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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US: Nevadans Can Legally Use Medical Marijuana
Fox5 Vegas Monday 19 Oct 2009 The Obama administration is changing government policy regarding medical marijuana. A memo was issued to the 14 states that allow for medicinal use of the drug -- including Nevada. The memo tells federal prosecutors to back off those medical marijuana users who do so within the state's legal boundaries. Some supporters said the memo is a step in the right direction -- while others said it doesn't do enough. Marijuana has been legal for medicinal use in Nevada since 2001. While 13 other states have similar laws in place, federal prosecutors still went after patients. Monday's memo from Deputy Attorney General David Ogden directed prosecutors to make better use of their time and resources and go after drug traffickers -- and not individuals who are following state laws. Critics on both sides said the memo is too vague and allows for too much interpretation. “You can ask any ER doctor, or ER nurse, EMS worker, firefighter, cop, teacher and say, ‘Do you think this is a good idea to legalize marijuana?’ and they will tell you that is the dumbest idea they have heard -- absolutely not,” said Ron Brooks, of the National Narcotics Officers Association. Those pushing for less regulation said this move is one in the right direction. “It's refreshing after almost a decade of Republicans and Democratic administrations running roughshod over states’ rights to make decisions over the health of their own citizens,” said Bruce Merkin, of the Marijuana Policy Project. But since the law only affects how patients will be pursued -- marijuana dispensaries are still not allowed under Nevada law -- leaving medicinal users to resort to illegal means to get their prescriptions. “So as far as when I woke up yesterday to waking up today, has anything changed? No. I still have to live in fear every day that the federal government is going to pull the chain that they have to pull to make lives for people like me harder. And when I say people like me, I mean a licensed medical marijuana patient following state of Nevada law,” said James Parsons, president of the Medical Cannabis Consultants of Nevada. Just across the state line in California, dispensaries are legal, but the medical marijuana licenses issued in Nevada can't be used across the border. Nevada does allow medical marijuana patients to grow their own plants. Registered users can only possess one ounce of the drug at a time. http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/21345187/detail.html
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