Oregon House Passes Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bill, On to Senate!

A small step for Oregon; a big step for the pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness.

(SALEM) - Medical Marijuana dispensaries in Oregon are well on their way to legalization. Lawmakers in the Oregon House debated with gusto, then approved a bill on Monday that would license and regulate retail outlets that provide the medicine to patients with a state-sanctioned permit. The bill passed 31-27.

The bill was supported by many across the state, including Oregon’s “top cop”, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum who recently endorsed the measure.

A main complaint about the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, which came into being in 1998, has been the unavailability of cannabis (marijuana) to patients. They are allowed to “grow their own” or establish a person as their “grower”, but it is very challenging to accomplish either of these things for a major amount of patients. Many admit to resorting to the black market because they cannot legally obtain the medicine.

Everyone does not have a green thumb, or the physical or economic ability to maintain their own garden. Advocates say House Bill 3460 is the best thing to come their way after many years of trying to solve this dilemma. It gives patients a place to purchase their medicine legally, without risk of police involvement. It should reduce some stress on the patients.

“I am most concerned for the program,” commented Dr. Phil Leveque, Doctor of Pharmacology. “If this is going to work it can’t be run by a committee of people who have never been involved with medical marijuana. This is not an administrative function, the mission of the program needs to be of utmost importance and patients must be the priority.”

There are about 200 medical marijuana collectives, dispensaries, lounges and cafes in Oregon today. The outlets are running on donations from patients, and operate 100% in the “gray area”. They are currently unregulated and unlicensed, and are at risk of being shut down every day. What will the bill mean to Medical Marijuana-related business owners?

Salem and Portland are two cities that have taken a somewhat hands-off approach for the most part, and have allowed the medical facilities to stay open. There are others in Oregon, like Gresham, Aloha and coastal communities that have participated in multiple arrests and closures affecting hundreds of patients forced to go without their medicine. This small town enforcement philosophy has “greased the wheels” of the judicial system, putting more non-violent criminals behind bars, creating an unending supply of otherwise lawful citizens with a police record.

House Bill 3460 will alleviate the risk factor for those that follow the rules. “It will be wonderful not to look over our shoulders, of course,” said Johnny, owner of Herbalist Farmer, Inc. He says this bill has its pros and cons. “I am very glad for patients to have better access to their medicine.” The wellness center at Herbalist Farmer, Inc in NE Portland provides a service to OMMP patients. They offer a variety of products for medicating, including cannabis-infused oils, topical lotions and edibles.

“Currently we are set up for safety, consistency and choice. You don’t have to park on a dark road and break the law anymore, we want people to be safe.”

The passing of the House bill is very exciting, but also brings a wary expectation.

“The worst part of this is the price of medical marijuana will go up with these extra costs to dispensary owners, it is simple math that it will be passed on to patients. That’s seriously bad news, even if it’s a small increase, because it will cause at least some legal patients to buy it on the street, for less than we can charge.”

“I guess patients need to be prepared for an increase without the risk or stress. For a lot of people, it will be worth it, definitely,” Johnny said. “I do hope they’ll revisit the high fee, it will make a big difference.”

According to the bill’s budget report, they anticipate 225 facilities will apply for the license in the next two years earning the State of Oregon a whopping $900,000 above the millions made off patients every year at $200-$250 each.

They say they will use the additional cash to pay for the cost of establishing and administering the new licensing system.

The Senate still needs to vote on the bill, which may happen yet this week. Should the bill pass, legal OMMP cardholders will be able to openly purchase medicine from medical marijuana “retail outlets”. Legally, without question.

Rep. Andy Olson said the bill does not do enough to stop abuses of the medical marijuana program or discipline for dispensaries that don’t follow the rules.

The former Oregon State Police lieutenant says he is a “major advocate for those in need of marijuana as medicine. I am opposed to the abuse.” He may create a different bill for the 2014 Legislature to address his concerns.

There are nearly 55,000 medical marijuana cardholders in the state of Oregon today. The backlog of new and renewal applications keep the one full-time state employee in that office very busy. They have closed the “window” so there is no longer a physical state office for patients to go with concerns. That decision seemed rather unsound considering the annual cost to sick and dying patients in Oregon more than doubled at that same time. The irony was not lost on the cannabis community, but no one else seemed to notice.

Rep. Peter Buckley sponsored House Bill 3460, and though he agrees that the OMMP has some problems, they are far from unsolvable, and this bill is part of the solution.

"This bill focuses on one thing: safe access to medical marijuana for people who are legally qualified to access medical marijuana," Buckley said.

Rep. Mitch Greenlick agrees that it is about one thing: helping Oregonians. “This bill does not fight Mexican cartels. The bill doesn't solve hunger in Oregon. The bill doesn't help the Blazers win the championship. The bill does a simple thing," Greenlick said.

Keep your eye on the ball. This is about establishing an easy, safe place for medical marijuana patients to attain their medicine, it is that simple.

Oregon has long been considered a “grass roots state” on many levels. Our state has been a leader when it comes to the Bottle bill, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, the Oregon Beach Bill, the Clean Water Act, the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, and innumerable other trail blazing efforts.

Now, we may be the 15th state to make medical marijuana dispensaries legal. That is a milestone worth boasting about, as well.

Bonnie King has been Publisher of Salem-News.com since August '04. She is a photographer and video producer, writer, editor and mother, which she considers her greatest position. Bonnie has served in a number of positions in the broadcast industry; TV Production Manager at KVWB (Las Vegas WB) and Producer/Director for the TV series "Hot Wheels in Las Vegas", posts as TV Promotion Director for KYMA (NBC), and KFBT (Ind.), Asst. Marketing Director (SUPERSHOPPER MAGAZINE), Director/Co-Host (Coast Entertainment Show), Radio Promotion Director (KBCH/KCRF), and Newspapers In Education/Circulation Sales Manager (STATESMAN JOURNAL NEWSPAPER).

Bonnie has a depth of understanding that reaches further than just behind the scenes, and that thoroughness is demonstrated in the perseverance to correctly present each story with the wit and wisdom necessary to compel and captivate viewers and readers alike. An lifetime activist for just causes, she continues to strive to present facts that support Truth, Justice and Peace, as we are in the world to change the world for the better. "TJP"

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Anonymous June 27, 2013 4:23 pm (Pacific time)

Oh goody. I hope it will pass. Then everybody just walks around stoned. Drive a car. Kill people and get off. Have sex all day and night with different people. It's all about feeling good. That's all what matters. Keep voting for the whores in the government who got the people hooked on this drug. But I only hope that they make cigarettes illegal. What a wonderful world we live in. Can i put some flowers in my hair too?

I think you have been watching way too much science fiction. in reality marijuana has never killed a single person, though it is true people must be careful when driving stoned. So you call the legalization of a natural plant wrong and you compare open minded lawmakers to prostitutes. Hmmmm. Anyway, I sincerely doubt you have any hair, so let the floral idea be and know that nobody makes the anti-marijuana crowd look worse than... the anti-marijuana crowd.

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