cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Advocates Want Law Expanded





Marijuana Advocates Want Law Expanded
Posted by CN Staff on February 15, 2003 at 15:18:39 PT
By Tim Christie, The Register-Guard
Source: Register-Guard
Advocates are proposing big changes to the 4-year-old Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, including establishing dispensaries for distributing the drug, even as federal authorities move to clamp down on such state laws.The supporters, under the name Life with Dignity Committee, filed an initiative Friday with the Secretary of State's Office to amend Oregon's law.
Backers need to gather about 75,000 signatures to get the measure before voters in November 2004.The initiative would, among other things, set up dispensaries to be run by nonprofit groups and be licensed and regulated by the state Department of Human Services.The initiative would also:Increase the amount of marijuana that a medical marijuana cardholder could grow and possess. Cardholders now can grow three mature plants and four immature plants and possess up to 3 ounces. The initiative would permit cardholders to grow up to 10 marijuana plants at once and possess up to 1 pound of marijuana. If a person is growing one crop per year, the cardholder could possess up to 6 pounds of marijuana.Authorize nurse-practitioners and naturopaths, not just doctors, to recommend marijuana for medical use.Establish the Oregon Medical Marijuana Commission. The commission would have one member each representing patients, caregivers, dispensaries, law enforcement, defense attorneys, doctors and the state. The commission would have authority to order and veto staff decisions.Oregon voters approved the medical marijuana law in 1998, and it went into effect in May 1999. Cardholders must get a doctor to sign a form saying they could benefit from marijuana and pay a $150 annual fee.The number of cardholders has grown steadily each year, from 594 in April 2000 to 1,662 in April 2001 and 3,596 in April 2002. As of Thursday, the number stood at 4,639.The move to liberalize Oregon's law comes as federal authorities are trying to assert their authority over the state laws, particularly in California.Last month, a federal court jury in San Francisco convicted Ed Rosenthal, a self-described "Guru of Ganja," of growing more than 100 plants, conspiring to cultivate marijuana and maintaining a warehouse for a growing operation. He faces up to 85 years in prison when sentenced June 4. During the trial, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer barred Rosenthal's attorneys from telling the jury that he grew marijuana for Oakland's medical-marijuana program.When jurors found out after the trial, they called a news conference to say they were misled and that they would have acquitted Rosenthal had they known he was growing marijuana for medical purposes.Oregon's law hasn't drawn the same federal scrutiny as California's.John Sajo, the initiative's chief petitioner, said he's concerned that would change if voters decide to expand the Oregon law.But he added: "We expect this conflict between the 10 states that have medical marijuana laws (and the federal government) to continue. On this issue, states are right and the feds are wrong, and ultimately, it's federal policy that needs to change."The initiative includes new language asserting Oregon's right to "regulate the health and safety of its citizens" under the 10th Amendment and its citizens' right to privacy under the Ninth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.The head of one anti-drug group said the effort to liberalize the Oregon law and establish medical marijuana dispensaries is "a ridiculous idea.""What you're doing is making the state in essence the drug dealer," said Sandra Bennett, director of the Northwest Center for Health and Safety in La Center, Wash.Unlike legal prescription drugs, there is no control over the potency or dosage of marijuana, she said. "It absolutely makes no sense to do that," she said.Advocates say dispensaries would address what they see as one of the biggest problems with Oregon's law, which is that it can be hard for patients to obtain a steady, reliable supply of marijuana.And it would curb thefts of medical marijuana gardens, they say."We've heard literally of dozens of thefts of marijuana gardens" in the past year, said Sajo, head of Voter Power, a group that advocates medical marijuana."Hopefully, by having dispensaries that will be regulated that wouldn't be an issue," he said.Dispensary administrators would pay a $1,000 fee, plus 10 percent of growth revenue to the state.They also would be required to provide medical marijuana for free to indigent patients, at an amount equal to 20 percent of the value of marijuana sold each month.Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)Author: Tim Christie, The Register-GuardPublished: February 15, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Register-GuardContact: rgletters guardnet.comWebsite: http://www.registerguard.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Hemp & Cannabis Foundationhttp://www.thc-foundation.org/Ed Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmMedical Marijuana Backers Seek To Expand http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15477.shtmlCenter Supports Medical Marijuana Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15473.shtmlPatients Push Marijuana Reformhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12712.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #5 posted by p4me on February 15, 2003 at 20:13:06 PT
Complete article from Wales
From http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/page.cfm?objectid=12635472&method=fullCannabis cafe 'goes ahead' Feb 13 2003
 
Daily Post 
 
A MAN who who walked free from Manchester Crown Court after drug charges were dropped, claimed his plans to open an Amsterdam-style coffee-shop in Rhyl would go ahead.Jeffrey Ditchfield, of Henllan, near Denbigh, said the decision to drop charges of possessing cannabis with intent to supply gave him the "green light.""If sick people ask me for cannabis I will give it to them," he said. "I am now even more determined to get the café up and running." "I readily admitted both at magistrates' court and crown court that I did give cannabis choco-late to a quadriplegic, but pleaded not guilty because it was out of medical necessity."I was angry when I was told the case was dismissed because I wanted my day in court. I am also annoyed that Manchester police spend so much time and money preparing the case."My bill for solicitors and barristers is about £7,000 and that will have to be met by the taxpayer."
 
 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 15, 2003 at 20:11:21 PT
afterburner 
Thank you. I will keep on hoping for change. That keeps me going.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by afterburner on February 15, 2003 at 19:11:56 PT:
States Fight Federal Schedule 1 & Countries, UN
The federal position is increasingly untenable as more and more states opt for medical cannabis and more and more nations opt for decriminalization.Appeal of the Transnational Radical Party and the International Antiprohibitionst League. Appeal addressing all Governments and the UN“Appeal to reform the UN Conventions on Drugs” http://www.radicalparty.org/lia_paa_appeal/index_en.phpexcerpts:"In regard to production and trafficking:Whereas:
....
- the main effect of deploying large amounts of resources to curb the traffic in illegal substances has triggered an increase of the selling price (the crime tariff) to the sole benefit of organized criminal networks.In regard to social and health aspects and consumption:Whereas: 
- consumers of illegal substances usually lack any reliable information concerning the composition and effects of the narcotics and that they are consequently exposed to risks (including death as a result of overdoses and infection by HIV/AIDS) which far outstrip the dangerous nature of the substances themselves,
....In regard to legal and prison issues:Whereas:
- the application of repressive drugs laws eventually places unbearable pressure on the national and international legal and prison system to the extent that large numbers of those currently detained in prisons are charged with penalties directly or indirectly related to drugs, and 
- the implementation of current drugs policies leads to the introduction into national law of rules that restrict individual freedom and civil liberties;
....1. Maintain that the drug prohibition policy stemming from the UN Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 is the actual cause of the increasing damage which the production, trafficking, sale and consumption of illegal substances inflict on entire sections of society, the economy as well as public institutions, thus undermining health, freedom and individuals' lives and in view of the Ministerial Segment of the Commission of Narcotics that will be held at the UN Office of Vienna on 16 and 17 April 2003:"from: Italian Anti-Prohibitionists Discover América: http://www.narconews.com/Issue28/article634.html
Europe is ahead of the U.S. on cannabis reform and is now pushing the UN for more realistic treaties. One thing becoming clear is that the U.S.-led prohibitionist approach to illegal drugs is creating more problems than it's solving. Also the propaganda denying the existence of medical cannabis would be a laughing-stock if the results were not so deadly, destructive, and damaging.ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question."So much trouble in the world. Bless my eyes this morning. Jah sun is on the rise once again. Way heard things are going, anything can happen. They're sailing on their ego trip, blast off on their space ship. A million miles from reality, no care for you, no care for me....Could you be loved, and be loved? Don't let them fool ya, or even try to school ya. Oh, no. We've got a mind of our own. So, go to hell if what you're thinking is not right. Love would never leave us alone. Hide in the darkness, ya must come out to light.... When the morning gather the rainbow, want you to know I'm a rainbow, too. So, to the rescue here I am. Want you to notice if you can where I stand. We lift and hands and give Jah praises...."-Bob Marley
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 15, 2003 at 16:49:30 PT
What I'd Like To See
I would like to see state's rights respected and to get Cannabis out of Schedule I where it never should have been. 
That would be a good beginning I think.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by p4me on February 15, 2003 at 16:35:58 PT
This is not a bold move
Backers need to gather about 75,000 signatures to get the measure before voters in November 2004.This is a half hearted effort. Someone needs to start a petition for the complete legalization of cannabis and give those of us that are concerned about the freedom issue and the states rights issue a chance to address the corruption of government that perpetuates prohibition.By November 2004 medical cannabis will be sold by GWP across Europe and in Canada and in Australia. In the meantime we are being denied our freedom and everyone acts like we should attack the front line the prohibitionist chose instead of firing a cannon at the supporting line that says no cannabis no matter what.The head of one anti-drug group said the effort to liberalize the Oregon law and establish medical marijuana dispensaries is "a ridiculous idea."Maybe they should ask someone that does not think it is ridiculous at all except for the fact it should be regulated and legal without the need for a doctor's recommendation or licenses or state involvement. Don't you think they should talk to someone like Dr. Russo or Dr. Melemede that appears on pot-tv at some point?Unlike legal prescription drugs, there is no control over the potency or dosage of marijuana, she said. "It absolutely makes no sense to do that," she said.This woman does not know what she is talking about as everyone can figure out. Dr. Russo might use the word titration or something, but it can easily be figured out and it not like there is such a thing as an deadly overdose or permanent damage. And the only reason there isn't more specific strains and consistent potency of various cannabinoids and plant extracts is because of the stupidity of prohibition and the Controlled Media that let them get away with it all these decades.Still by November 2004 even the prohibitionists won't argue about the medical miracle that is cannabis. They will be where we are now, what took so long to get the research done for the benefit of all mankind.Prohibitionists must use illegal substances anyway because there position is stupidity on steroids.The issue of corruption is the issue before us and I hope my fellow citizens will speak to that issue. The NOW program with Bill Moyers again talked about the big money that has bought Congress and the 50 executive orders Busch has signed to change environmental laws, in effect turning the executive branch into a legislative branch that also acts for the benefit of big-money interest. Next week they will talk about the media. NOW is the best program on television when it comes to reality television.Make a bold move and petition for legalization. We want our freedom back and we want to remove the platform at the bottom that elevates the power of the police state we now experience. Be bold for freedom or just do what is right and call for legalization. 
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment