THE FUTURE OF DISPENSARIES

Upcoming Legislature Could Benefit Medical Marijuana
Users

In Oregon, one can use marijuana legally for medicinal purposes if
that individual obtains a special permit. It is possible that big
changes could be in store for medical marijuana patients in Oregon, if
a ballot measure to create medical marijuana dispensary systems passes
in November.

Currently, people who are enrolled in the Oregon Medical Marijuana
Program, which consists of 36,380 people, have two options in terms of
accessing their medical marijuana. They can either grow their own or
buy from a producer who sells to four people or less.

The problem with this current method is that some people may not know
producers and may be too sick to grow their own. So what are those
people supposed to do when they need medical marijuana, but they do
not have access?

The ballot measure would create a medical marijuana dispensary system
and make Oregon the seventh state to set up a state-regulated
dispensary system.

This ballot measure could be what Oregon needs to take a step in the
right direction to make sure people who need medical marijuana can
obtain it. It would mean easier access to thousands of sick Oregonians
who are in need. The dispensaries could just be another option in
addition to growing or buying from a producer.

The Department of Health would be in charge of monitoring and
inspecting the dispensaries. Each dispensary would have a yearly
license and be nonprofit. The dispensaries would be state-monitored
and have restrictions on them, such as that they must be 1,000 feet
away from schools and residential neighborhoods.

Installing medical marijuana dispensaries should be the next step for
a state that legalizes the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
There is, however, a lot of concern about the dispensaries.

Oregon could test the waters and install a few dispensaries following
the guidelines set forth in the measure on a trial basis. If problems
arise, they can be altered to continue to adhere to the needs of the
people using them and still be kept safe. If it proves to be too much
of a problem, then at least the test was there. Oregon needs to at
least give this idea a chance.

Other states have had problems in the past with lack of control over
dispensaries. The dispensaries were abused and the problems were
common. Therefore, what Oregon needs to do is cover its bases in this
measure and learn from other states such as California, which had
issues in the past with medical marijuana dispensaries.

Ultimately, the placement of medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon
could lead to more revenue for the state in these times of economic
turmoil. They would also create access for people who really need it.