RULING, INITIATIVE LIGHT WAY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA
USERS

Recent developments in Oregon have proven positive for medical
marijuana advocates throughout the state.

On June 16, the Oregon Court of Appeals agreed with a previous ruling
regarding the ability of medical marijuana cardholders to carry
concealed weapons permits.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters had denied such a permit to a
medical marijuana patient in 2008. That decision was challenged, and
Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Mark Shiveley ruled that Winters
did not have the legal grounds for the denial. Shiveley's decision was
upheld.

The ruling was applauded by John Sajo, director of Voter Power, a
statewide organization that advocates for the rights of medical
marijuana patients.

"We were confident that the courts would rule that way, and they did,"
Sajo said. "The sheriff was trying to deny concealed carry permits for
patients, and that was a tortured interpretation of the laws involved."

Melissa Fritts, clinic director for Rogue River Herbal Pain Management
Center, said that Winters' decision to deny the concealed carry
permits was improper.

"It's just like saying that someone with a prescription for Vicodin or
Percocet can't have a concealed weapon," Fritts said.

Also on June 16, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy voted to reclassify
marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II controlled substance.
Fritts said that action should benefit the medical marijuana patients
that she serves.

"In my opinion, it takes some of the stigma off of medical marijuana
and marijuana in general," she said.

Sajo said that the move was a "largely symbolic act," because the
Medical Marijuana Act, approved by Oregon voters in November 1998,
bypassed the pharmacy board. He added that it was "unfortunate" that
the substance was only moved down to Schedule II.

"It's very likely that the decision to go only to Schedule II will be
appealed," Sajo said. "The appeal likely will take many years of
making its way through the court system. In the end, marijuana will be
placed on a less-restrictive schedule, because science calls for it."

The pharmacy board's decision to reclassify marijuana was the result
of a law passed by the Legislature.

Friday, July 2 was the deadline for initiative sponsors to submit
signatures to the Secretary of State's office for verification in
order to place the measures on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
Medical marijuana advocates turned in signatures in support of
Initiative 28, which would establish a statewide system for
dispensaries where patients could receive their supplies.

Sajo said that he is "very confident" that supporters of the
initiative gathered enough valid signatures to bring it to a vote. He
said that the measure will have many benefits for thousands of
Oregon's medical marijuana patients.

"Basically, it will fix the problems with the medical marijuana law,"
Sajo said. "It will give patients more choices about how they obtain
their medicine."

The Secretary of State's office has 30 days to verify the signatures,
but Sajo said that Voter Power expects to know by the middle of July
if the initiative will qualify for the ballot.

If voters approve the measure in November, Sajo said, patients will be
able to grow their own marijuana, designate a grower or go to
dispensaries.

"Having a stable, reliable supply of medicine should make it easier
for doctors to qualify more patients and have more predictable
outcomes," Sajo said.

The initiative also would create a program for indigent patients, he
added, and authorizes the state health department to research medical
marijuana for quality control standards.

Fritts said that there are other upsides to approving the
initiative.

"It would allow patients who don't have the knowledge, access or
resources to grow their own medicine a legal and convenient way to
access medication," he said. "Also, it would bring a lot of money to
the state."

Sajo said that Voter Power and other similar organizations plan to
ramp up their efforts between now and Nov. 2 to ensure that the
initiative becomes law.

"We will raise as much money as we can and try really hard to win the
election," he stated. "We are confident that Oregon voters will vote
in this improvement to the Medical Marijuana Act.

"Oregonians understand that marijuana is medicine, and patients ought
to be able to get it," Sajo opined.