cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Connection Growing 





Medical Marijuana Connection Growing 
Posted by CN Staff on November 09, 2002 at 14:27:50 PT
By David Courtland, Pilot Staff Writer 
Source: Curry Coastal Pilot 
When Bob Walker decided two-and-a-half years ago to organize a support network for members of Oregon's medical marijuana program, he found doctors he spoke to were unwilling to cooperate. "I talked to absolutely every doctor in Curry County, including mine," said Walker, who is popularly known as Brother Bob. "They all had the same right-wing attitude, that marijuana didn't have any medicinal value."
That made it difficult to get patient records released so Walker could verify they were eligible for the program, launched after voters approved the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act in 1998. But as a growing number of patients with debilitating illnesses asked their doctors to let them try medicinal marijuana, physicians have become more accepting and less skeptical. "They just had to figure out that I was totally legal," said Walker, whose Southern Oregon Medical Marijuana Network (SOMM-NET) is a registered non-profit group. Walker says he has just added 29 more patients to the network, which has grown to about 230 permitted cardholders with illnesses ranging from multiple sclerosis to juvenile arthritis. "When a program like this first starts, you've got to get the numbers," said Walker. "People have been lied to for so long, they don't know what to expect. "Now they figure, Brother Bob's not going to go away." The retired commercial fisherman regularly introduces patients to viewers of his weekly half-hour cable TV program, which airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KBSC-TV (Charter Cable's channel 9). A cardholder himself, the 62-year-old Walker is permitted to grow plants for treatment of his heart disease — specifically, the paralysis and seizures that come with it. Walker's network is designed to guide a patient through the entire process of getting a permit to grow medical marijuana, then helping them put it to use. An applicant is faxed a form to authorize release of their medical records to Walker, who checks them to see if the person has a qualifying debilitating disease. "Over two-and-a-half years I've gotten as good at reading records as any doctor," said Walker. "It's common sense, anyone could do it." After Walker has confirmed the nature of the person's illness, they are referred to a clinic where a nurse practitioner gives them a physical examination. The results of the exam and other paperwork are recorded in triplicate — copies are sent to the state, the person's doctor and one is kept by the clinic — with the approved application and a $150 money order, the state's fee for the permit. Oregon's Department of Health, which operates the medical marijuana program, doesn't refer applicants to medical doctors or osteopaths, the only people who can legally approve a permit. Thus SOMM-NET's applicants get their permits approved by Dr. Phillip Leveque, the retired osteopath who has authorized most of the medical marijuana applications in Oregon since 1998. Dr. Leveque visited Curry County for a clinic last weekend. Walker, who says he has had no problems with law enforcement, says the location of the clinic's is nonetheless kept on a need-to-know basis to avoid harassment of Leveque and others. Once they are given a permit, the patient or their caregiver become responsible for getting seeds and growing the plants — the state doesn't offer any help with that. Patients are allowed to grow up to seven plants, but only three can be budding. They aren't allowed to have more than an ounce of smokeable marijuana in their possession. That's where the network again comes in handy, as patients give each other advice on how to grow and harvest their own plants, or share extra marijuana when they find themselves with more than allowed. Nancie MacEachern, a cardholder who got her permit before Walker had SOMM-NET organized, said she was on her own when she got her permit in 1999. "I was just kind of lucky," said MacEachern, who uses marijuana to keep the symptoms of her multiple sclerosis in check. "I put out the word I had a permit, and I found two plants on my porch one morning." MacEachern said her condition improved dramatically after she stopped taking a myriad of prescription pills and followed her husband's advice to look into medical marijuana. "He's the one who clipped an ad out of a newspaper and said ‘you should really think about this,'" recalled MacEachern, whose doctor told her recently he couldn't continue authorizing her permit for fear of losing his Medicare eligibility. "At 59 years old, I had never taken an illegal drug," said MacEachern. "If I have to do it illegally now, I think that would be my right to live."Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Connection Growing in Curry CountySource: Curry Coastal Pilot (OR)Author: David Courtland, Pilot Staff Writer Published: November 9, 2002Copyright: 2002 Western Communications, Inc.Contact: mail currypilot.comWebsite: http://www.currypilot.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:SOMM-NEThttp://www.somm-net.org/OMMP -- Medical Marijuana Programhttp://www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/oaps/mm/Medical Marijuana Users On The Rise http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14627.shtmlDoctors Free To Discuss Pot Use with Patientshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14604.shtml`Marijuana Doctor' Gets Probation, $5,000 Fine http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12516.shtml 
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Comment #10 posted by SWAMPIE on November 10, 2002 at 08:09:07 PT
The GCW..Not ALL Police Are PIGS.....
 I know that MOST of them have the idea that they are in control of the general population,but SOME of them actually would love to see the laws changed.If they get called out on a domestic violence,or burglary,or worse,then it is their job to uphold the law as they were sworn to do.A few months ago,I left my van unlocked on the street,and someone got into it and took about $1000 in tools.The cop that took the report at 9:00 on a monday morning was a lieutenant,and when I told him that the thief/thieves were probably going to sell the Snap-On tools for drug money,he agreed.Then I told him that I smoke pot and that I'm not a criminal,he agreed that it is not the pot that makes people want to steal,but it is the other drugs that cause the addictions and the lack of PARENTING that leads these young people to commit such crimes.He told me that if I ever caught anyone doing something like this,that a little "citizens' justice" wouldn't be complained about by the whole police dept.He didn't care one way or the other that I am a cannabis smoker,and he was half my age with a crew-cut and looked like officer jack-boot.I saw him at the grocery store later and he said that if he found my tools,he would return them to me as soon as he got the paperwork handled.He said more kids should have parents like me! Many of our cops like the power-trip of being able to do as they please,but some can call'em as they see 'em. Have a good day! SWAMPIE
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Comment #9 posted by The GCW on November 10, 2002 at 06:53:15 PT
So while the medical connection of cannabis 
is growing, that is a major threat to cops, who are getting their rocks off on caging citizens for using a plant.Never try to teach a pig to sing. It only wastes Your time and it annoys the pig.Best: pray that they would accept all that is True.
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Comment #8 posted by The GCW on November 10, 2002 at 06:48:42 PT
Police and police unions are responsible.
Since police ARE a major part of the problem, let's examine why. (IT'S THE PROHIBITIONISTS THAT ARE THE SCOURGE and are ripping at the fabric of earth. PROHIBITIONISTS are screwing earth badly.)1. They have unions. That creates a lot of twisted stuff, like the need for more jobs, needs of great amounts of money to support more and more police. They then compete for money that would otherwise go to treatment center type things, THAT HAVE NO UNIONS. So they will get the money in the form of prison industry implications, which is proven harmfull for all involved, instead of treatment which is helpfull when We want to actally help Our needy. They use predatory tactics to get at the money that treatment centers can not match, which is one reason treatment centers are ill numbered, ill funded etc... even though they have better track records and are humane.Hatefull police? Bush HATES us. You show Me a person who wants to cage another person for using a plant, and I'll show YOu someone who lacks what is needed for the basics of love.2. * Police by oath are separated from the promised Holy Spirit of Truth, Biblically. Their ability of comprehending the levels of Truth that Christ died for Us to receive, are greatly diminished, when police uphold mans law to cage humans for using his plant, instead of upholding His words that all the green is good, as described on the very 1st page of the Bible. You can not serve 2 masters, and so it is that important to serve the master who said all the green is good. Police are lost. And that fits the description about the self-condemned in Titus 3:9-11.3. Police even on the DARE level AND DARE mentality, (to the young that are receptive to lies), claim that they don't make the laws, and if You don't like the laws, change them... are incorrect. They in all forms do make the laws, and support prohibitionist politicians even by way of the police unions, to create laws that insure jobs for these police types.Steve,You are the Love of Our Father. Thank You for The Green Collar Worker in YOU.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 09, 2002 at 21:24:35 PT
herbdoc215 
From my observations when we were in Queens NY. the people I saw looked like they were mentally ill. We just don't take care of people who can't take care of themselves. They wind up on the streets and messed up on drugs or get involved in things that a normal thinking person wouldn't get involved in. We need to care for the mentally ill. 
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Comment #6 posted by herbdoc215 on November 09, 2002 at 21:04:57 PT
Racism, poverty, addictions,police enforced ghetto
Welcome to Dante's 7th layer of hell. East Hastings St. is a unique result of a battle of wills between a mayor (Owens) who used to be hard-core prohibitionist now turned Human Vs. A police dept. that has embraced violence and racism throughout it's ranks and perpetuates their graft along with contributions from criminals at ONDCP and Betty Sembler. The cops got mad because the mayor wanted to bring sanity to the drug war here so they pushed ever junkie in town a couple of blocks from were we do business and keep roping them into a tighter area every day. There have already been two murders there this week over drug 'turf' and that crap didn't used to go on here! The old Woodword building has been occupied by squatters for last 2 month's and have been forcefully evicted but set up camps all down sidewalk in tents, it looks like a scene from Afghanistan...Dealers openly selling their poison while cops look on like keepers at the zoo. All who come to try to help the cops play threat games with. Violence hangs everywhere there and remember this is Canada, not East LA. I have saw cops be more friendly to civil rights workers in Alabama than the pigs treat the residents of this area. Then you get agent provacatours stirring up the crowds trying to gain police that confusion thats needed to commit atrocity. With all avenues of help cut off decent people are being written off as less than Human, which is a concept that abhorrs me to my core. These well fed smirking cops make a hell of a contrast to these frail and hopeless victims of poverty. It's a crime that the police can turn a blind eye to people charging these folks $200 a day for dope that would cost the government $1 or less! All ibogaine research is stiffled here, for all the millions the government here spends to band-aid this problem, a few thousand well aimed research dollars could end so many peoples misery and allow them to rejoin the living. We ALL deserve to have food, a place to live thats safe and clean, access to medicines needed to live as comfortable as possible, and to not have to fear your government! There are no jobs for these people, no houses, ho hope and no damn help unless it's from people like me and Marc and Hillary Black trying to make some differnce BUT cops are always trying to stop us or undo any good we do? THEY are the ones perpetuating this war here as the citizens want no part of it whatsoever, even a little old grandma got up today and told the cops, "shame on you". There is so much more to this than I can find words to express, it's so weird to watch this hate seep up here from border and it makes a very good microcosm to study how this happened at home. In the time I have been here it's changed nite and day the vibe grows more like USA everyday, and this city is primed to explode if I have ever seen one. We are on them tooth and nail, as we see them for the racist and liars they are...We are not afaid, as the alternative of more of this is far more terrifying than their sticks or guns! This coming election here is going to be the unleashing of a crystal-nite here I am afaid and it seems the underground is gearing up for a struggle of monumental proportions. Since so much of this is built upon class struggle it's being one-sided by media so I figured C-news readers may want to know the 'straight-dope'. FoM and all others caretaking for elderly or terminal patients, e-mail my address if you would like to try some new creme that rubs onto the skin we are making here for sick folks I would be happy to mail you some for free as the special ingrediants have proven VERY pallative to our patients here and we provide it here for hospice patients. Just a thought? Best wishes and Godspeed, Peace, Steven Tuck
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 09, 2002 at 19:55:45 PT
herbdoc215 
What could help this community? Why is is out of control? I guess we have places here in the states that are out of control too but I don't know how they deal with the problem. Like in Queens, NY or in West Trenton, NJ. I've been to these towns and have seen more then I wanted too. When I was left alone I was left with an armed guard watching out for me. It was really strange. People died there all the time. They had just found two discarded bodies in their dumpster right before we got there to deliver the freight. We never took any freight for Queens after that. I've been to Little Haiti, Miami and the same thing. An armed guard watched when I was left alone in the truck. I saw people shooting up on the streets in broad daylight. Glad you and Marc stood side by side and wore a CC T Shirt. We are stronger together then we are as individuals I believe.
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Comment #4 posted by herbdoc215 on November 09, 2002 at 19:42:39 PT
FoM, I wish I had a camera today to show world...
the hate in these cops eyes was so open today...I can't believe they hate us so bad, I know that sounds niave but I just am in shock? These cops are animals. It showed me how almost 60 women could be missing from this neighborhood before they even started looking for the killer last year...Women students from all around world getting beat down by punk kids out wilding...herion and coke sold openly in streets and cops are spending thousands of hours kicking doors in with no warrents looking for flowers here???? And I am supposed to be the one with brain damage? Peace, Steven Tuck
ps...FoM, I even wore my Cannabis Culture sweat-shirt today and was on my best behavior :)
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 09, 2002 at 19:28:51 PT
herbdoc215 
Keep up the good work! Thanks for the report too. 
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Comment #2 posted by herbdoc215 on November 09, 2002 at 19:21:32 PT:
News from the Front Line...
Today in Vancouver I marched in solidarity with Marc Emery, Chris Bennett, and David Malmo-Levine at the police headquaters here in Vancouver,BC. It's situated on Main and E. Hastings St. in the middle of the most savaged neighborhood from the Drug War I have ever seen. This place is a nightmare that the police have created to be their 'boogey man' to scare the public with. Drugs are allowed by police to be openly sold and used there (ALL!) and dealers are actually pushed into this neighborhood from all over BC by police who want to "contain it", which is a euphanism for keeping it out of their neighborhoods without having to ever solve the problem. This place has a mortality rate that would look bad in Bangladesh, cops treat it's citizens like they are less than Human. Of all the people in Vancouver Marc has been only person running for office to even address this issue's (medical pot, ibogaine research, and maintainance for addict to ensure they are not slaves, and for all my 'in family' carping within movement I am first to support and give credit for positive actions. The most amazing part was OPEN hostility of cops towards us, several times I thought we were all going to get a beat down. The cops tried many times to become violent with us despite CTV and several other news stations covering protest (we went into the lair of the beast) and there were DOZENS of cops just itching to beat heads, this was worst vibe I have ever seen at a protest and I followed sheriff of Trinity Co.,Ca. for 2 days with a 2ft. bong smoking my meds at a festival and cops were nowhere near as violent? I was called so many names I can't count and taunted constantly by pigs, but Native Americans were constantly singled out today by pigs who became especially violent with them, it was real bad for one veteran Native American who stood proud and showed what true courage was to the little piggy! All in all it was an eye opener for many of us who saw the true face of the RCMP today. I guess several hours standing in the rain was a small price to pay to gain an insight into how to beat these commie bastards here and keep them from exporting the US nazi drug war to Canada, these cops here need no more lessons in how to hate. This neighborhood is primed to explode in coming weeks if something isn't done to ease the desolation and hopeless there now, and the cops are primed to beat down any and all suvivoirs. I'll keep you informed on situation here as it unfolds but it's fixing to all come to a head here soon. Peace, Steven Tuck   
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on November 09, 2002 at 19:04:32 PT
If people are going to get any more cancers
& illness, then We're gonna need more cannabis.Imagine the dipwad, that would rather use the myriad of pills... and force others to do the same or be caged.Less pills, more cannabis.  
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