PANEL BACKS DISPENSARIES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Citizens vote 13-11 to support medical marijuana proposal on ballot

Members of a citizen review panel meeting all week in Salem narrowly
favored a ballot measure Friday that would allow dispensaries for
medical marijuana.

The vote by citizens chosen at random and balanced to reflect
Oregon's electorate was 13-11 in support of Measure 74.

Oregon voters officially will decide the measure's fate Nov. 2.

The review was sponsored by the nonpartisan organization Healthy
Democracy Oregon and was conducted at Salem Conference Center.

"The fact that it came down so evenly shows what a difficult measure
it is," said Melissa Norgren of Portland, who read aloud the
consensus statement of key findings on the Capitol steps. "It is not
something that people should make a snap decision about."

Measure 74 would allow the state to license dispensaries for
distribution of medical marijuana. It would differ from the law in
California, which leaves licensing to local governments.

Although they ended up on different sides, Tim Miller of Salem and
Megan Bailey of Clackamas said it was a close call for each of them.

"I was on the fence right up until the end," said Miller, a social
researcher who has worked for Oregon Health Action Campaign. "I had
some reservations, but I figured that in the end, it was much better
to vote yes than to vote no. I want to take marijuana out of the
hands of criminals and into the hands of a legitimate distribution system.

"For compassionate reasons, I know one woman with lupus and two with
multiple sclerosis who are really suffering and have serious problems
getting their medicine. This is going to help them."

Miller also said the program would support itself through fees.

Bailey said she agreed with many of the statements by proponents.

"But there were some things that made me change my mind about it,"
she said. "I definitely changed my mind several times during this
whole process, but I felt I had to come down where I did."

Opponents said the measure should have specified more details,
instead of leaving them to administrative rules to be written afterward.

All but one panelist agreed with a key finding that the measure's
language "lacks clarity on regulation, operation and enforcement."

Statements from both sides, plus a list of key findings, will be
published in the state voters pamphlet that is distributed to every
household before an election.

Bailey said she had no quarrel with the process of how the panelists
evaluated the measure.

"I think they have the process down pat pretty well," she said.

Despite their differences on the measure, Miller added, "there is
hope we can work together to find common ground."

A different panel last week voted 21-3 against Measure 73, which
would increase to 25 years prison sentences for repeat felony sex
offenders and set minimum terms for repeat drunken drivers.

Results of both reviews will be evaluated under a grant by the
National Science Foundation. Sponsors hope to institute similar
citizen reviews of selected ballot initiatives as a permanent feature
in future election cycles.