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MARIJUANA BILL DIES IN COMMITTEE

CARSON CITY - A bill to tighten the law for growing marijuana has died in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 6-6 vote. 

Eight votes are needed for passage by the committee of Senate Bill 262, which breezed through the Senate on an 18-3 vote. 

The bill would have imposed a penalty on the number of marijuana plants discovered by law enforcement.  Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, the chairman of the committee, said the criminal penalty now is based on the weight of the marijuana. 

The penalty could range up to a felony, depending on the amount discovered. 

Anderson said there is a loophole in the law and authorities sought to close it.  There was testimony from California officials that growers come to Nevada to plant and harvest the plant and the sell it. 

Anderson, D-Sparks, said marijuana is a "gateway" drug to the use of stronger drugs. 

But Assemblyman Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, argued the nation was going in a different direction in dealing with laws on marijuana.  The movement now is toward treatment, he said. 

Two members Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, and John Carpenter R-Elko, were absent.  Friday is the final day the bill could be brought up for reconsideration.