cannabisnews.com: Patients Defend Medical Marijuana Patients Defend Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on August 09, 2003 at 10:13:07 PT News Story Source: Curry Coastal Pilot As much as local police would like Oregon's medical marijuana program to go away, Brookings-Harbor cardholders would like police to leave them alone. "Nobody likes the police using scare tactics, but that's what it looks like," said William Nelson, a retired real estate broker who has been a cardholder since 2000. Nelson takes issue with an assertion made by Brookings Police Detective Ron Plaster in an Aug. 2 Pilot article that medical marijuana use has grown out of control. Police should make the spirit of the medicinal marijuana law their priority instead of complaining about conflicts with federal law, said Nelson. "That's like when you don't get the answer you want from Daddy, you go to Mommy," said Nelson, who uses marijuana as an alternative to narcotic painkillers for a back injury. "Obviously there are going to be some people taking advantage of the situation," acknowledged cardholder Cara Watling of the Southern Oregon Medical Marijuana Network (SOMM-NET). "But there are only two or three people out there doing that, and we're doing our best to prevent that," said Watling. "All we're saying is, if you need it, it should be available." The number of people with approved medical marijuana cards has more than doubled since 1998, when Oregon's Medical Marijuana Act, one of nine in the nation, was approved by voters. A doctor must verify that the patient has a "debilitating medical condition" such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or severe pain. Nelson and Watling are among nearly 300 medical marijuana cardholders in Brookings alone — a figure probably based on data gathered by SOMM-NET, notes Watling. "They (police) get most of their information from us, because we try to work with them," said Watling. "I respect the police, but I personally think there are more important issues than whether they need to come over and count to seven," said Nelson, referring to the number of plants a cardholder is allowed. Nelson pointed out the difficulty of growing is one of the reasons many cardholders have someone else grow their plants. "The last thing I want to do is have the police give anybody a problem with that," said Nelson. "People don't understand how hard it is to grow marijuana." Watling agreed growing the plant is more difficult than most people realize. Growing sends monthly electric bills up because of the use of special grow lights, which are expensive themselves, explained Watling. "You have to make sure you've flushed out all the fertilizer, or else you'll hurt your throat," said Watling. "Just getting it to bloom is not an easy thing." Nelson, who suffers intense pain from a back injury aggravated by an automobile accident in 1995, also disputes the perception marijuana dulls mental acuity. "I'll play anybody at chess and I'll win," said Nelson.Source: Curry Coastal Pilot (OR)Published: August 9, 2003Copyright: 2003 Western Communications, Inc.Contact: mail currypilot.comWebsite: http://www.currypilot.com/Related Articles & Web Site:SOMM-NEThttp://www.somm-net.org/Medical Marijuana Giving Cops a Headache http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16993.shtmlMedical Marijuana Connection Growing http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14706.shtmlMedical Marijuana Users On The Rise http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14627.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by The GCW on August 09, 2003 at 19:44:03 PT New dates for Summer of Legalization tour Marc Emery announces new August schedule for his cross-Canada smoke-in.Cannabis Culture publisher Marc Emery has announced some changes to his August schedule of cross-country smoke-ins. "I had to make some changes to fit in my court dates," said Emery.Emery added that he was aiming to put on more rallies in September, including Yukon's capital of Whitehorse, Nunavut's capital of Iqualit, and Montreal, Quebec.Emery plans to conclude the summer tour with a rally at Canada's capital of Ottawa, Ontario, on September 25. This rally will be at the Parliament buldings, and will mark the first day of Parliament sitting for their Fall session.This is the new schedule for August:August 9: Calgary, AlbertaAugust 10: Edmonton, AlbertaAugust 14: Prince George, BCAugust 25: Kingston, OntarioAugust 26: London, OntarioAugust 27: Hamilton, OntarioAugust 28: Sudbury, OntarioAugust 29: Windsor, OntarioAugust 30: Toronto, Ontario (Cannabian Day Rally)Click here http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/3026.html for the Summer of Legalization Tour archives.Click here http://www.cannabisculture.com/cgi/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=current&Number=570944&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1 to discuss Marc Emery's tour on the CC Forums.http://www.hempbc.com/articles/3043.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on August 09, 2003 at 17:26:04 PT Thanks JR What a shame. I'll keep looking for an article to post. I admire his determination. It sure can't be easy for him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on August 09, 2003 at 17:17:53 PT Intermission is OVER Marc Emery arrested in Calgary: http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-2108.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 09, 2003 at 16:50:08 PT Thanks i420 The article about the road blocks turned into a busy thread! http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread17021.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by i420 on August 09, 2003 at 16:30:10 PT FoM Fake drug checkpoints worry ICLU http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/6496239.htmSpeaker Bauer, Mayor Richard http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/6496217.htm Notice the jeer in this column about the checkpoints. JEERS to Marion County police for erecting signs that warn of a "drug checkpoint" ahead for motorists on busy Interstate 65 in Indianapolis. There was no checkpoint - but there were officers ready to pull over drivers who made a U-turn. In the first three hours of the maneuver, police pulled over 16 vehicles - and found drugs in only one, indicating the potential traffic hazards this latest ruse could cause outweigh the drug interdiction benefits. And as with the "Sobriety checkpoint ahead" billboards, law enforcement ought not to be in the business of telling blanket lies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on August 09, 2003 at 11:09:14 PT Slightly OT Here's an interesting quote from page 387 of the 9/11 report:"In an interview, the agent noted that he often felt “out on an island” investigating counterterrorism in Phoenix. In his words, before September 11 counterterrorism and counterintelligence were the “bastard stepchild” of the FBI because these programs do not generate career-enhancing statistics like other programs, such as Violent Crimes/Major Offenders or drugs." 9/11 report [ Post Comment ] Post Comment