On March 17, Democratic State Senator Tick Segerblom (D-Nevada) introduced a bill that would legalize medical marijuana for pets in Nevada. The bill is the first of its kind in the US. Nevada’s SB372 is important for several reasons. First, it allows veterinarians to legally prescribe marijuana as a treatment for animals who are suffering from any number of medical conditions. Second, this bill opens the door for new research into the benefits of medical marijuana, both for humans and animals.
Both democrats and republicans have expressed skepticism about the bill, claiming to be concerned about the “ill effects” that medical marijuana could have on pets. Politicians are not doctors or veterinarians, and they’re certainly not scientists. Still, far too many politicians seem to think it’s their job to limit the work of those who are.
