The use of marijuana for medical purposes is now legal in 20 different states, including Nevada. AIDS, cachexia, cancer, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), persistent muscular spasms or seizures, severe nausea or pain, and other illnesses may be addressed by the program. A registry card is only valid for one year and would be renewed unless the holder moves out of state or loses his or her qualifying status. A person who is licensed on a registry card may possess up to two and one-half ounces of usable marijuana in any one 14-day period, as long as he or she does so without exceeding the legal limit. According to Nevada Revised Statute 453A.200, such a person could legally own up to 12 marijuana plants at any time if they were not yet mature.
If a card has been granted, the individual is limited to that amount. According to state law, doing so may result in criminal charges and having a medical marijuana card are not an acceptable defense against such allegations. The holder of the card might choose a designated primary caregiver. A caregiver who is not a qualifying patient would be able to legally assist the cardholder in administering medical marijuana. If the caretaker is sick or lacks transportation, they might be allowed to travel to a dispensary for the cardholder.
Even if a person has a medical marijuana card and uses marijuana for medicinal purposes, he or she may be arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana. If someone with a medical marijuana card is in actual physical control of a car or vessel while under the influence of marijuana, he or she is not considered exempt from state prosecution according to
Nevada Revised Statute 453A.300.
Driving under the influence is a very serious crime in Nevada that may result in
DUI charges. The person would have been intoxicated by alcohol, just as if he or she had been charged with this offense. If no aggravating factors are present, a first or second offense might be classified as a misdemeanor.
Third-time offenders may be charged with felony penalties.