STATE-RUN MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITY

What's up: The Legislature is taking up House Bill 3812, which would direct
the Oregon Health Division to establish a state-licensed and supervised
medical marijuana facility. The facility would grow and oversee
distribution of marijuana to residents with certain medical conditions that
qualify them to use marijuana as a medical drug.

Under voter-approved Oregon law, these patients can grow their own or
designate a caregiver to grow it for them. About 1,900 Oregonians are
registered card holders, and the state receives about 20 to 30 applications
a day.

Pro: For better or worse, Oregon voters have legalized the use of marijuana
for medicinal purposes. As more patients qualify as card holders in the
medical marijuana program, they create demand for the drug. Oregon should
acknowledge this reality and create a network for production and
distribution of marijuana, so it can better ensure that it doesn't fall
into the hands of people without a legal right to use the drug.

Con: This is a Pandora's box of unanswered questions and unintended
consequences. The state has no business getting into the business of
growing and distributing marijuana. Patients have developed their own
network to ensure that those with a need and a legal right can access
marijuana. Also, federal law prohibits the use of marijuana and the U.S.
Supreme Court has hinted that medicinal marijuana laws may be unconstitutional.

Next hearing: The House Agriculture and Forestry Committee will hold a
public hearing on HB 3812 Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 50.

In depth: Search for HB 3812 or listen to Tuesday's public hearing live at
www.leg.state.or.us. Streaming video coverage is available at
www.pctv.state.or.us. The Oregon Health Division has a Web page on the
medical marijuana program it runs: www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/hclc/mm/ Key
players: Rep. Jeff Kropf,

R-Albany. Chief sponsor and chairman of the agriculture committee. Phone:
(503) 986-1437; email: kropf.rep@state.or.us.

Dr. Grant Higginson, state health officer, acting Health Division
administrator. Phone: (503) 731-4000; e-mail: grant.k.higginson@state.or.us
The Health Division has not taken a position on the bill.

What people are saying: "I'm strongly against medical marijuana. However,
since we've got this animal, we've got to control it and live with it." -
Kropf.

"Any time you (have) a controlled substance with a record of leading to
other, more serious drugs, I'd have concerns about our ability to control
it." - Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach. He is a member of the agriculture
committee and a retired Oregon State Police officer.