Jacob Bell
New Member
Legislators got an earful Wednesday from medical marijuana advocates who condemned a proposal to greatly restrict who can legally use the drug to combat illnesses.
It's the second time in recent weeks that the issue has come up, as some lawmakers have made it clear they think too many people are scamming the law that allows use of cannabis to treat some diseases and symptoms.
"I personally think the program is out of control," said Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, sponsor of one of the bills targeting the growth of medical marijuana use. "I know people who just find it a legal way to smoke pot."
Opponents called his proposal "heartless" and said it would subject cancer patients and other sick people who rely on marijuana to arrest and imprisonment.
To take away an effective medical treatment "is simply a cruel task, a cruel thing to do that will only harm someone battling cancer," said Anthony Johnson, spokesman for a coalition of groups that support medical marijuana.
Kruse's proposal, contained in Senate Bill 777, strikes several general illnesses from the list of those for which cannabis can be legally used, including cancer, severe pain, severe nausea and seizures. It replaces them with more specific conditions, such as nausea resulting from chemotherapy treatment for cancer, and spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis.
Kruse said he came up with the list after asking a number of doctors what kind of conditions marijuana is effective against. He said he hears from law enforcement, particularly in southern Oregon, that marijuana use is rampant, partly because of its legal use for medical reasons.
After listening to nearly an hour of testimony against his bill, Kruse said he's willing to be "flexible" and make some changes. He also acknowledged that his bill may not make it far in the Democratically controlled Senate.
However, he said he expects some changes to the law to come out of the Legislature this year. A work group already has formed to look at ways to prevent abuses of the 1998 voter-approved measure that legalized use of marijuana for medical reasons.
Interest in changing the law intensified after a measure that would have allowed medical marijuana dispensaries was defeated by Oregon voters last November.
"Sometimes you just need to begin the discussion," Kruse said.
Wednesday's discussion went heavily and vehemently against the changes outlined in the bill.
"It will create criminals out of currently law abiding citizens," said Sarah Duff, of Portland, who works for a patient advocacy group. Duff listed a number of cases, including her mother's cancer, that no longer would qualify for marijuana treatment.
About 40,000 Oregonians have medical marijuana cards, a number Kruse and some others at the Legislature think is too high. Advocates of medical marijuana say that number should be expanded as more studies show its beneficial uses.
"It's completely heartless to exclude cancer from the list," said Leland Berger, a Portland lawyer who represents patients and providers. "Either you think marijuana is medicine or you don't."
Last month, a House bill to put more limits into the law met with similar opposition, and the bill was tabled. A group called the Oregon Marijuana Policy Initiative has organized to fight any other proposals if they come up at the Legislature, said spokesman Robert Wolfe, of Eugene.
"We're going to show up in force at every hearing," Wolfe said.
News Hawk- Jacob Husky 420 MAGAZINE
Source: oregonlive.com
Author: Harry Esteve
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Oregon Live LLC
Website: Proposal to restrict Oregon medical marijuana use gets trashed in hearing
It's the second time in recent weeks that the issue has come up, as some lawmakers have made it clear they think too many people are scamming the law that allows use of cannabis to treat some diseases and symptoms.
"I personally think the program is out of control," said Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, sponsor of one of the bills targeting the growth of medical marijuana use. "I know people who just find it a legal way to smoke pot."
Opponents called his proposal "heartless" and said it would subject cancer patients and other sick people who rely on marijuana to arrest and imprisonment.
To take away an effective medical treatment "is simply a cruel task, a cruel thing to do that will only harm someone battling cancer," said Anthony Johnson, spokesman for a coalition of groups that support medical marijuana.
Kruse's proposal, contained in Senate Bill 777, strikes several general illnesses from the list of those for which cannabis can be legally used, including cancer, severe pain, severe nausea and seizures. It replaces them with more specific conditions, such as nausea resulting from chemotherapy treatment for cancer, and spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis.
Kruse said he came up with the list after asking a number of doctors what kind of conditions marijuana is effective against. He said he hears from law enforcement, particularly in southern Oregon, that marijuana use is rampant, partly because of its legal use for medical reasons.
After listening to nearly an hour of testimony against his bill, Kruse said he's willing to be "flexible" and make some changes. He also acknowledged that his bill may not make it far in the Democratically controlled Senate.
However, he said he expects some changes to the law to come out of the Legislature this year. A work group already has formed to look at ways to prevent abuses of the 1998 voter-approved measure that legalized use of marijuana for medical reasons.
Interest in changing the law intensified after a measure that would have allowed medical marijuana dispensaries was defeated by Oregon voters last November.
"Sometimes you just need to begin the discussion," Kruse said.
Wednesday's discussion went heavily and vehemently against the changes outlined in the bill.
"It will create criminals out of currently law abiding citizens," said Sarah Duff, of Portland, who works for a patient advocacy group. Duff listed a number of cases, including her mother's cancer, that no longer would qualify for marijuana treatment.
About 40,000 Oregonians have medical marijuana cards, a number Kruse and some others at the Legislature think is too high. Advocates of medical marijuana say that number should be expanded as more studies show its beneficial uses.
"It's completely heartless to exclude cancer from the list," said Leland Berger, a Portland lawyer who represents patients and providers. "Either you think marijuana is medicine or you don't."
Last month, a House bill to put more limits into the law met with similar opposition, and the bill was tabled. A group called the Oregon Marijuana Policy Initiative has organized to fight any other proposals if they come up at the Legislature, said spokesman Robert Wolfe, of Eugene.
"We're going to show up in force at every hearing," Wolfe said.
News Hawk- Jacob Husky 420 MAGAZINE
Source: oregonlive.com
Author: Harry Esteve
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Oregon Live LLC
Website: Proposal to restrict Oregon medical marijuana use gets trashed in hearing
