Salem-News.com Government articles Page 4

Patients Gather as Legislature Proposes Changes to Oregon Medical Marijuana Program

Senate Bill 874 faces backlash from Veteran’s advocacy groups across the state.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Calling all Patients! Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cardholders are coming together to defend the OMMA and fight for its expansion- and advocates are asking for patients to come to the Capitol.

Tomorrow, April 14th, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. proposed Senate Bill 874 will be going through what is known as a "gut and stuff" session. What's a "gut and stuff"? It's an opportunity to retain the framework of a bill and change what's within it.

Medical Marijuana Defense Bill Passes Maryland House Judiciary Committee

Floor Vote Likely for Bill to Remove Criminal Penalties for Medical Marijuana

(ANNAPOLIS ) - The Maryland House of Delegates Judiciary Committee approved a bill yesterday, SB 308, which would allow patients who use marijuana to treat a medical condition to use a medical necessity defense in court.

The bill would also create a panel to advise the legislature on best practices for creating a medical marijuana program in 2012. The Senate passed the bill by a 41-6 vote on March 24, and will need to approve the bill again because of amendments made by the Judiciary Committee.

Could Oregon be First to End Cannabis Prohibition? `OCTA 2012` is Approved for Signatures

The petition drive could lead to ending the failed prohibition law.

(SALEM, Ore.) - If passed, the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act of 2012 will regulate the legal sale of marijuana to adults through state-licensed stores, allow adults to grow their own, license Oregon farmers to grow marijuana for state-licensed stores and allow unlicensed Oregon farmers to grow cannabis hemp for fuel, fiber and food.

OCTA 2012 organizers need to gather 90,000 registered voters' signatures.

Medical Marijuana, Marinol and Ignorant Marijuanaphobes in the Legislatures

Dr. Leveque responds to proposed restrictions.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I wasn't surprised by the Oregon legislature hearings about Medical Marijuana and the shrill, ignorant posings of those trying to restrict its legal use.

Researchers, doctors and patients say cannabis works better and is safer than almost all of the FDA approved medicines.

Oregon Marijuana Activists Make OCTA 2012 Official

The 2012 Oregon Cannabis Tax Act would give new zest to the old mantra, "Keep Oregon Green!"

(SALEM, Ore.) - Paul Stanford, Executive Director of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation walked 2200 signatures in to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office on January 4th, 2011, officially sponsoring OCTA 2012. It could be a historic turning point for a state well known for its grass roots movements.

If the measure is passed by voters, OCTA 2012 will legalize the sale, possession and personal private cultivation of marijuana in the state of Oregon.

Oregon SNAP program receives national award for third year in a row

This is the fourth consecutive year Oregon has been one the best states in the nation for SNAP administration

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today that the state has received national recognition for exceptional administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called food stamps. Oregon was honored as one of the top states for ensuring that people eligible for these benefits received them.

USDA Deals Blow to U.S. Organic Hop Industry, According to American Organic Hop Grower Association

(YAKIMA, Wash.) - Hops were first added to the National List by the NOSB in June 2007, when organic hops were primarily produced in Europe and New Zealand. Since then, the U.S. organic hop industry has made significant advances. Progressive, large-scale family farms in the Pacific Northwest and small, local growers across the country are now growing organic hops, even though the hop producers believe the market for them has remained weak due to the current NOSB policy which allows brewers to use less expensive, non-organic hops in their beer labeled organic.

Salem Tourism Group Adopts New Moniker and Sets Bar for Visitor Information

Travel Salem makes biggest move in its 25-year history.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Reinvention is the name of the game for the Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA). The Association changed its name, has secured a new downtown location for its headquarters, and is expanding visitor information to two locations on Interstate 5.

The Association, formerly known as SCVA, will now be Travel Salem. The new name is more concise, a call to action, and is in line with recent name changes within the industry such as Travel Oregon and Travel Portland.

Travel Salem coined their new downtown destination visitors center the “Salem Travel Café.” This state-of-the-art destination visitors center will be designed to showcase the region’s amenities and economic development opportunities, and will serve as the hub for driving visitation and economic impact to the region.

An Iraq War Veterans` Welcome Home to Remember (SLIDESHOW)

Salem-News.com photojournalist Tim King has returned from Iraq, where he spent several weeks embedded with an Oregon Guard unit. Along the way he witnessed a hero's welcome at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport for soldiers and Marines returning home from Iraq.

(DALLAS, Tx.) - It isn't often that a legacy can change.

The sound of clapping hands is an unexpected greeting for soldiers and Marines returning home from the war in Iraq. Too many stories about mistreated Vietnam vets leave an expectation of something totally different.

In fact, it takes a moment for these troops returning home on the military R&R flights to even comprehend the idea of dozens and dozens of people gathered there to simply welcome them home, but that is what happens almost every day at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in Texas.

Oregon Army National Guard Soldier Killed By IED In Afghanistan

According to the DOD, as of September 23, 2008, there have been 601 total Enduring Freedom US Casualties*.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The DoD has announced that 32-year old Captain Bruno Giancarlo de Solenni, of the Oregon Army National Guard died of wounds sustained when an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detonated near his vehicle near Kandahar, Afghanistan on September 20th.

Two Afghan interpreters were also killed and two soldiers were wounded in the explosion.

Capt. de Solenni and the Counter Narcotics Infantry Kandak Embedded Training Team were enroute from a Forward Operating Base to the Kandahar Air Field when an IED detonated destroying their vehicle.