Nevada bill would let pets use pot; proposal calls for medical marijuana cards for animals

CARSON CITY, Nev. – A Nevada senator has introduced a bill that would allow pets to use pot.

Democratic Sen. Tick Segerblom is sponsoring the bill that was introduced Tuesday.

SB372 calls on state officials to issue medical marijuana cards for animals if the animal’s owner is a Nevada resident and a veterinarian certifies that the animal has an illness that might be alleviated by marijuana.

Segerblom says the provision is part of a larger bill that cleans up the state’s medical marijuana statute.

Sen. Mark Manendo, a fellow Democrat and animal rights advocate, says he’s concerned that marijuana might not be a safe treatment for sick animals.

Segerblom says he’s also concerned that marijuana might have adverse effects on animals, but he says veterinarians won’t know unless they try.