Marijuana.com

Brindie

Oregon Ponders New Pot Law

Fox News | July 7, 2004

PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon ballot measure expected to qualify this week would make it legal for medical marijuana (search) users to possess one pound of pot, create state dispensaries and allow nurse practitioners and naturopaths (search) to prescribe it.

If passed, a patient could possess six pounds of marijuana legally — spread out, it would be enough to fill two grocery carts. The medical marijuana law on the books there now limits legal possession to three ounces.

Backers of the initiative say the current law isn't working for many of the 9,000 cardholders because they're running out of cannabis (search) before they can line up a new supply.

Opponents of the measures — which include the Bush administration — argue that these initiatives are less about helping sick people than about legalizing marijuana, especially since only 7 percent of the cardholders in the state are suffering from cancer (search), glaucoma (search) or AIDS (search). And many in law enforcement say it would create a financial incentive for government to get people hooked on what they insist is a gateway drug.

Eight states currently have medical marijuana laws. If Oregon voters pass the initiative, it would be, by far, the most liberal pot law in the United States.

[Brindie note: "If passed, a patient could possess six pounds of marijuana legally — spread out, it would be enough to fill two grocery carts."
What does this mean? If you spread it out enough it would stretch all the way around the equator. I'm sure I could easily fit six pounds of marijuana into just one grocery cart.]

 

GGAllin

Man their legalize marijuana for medical use left and right. I hope they legalize it here in Texas. But, I bet we will be the LAST state to legalize it.

__________________
Riley

WNB

Yay, faux news!

If you guys didn't know, fox news is the republican party news outlet, comparable to state owned media in fascist countries. You will get nothing but spin and missleading information from them, and they generally only give you a small part of the story.

__________________
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength

SacredJellybean

First, the article states one pound, and just a few lines down, it's suddenly 6 pounds? I'm confused. That "two shopping carts" line sounds way too extreme. They obviously only put it in there to shock people. I can't even imagine a simple 6 pounds of marijuana filling up 2 shopping carts.

However, the actual initiative is true, isn't it? I thought I read something about a controversial Oregon ballot somewhere else on this message board (some time ago). Perhaps the one pound part is true?

Greenbud

Oh, there's still plenty of spin...

This is an attempt to overexaggerate the visual effect of the amount of pot that would be allowed for medical patients. Purely for shock and scorn and to incense the non-users.

Then...

Not only is the opposing view given more press, but it gives the appearence that the "actual" goal is really all about legalizing marijuana. Plus it states the LE opinion, a worn-out propaganda myth already debunked by research.

__________________
"I believe in the near future, the government will use anti-drug hysteria to set up a police state."
-author William S. Burroughs, 1947

Community Posting Guidelines | Front Page Article Submission Guidelines

 

cassiusclay

Here's what Yahoo! says,

U.S. National - Reuters


Oregon to Vote on Easing Medical Marijuana Use

Fri Jul 2, 8:58 PM ET Add U.S. National - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Teresa Carson

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - Oregon voters will decide this fall whether to make medical marijuana more readily available after an initiative to expand an existing law gained enough signatures on Friday to be placed on the ballot.



The ballot measure would let patients possess up to 1 pound of marijuana, up from 3 ounces under a law passed in 1999. It also would create a system of dispensaries that could legally sell pot to patients.


"This initiative will create a regulated supply of medical marijuana so that patients and their caregivers can safely and reliably get their medicine," said John Sajo, director of Voter Power and a chief petitioner.


Initiative supporters turned in 28,500 signatures on Friday. The ballot measure drew 95,690 signatures submitted in May, but after some were thrown out, supporters canvassed again to ensure they reached the required threshold of 75,630 valid voter signatures.


About 9,000 Oregonians have medical cards allowing them to grow and use marijuana for medical purposes. Currently, a patient has to grow his own marijuana or have a caregiver grow it.


"Most of these ill people cannot grow their own under the current restrictions," which regulates the number of plants and sets other conditions. The initiative would clarify the caregivers' role by letting them grow pot for as many as 10 medical users.


Nine states currently have laws permitting some use of marijuana for medical purposes, Bruce Mirken, communications director of the Marijuana Policy Project said.


Another seven states are considering legalizing medical use of marijuana, which is prescribed as a pain reducer or appetite stimulant for patients with multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS (news - web sites), glaucoma, and other illnesses.


While other controversial issues like legalizing homosexual marriage and redefining marriage as between one man and one woman have drawn fierce resistance, the medical marijuana initiative has created little local debate.


"It isn't that controversial among the general population. Most people seem to understand the value of this medicine," Mirken said.


The U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) in late June agreed to decide if a federal law banning marijuana applies to medical use. Two seriously ill California women, whose doctors recommended it for their ailments, sued the U.S. government and the case will be reviewed by the nation's highest court when it begins a new term in October.

Mendrel

I certainly hope it passes. It will make things so much easier to be able to grow a few more plants per patient.

AlucardOrange3

Did anybody notice that the Yahoo report was a LOT more informative and managed not to mention the President's opinion (since Bush, being neither a doctor or an Oregon resident, really has nothing valid to say on the issue)? Thank God Fox isn't the only source of news, the Yahoo report actually seemed *gasp* to reflect reality! How terribly odd for a story in the American press, especially one about DRUGS. The social and political climate must be changing...

A03

__________________
"When a true genius appears in the world, you shall know him by this sign; that all the dunces are in confederacy against him." Jonathan Swift

*Sparkle*

Would someone care to tell me which 9 states currentlyallow the use of medicinal marijuana? And yes, it is a miracle that some peple actually report facts, isn't it, AO3? =)