A Democrat lawmaker in Nevada is looking to legalize the use of marijuana for pets.
Democratic Sen. Tick Segerblom is sponsoring the measure that would allow animal owners to get marijuana for their pet if a veterinarian certifies the animal has an illness that might be alleviated by the drug.
The drug hasn’t been proven safe in animals, but Segerblom said “you don’t know until you try.” Some veterinarians say that it appears to relieve certain symptoms in animals.
Los Angeles veterinarian Doug Kramer told The Associated Press in 2013 that pot helped ease his Siberian husky’s pain during her final weeks, after she had surgery to remove tumors. Kramer said cannabis helped his dog, Nikita, gain weight and live an extra six weeks before she was euthanized.
“I grew tired of euthanizing pets when I wasn’t doing everything I could to make their lives better,” Kramer told the AP. “I felt like I was letting them down.”
The “pot for pets” provision is part of a larger bill that deals with Nevada’s medical marijuana law.
Other legislators are concerned about the provision. Sen. Mark Manendo, also a Democrat and animal -rights advocate, has concerns.
“That gives me pause,” he said. “Alcohol is bad, chocolate is bad for dogs.”
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