Why is Oregon Media After the Medical Marijuana Program?

Why are patients, clinics, doctors and more being taken to task by the Willamette Week? Here's the real scoop.

Salem-News.com's Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque discuss an article in Portland's Willamette Week

(SALEM, Ore.) - Medical Marijuana has been part of Oregon's legal system for many years. It was approved twice by voters here and by all accounts, patients are increasingly finding relief in this natural herb, one of the only substances that helps people with debilitating illnesses avoid using and possibly becoming addicted to hard drugs.

The success of the Oregon Medical Marijuana program however, is a constant grating issue to some. One politician and a few reporters have managed to turn a very simple aspect of life in Oregon into something else by creating and injecting false reports and masquerading that information in the form of news stories.

The latest is the Willamette Week (WW) newspaper in Portland. Often viewed as a left leaning publication, the WW has entered into an apparent partnership with the state's anti-marijuana crusaders and joined in the fight to discredit the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program and Portland's THC Clinic in particular.

In this special half hour video segment, I discuss with Dr. Phil Leveque discuss the background and consequences of this discrediting attempt from the media. Ironically, an industry largely supported by enormous funds from the pharmaceutical industry.

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Advertising rules have softened in recent years, and now allows doctor-prescribed pharmaceuticals to be advertised to the common consumer. It seems like a new miracle drug approved by the FDA pops up in advertising every week. While many outlets remain somewhat sensible on the issue, others like Willamette Week are content to turn their backs on the voters and attempt to slash and discredit a proven, functional natural treatment, and program, that directly helps thousands of Oregonians. Legally.

After addressing the history of Dr. Leveque, Paul Stanford and the THCF Clinic in Portland, Oregon, the conversation continues and Dr. Leveque very thoroughly gives response and explanation to the Willamette Week article.

We also discuss what might have been the goal of the WW, and what if any consequences might result.

Checking the WW's online version, it took but a moment to find WW's advertising support, drug companies; the very industry that does not find favor with the truth about the success of Oregon's Medical Marijuana Program. There appears to be a direct connection between the attitude displayed in the article and the pharmaceutical industry.

In fact... Here's ad copy straight from Willamette Week:

"Ultram (and it’s generic Tramadol) is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It also may be used to treat pain caused by surgery and chronic conditions such as cancer or joint pain. The FDA allows you to buy Ultram via online doctor consultation - NO prior prescription is required." Our network of certified physicians will evaluate your case, then dispense and fill your medication, usually within 24 hours."

Ahem, indeed.

Something seems amiss. Caring about Oregonians contradicts the demonizing of it's sick citizens and marijuana, the one drug that has never killed any one.

Self-serving motivations of the drug companies to eliminate this legal, natural medication are encouraged by anti-marijuana propaganda unfortunately distributed via the mainstream and alternatives media on a regular basis.

We attempt to set the record straight.
Watch the full report here:

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