijuana cards. Only doctors can approve patients for the program.
The audit showed that as of March 2016, 5 percent of doctors submitted approvals for 84 percent of patient applications.
The audit noted that many of those enrolled in the medical marijuana program will remain after recreational marijuana becomes available, because of the lower taxes.
The state Department of Taxation has developed a temporary set of regulations to get the recreational marijuana program off the ground by July 1. The state Tax Commission is to meet next month to approve the regulations.
