PETITIONERS SEEK MEDICAL MARIJUANA OUTLETS

Ballot Measure Would Let the State License Dispensaries for the Drug

Advocates of medical marijuana on Thursday submitted 110,000
signatures, more than the amount required, for a ballot measure to
allow state-licensed pot dispensaries in Oregon.

The proposed measure would not change the medical conditions under
the law for which medical marijuana may be used.

If such a measure ever becomes law, Oregon would join California and
a few other states that allow dispensaries. But supporters of the
measure argue that reported problems with dispensaries in California
are precisely what the Oregon measure is trying to avoid. And one
marijuana reform-minded group says it will remain neutral on the issue.

"We support dispensary programs," said Mike Meno of the national
Marijuana Policy Project. "For many patients, they are the best way
to get safe access to their medicine."

The Marijuana Policy Project lobbies at the state and federal levels
for medical marijuana to be taxed and regulated like alcohol.

California's law allowed for dispensaries but left regulation to
local jurisdictions, Meno said.

"Especially in states where we're pushing for new medical marijuana
laws, they get a bad rap from stories they hear out of California;
that there's more dispensaries there than Starbucks," Meno said. A
state-regulated program could avoid a flood of dispensaries, he said.

Oregon's original medical marijuana measure, approved by voters in
1998, allows only patients with state-issued cards, or their
caregivers, to grow a specified number of mature plants. The current
number of mature plants is six. The law did not allow marijuana
sales, which would have conflicted with federal law.

"But now that the Obama administration has indicated that they will
allow states to regulate medical marijuana, Oregon needs to create a
regulated system so every patient can access quality controlled
medicine," said John Sajo, director of Voter Power, the group that
organized the petition-signature campaign.

Fourteen states have medical marijuana programs. States that will
soon allow regulated dispensaries include Rhode Island, Maine,
Washington D.C. and New Jersey, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.

Some medical marijuana patients are concerned that state-regulated
dispensaries could limit their right to grow their own. Others worry
that dispensaries would not be able to keep up with demand.

Madeline Martinez, executive director of Oregon NORML, said that as a
patient she worries the state may try to prohibit her from growing
the plants the way she likes them: organic.

But the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws is neutral on the issue.

"We don't feel that (it) really makes a significant change in the
lives of patients - it doesn't go far enough," Martinez said. "It
doesn't protect our employment rights or from losing our children in
custody battles."

It regulates the market, she said, but won't affect the cardholders
who can grow their own medicine or get it through other avenues. It
wont change cost or quality, Martinez said.

"It may be easier for some people, but pretty much anyone can go out
and buy marijuana today," she said. "If people want to get marijuana,
they can get it anywhere."

The state Public Health Division, which oversees the medical
marijuana program, hasn't yet evaluated dispensaries.

"We have not studied the issue of dispensaries because we are neutral
when it comes to ballot measures," said Dr. Grant Higginson, who
oversees the medical marijuana program.

"If there are dispensaries for medical marijuana, it is our
understanding at this point that we would be required to create some
regulatory framework in regard to licensing and monitoring grow
sites," he said.

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INITIATIVE

The medical marijuana initiative is called Initiative Petition 28. To
qualify for the Nov. 2 general-election ballot, supporters must
submit at least 82,769 valid signatures by the filing deadline of
July 2. State Elections Division officials then will have 30 days to
verify signatures.

Supporters submitted their signatures by an early deadline of Friday.
If a preliminary check by officials shows that they have fallen short
of the required number, backers can submit additional signatures by
the July 2 final deadline.

The petition will receive a new ballot measure designation if it
qualifies for a statewide vote.