Lawmakers to review marijuana, background check initiatives

Nevada lawmakers will discuss voter petitions aimed at expanding background checks on gun purchases and legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee is scheduled to review two initiative petitions on Monday that were approved by voters in December.

Initiative Petition 1 would legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, and Initiative Petition 2 would require background checks on certain firearm purchases.

Republican committee chairman Ira Hansen said the bills will be moved out of committee without a recommendation and that Republican leadership will make a decision on what to do with the petitions this week.

The Legislature has 40 days from the start of the 120-day session to pass the initiatives before they are automatically placed on the 2016 ballot. The deadline is Friday.