MEDICAL POT ACCESS STILL A HUSH-HUSH ENDEAVOR

DALLAS, Ore. (AP) - 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 four 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, who worries that other parents will
forbid their children from playing with her three boys if she
continues to grow marijuana. ``Just thinking about it has my stomach
upset.''

Those who pushed for Oregon's medical marijuana law expected to hear
about people like the Bushes.

``We always knew that when we passed the initiative the most difficult
issue for people to overcome was going to be the supply issue,'' said
Geoff Sugarman, director of Oregonians for Medical Rights which pushed
for the voter-backed law.

Under the law, all it takes is a doctor's note saying a patient is a
good candidate to use marijuana for medical reasons. After getting a
doctor's note, 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,'' Sugarman said.

In the past few months, Doug Bush, 43, was able to get marijuana from
a caregiver who had extra. But that supply ran out. He figures he
needs about an ounce a week. And he can't work at his concrete
business when he's in too much pain.

One of the reasons Bush said he developed arthritis in his shoulders
and collarbones is that he has worked with his hands, arms and
shoulders for more than 20 years.

Despite his apparent strength, Bush can be found occasionally lying in
bed, crying and praying that the pain will stop.

Cathy Bush says the end of the day is the worst for the whole family.
The couple's three boys - ages 4, 6 and 11 - have learned to stay away
from their father if he drags in the door, walking slowly and hunched
over in extreme pain.

It is those nights that make Bush desperate to help. That is why she
has applied for a caregiver card so that she can grow marijuana for
her husband.

For now, she'll nurture three little marijuana starts on her sun deck.
The couple recently began updating their electrical system so they can
hook up grow lamps.

They hope to find a caregiver who can grow marijuana for them so they
can avoid having it at home.

``We don't want to break the law,'' Bush said. ``But what can we do?''