MARIJUANA HELP CENTER WILL TRY TO REOPEN

The Compassion Center, a medical marijuana help group in Eugene, is
trying to regroup and reopen after a power struggle on its board of
directors that culminated when one board member removed patients'
medical files from the office, sued to dissolve the organization and
tried to start her own rival medical marijuana support group.

The center, founded in 2001, has been closed since July 22, leaving
about 2,000 marijuana cardholders in the metro area without a place
to turn for advice and support in dealing with Oregon's medical
marijuana law.

"Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are closed until further
notice," reads a hand-written note, taped to the door of the office
at 2055 W. 12th Ave. "We are so sorry. The management."

As part of a settlement agreement approved by a Lane County Circuit
Court judge, the two battling board members agreed to resign, and
four new board members have been appointed and charged with
appointing a fifth board member. The organization will pay the board
members' attorney fees.

The center should reopen soon, said Casey Ferguson, a former board
member who was just reappointed, but he could offer no timetable.

"We're restructuring and we are very hopeful the center will be open
for business very shortly," said Ferguson, a medical student who
recently moved from Eugene to Portland.

Once the fifth board member is appointed, then corporation officers
need to be selected. Then the board needs to work with accountants to
get finances in order and bring back staff so the center can reopen,
he said.

Originally called the Eugene Cannabis Grow-Op, the Compassion Center.
It offered classes, support and networking for people interested in
obtaining a marijuana card from the Oregon Medical Marijuana
Program, as well as people who already held one. It also hosted
clinics with a doctor who would examine patients seeking a medical
marijuana card. Volunteers offered tips on growing marijuana, finding
a doctor willing to sign a medical marijuana application, and helped
connect cardholders with people who could legally grow marijuana for
them, known as "caregivers."

A state-issued medical marijuana card permits people to possess,
consume and grow marijuana, provided it is for medical purposes. A
doctor must attest that the patient has at least one of nine
qualifying medical conditions, such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS,
nausea and severe pain. While 13 states have passed medical marijuana
laws, the drug remains illegal under federal law.

Anthony Johnson, political director of Voter Power, a Portland
medical marijuana advocacy group, said the closure of the Compassion
Center "definitely puts patients in a bind and forces them to travel
to Portland or other areas that do have support groups." He added:
"It does create a void and a need for some kind of organization to
help patients meet their needs."

The dispute in Eugene involved board members Brenda Alley and Mike
Sage. In June, they were the only two members left on the center's
board. State law requires non-profit groups to have at least three
board members, and the group's own bylaws require five. If a group
cannot maintain at least three board members, state law requires the
group to cease operations and dissolve.

In June, Alley contacted the state Department of Justice and
expressed concern that up to $300,000 of the center's funds were
missing, according to an Aug. 5 letter from Elizabeth Grant, the
attorney in charge of the DOJ's Charitable Activities Section, to
attorneys for Sage and Alley.

However, an earlier audit of the Compassion Center, and a review of
five years of financial reports, indicated the group did not have
much in the way of charitable assets except those necessary for its
routine operation, Grant wrote. For instance, in 2007, the group
reported it had $25,247 in cash, income of $161,037 and expenses of
$147,968.

"We do not understand the factual basis for Ms. Alley's assertions
that $300,000 in charitable assets is missing or unaccounted for,"
Grant wrote.

According to court documents filed by Sage, Alley entered the offices
of the Compassion Center sometime from July 18-21 and removed patient
medical files, forcing the clinic to close.

Ferguson said the records have been recovered.

"It appears right now all documentation has been recovered," Ferguson
said. "It is all secure."

In an interview, Alley, a Eugene resident, confirmed said she removed
the files from the office. She did so, she said, on instructions from
her attorney and the state Department of Justice.

She said she secured the files only "for a short period of time," and
that the other board member had access to the records.

Alley said she volunteered at the center for seven
years.

"I was trying to keep the organization as straight and honest and as
pristinely clean as possible," she said.

On Aug. 18, Alley filed papers with the Secretary of State's office
to establish a new non-profit corporation called Green Cross of Oregon.

Some medical marijuana support organizations in other regions have
used the name "Green Cross."

Alley declined to discuss why she incorporated a new
organization.

Sage, in an interview, said Alley tried to engineer "a hostile
takeover" of the organization.

"She was trying to take over the center, and do things her way, and
trying to fire the crew" of volunteer staff members who ran the
clinic, he said. "I wouldn't let her."

A complaint was filed with the Eugene Police Department in connection
with the removal of the medical records.

A police spokeswoman referred inquiries to the Lane County District
Attorney's office. Chief Deputy District Attorney Alex Gardner said
it's unlikely charges will be filed in the case unless further
evidence comes to light that indicates unlawful intent by Alley.

Ferguson said the removal of medical files from the Compassion Center
office represents a serious breach of trust, and board members and
staff will need to work hard to regain the trust of patients.

"The organization is strong enough to survive and we'll be able to
get the doors open again soon," he said. "Our patients are our No. 1
concern."

Jaqui Lomont:, general manager of the Compassion Center for four
years until resigning in May, said there were rumblings of trouble
on the board when she left the organization.

The turmoil is "heartbreaking," she said, "because we know there's a
lot of patients who need our services."