FATE OF MARIJUANA DOCTOR UNCLEAR

Phillip Leveque Faces Disciplinary Action By A State License Board

MEDFORD - For Dr. Phillip Leveque, this could be a farewell tour.

About 20 sick people and medical-marijuana proponents converged Monday on
the South Comfort Inn in Medford to visit Leveque, the Molalla osteopath
who has made headlines for writing half of Oregon's medical marijuana
applications.

Leveque started seeing patients on the road soon after Oregon's voter-
approved medical marijuana initiative became law in May 1999. He began
visiting patients in Medford and other rural small towns when he realized
that many people who qualified for medical marijuana couldn't find a local
physician to sign their application.

The Board of Medical Examiners has filed a formal complaint against the
doctor, who has signed about 1,800 applications during the past two years.

The board, which regulates medical practice and investigates complaints
against doctors, said Leveque signed applications without seeing patients,
conducting medical tests, maintaining adequate medical charts or conferring
with other medical care providers.

The board could fine Leveque, reprimand him or revoke or suspend his
license, or could impose a combination of those penalties.

Leveque said Monday he has signed at least 100 applications for Jackson
County residents. One of his patients, a 29-year-old Medford man who has
had diabetes since age 10, said medical marijuana has reduced his
dependence on prescription drugs.

"Marijuana took me off six different pills," said the man, who asked that
his name not be used.