‘Marijuana for pets’ proposal in Nevada

Posted by: admin , March 19, 2015

If passed, a Bill in Nevada would allow owners to give their pets marijuana if a vet certifies the pet has an illness that can be alleviated by the drug.
Dr Robert Silver, President of the veterinary botanical association says that while medical marijuana shows some promise for alleviating pain and suffering in animals, owners and vets should proceed with caution.
In particular, it has been shown that dogs react to THC (one of marijuana’s active ingredients) differently to humans because they have a high concentration of THC receptors in the back of their brains, which makes them susceptible to severe neurological effects and toxic reactions.
Although the ‘pot for pets’ provision of SB372 is part of a larger bill that would overhaul Nevada’s existing medical marijuana laws, it is still in its early stages and would need to pass numerous legislative hurdles before it can become law.
Technically, marijuana is a Class I narcotic under federal law which means that vets cannot prescribe it to their patients, even in states where medical marijuana is legal.