Pot could be grown on a university farm and given to patients. Doctors would track whether the marijuana helped alleviate their pain, nausea or other medical symptoms. And furthermore, the research project might secure approval of federal drug authorities. It would be 100 percent legal. Del Papa thinks it would be foolish for Nevada to set up a medical marijuana distribution program without federal approval.
Marijuana remains against federal law, regardless of what actions states have taken.
Nevada and Colorado became the eighth and ninth states with medical marijuana laws on Nov. 7 when their voters passed initiative questions. Patients with cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, epilepsy, nausea, multiple sclerosis and other conditions approved by law could use the drug. Like Oregon, the Nevada Legislature must create a registry of patients authorized by their doctors to use the drug. Only police could check the registry. The state also must set up a distribution system to get pot to patients.