cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Access Still a Hush-Hush Endeavor





Medical Pot Access Still a Hush-Hush Endeavor
Posted by FoM on April 18, 2000 at 11:06:59 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Register-Guard
Cathy Bush doesn't smoke marijuana. She doesn't even like the smell of it. But she is working very hard to grow the plant on the sun deck of her home.Her husband, Doug, has permission to use marijuana to ease the pain of osteoarthritis in his upper chest. The trouble is he can't find a way to buy it legally.
Medical marijuana use still exists in a hush-hush world of black market seeds and underground drug deals despite the 1998 Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.Under the law, people with debilitating medical conditions may possess up to 4 ounces of dried marijuana, plus three mature and four immature plants. But, as the Bushes can attest, growing marijuana takes time, space and money.And then, there's the social cost to consider.``I've been trying to avoid growing here, though, because of the kids,'' said Cathy Bush, 34.Under the law, all it takes is a doctor's note saying a patient is a good candidate to use marijuana for medical reasons. Then a patient can apply for a card from the Oregon Health Division. The patient then can grow, smoke and eat marijuana under certain limits and conditions.But it's illegal to buy or sell marijuana.``In the end, this problem is truly only going to be solved when federal law allows doctors to prescribe and pharmacies to distribute,'' said Geoff Sugarman, director of Oregonians for Medical Rights.In the past few months, Doug Bush, 43, was able to get marijuana from a caregiver who had extra. But that supply ran out.Despite his apparent strength, Bush can be found occasionally lying in bed, crying and praying that the pain will stop. The Bushes hope to find a caregiver who can grow marijuana for them.Dallas:Published: April 17, 2000Copyright © 2000 The Register-Guard CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Articles & Archives:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtmlhttp://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+medical+site:cannabisnews.com
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Comment #3 posted by Kanabys on April 19, 2000 at 07:22:02 PT:
I dont understand
>>And then, there's the social cost to consider.``I've been trying to avoid growing here, though, because of the kids,'' said Cathy Bush, 34.This is not a person who is doing something illegal. Why is she ashamed or worried to grow cannabis in front of her kids? Why can't she just explain to them that this is a medicine for daddy? In other words, explain the TRUTH to them. I have a feeling that they would probably understand that you shouldn't 'party' with dad's medicine.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 18, 2000 at 15:43:42 PT
Here's is Something That Might Help Mark!
Hi Mark! I saw your question about contacts so I went and found this list of email contacts from the Register-Guard's web site. I hope you find the one to respond to this article. Here is the direct link to the article if you feel you might find more information but the links aren't kept very long that's why I don't post direct links in the actual articles unless I know they are known for keeping good archives! Keep up the good work with your paper. I have been seeing it pop up different places when I'm searching for news. If you link to a CannabisNews article when they update the search at Google it also brings up your article under a search for CannabisNews. It does that for MapInc. too. Google is a nice search tool and I didn't even know it existed until someone mentioned it on the Political Board of Cannabis.com where I talk to some of my friends.Peace, FoM!PS: These aren't all yours but it is bringing up a number of your posts. Thought I'd let you know about this cool feature.Search For Mark Tide & Arcata Journal:http://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+Mark+Tide+site:cannabisnews.comhttp://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+arcata+journal+site:cannabisnews.comDirect Link:http://www.registerguard.com/news/20000417/6b.cr.medpot.0417.htmlContact Information:http://www.registerguard.com/standingdocs/emaillist.html
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Comment #1 posted by Mark Tide on April 18, 2000 at 14:57:18 PT:
On Failures of Oregon's Law
In California, under section (b) (1) (c) of P215, medicinal cannabis distribution is lawful. Local governmental implementation programs satisfy permissive authorization in this text of P215. We just need more and better local implementation programs, and related advocacy and resources. WHY wasn't such a provision included in Oregon's law? or Washington's? or Maine's? Etc. ???It's NOT the case that we must await pharmacies for a remedy, as per the following excerpt from article:"But it's illegal to buy or sell marijuana.""In the end, this problem is truly only going to be solved when federal law allows doctors to prescribe and pharmacies to distribute,'' said Geoff Sugarman, director of Oregonians for Medical Rights."Federal reform would be nice, but better law --- like California's P215 --- would have gotten a better job done NOW, when the patients are suffering over its failures. What has Mr. Sugarman to say about that? Perhaps he'll respond if alerted. Anyone know how to easily contact him?Please see also, related cannabisnews.com discussion at http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5421.shtml 
Arcata Journal
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