cannabisnews.com: Oregon Toughens Rules for Approving Marijuana Oregon Toughens Rules for Approving Marijuana Posted by FoM on August 10, 2001 at 16:31:08 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press State officials toughened rules doctors must follow under Oregon's medical marijuana law Friday, responding to the discovery that a single doctor has signed 40 percent of the state's marijuana applications. Under the new rules, a physician who signs a written statement on behalf of an applicant must maintain an up-to-date medical file for the patient, and those who monitor the marijuana program would be allowed to examine a patient's original file or require a copy of the file from the physician. The purpose behind the new rules is to ensure that doctors and patients are complying with Oregon's Medical Marijuana Law, approved by voters in 1998, said Grant Higginson, state health officer with the Oregon Department of Human Services. The new rules are temporary -- in effect for up to 180 days. A public hearing to establish permanent rules will be held this fall. The medical marijuana law requires patients to submit a statement from an attending physician confirming that a patient has a debilitating condition, such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, seizures, that would be eased through use of marijuana. Once a doctor signs the statement, the patient can legally grow marijuana at home for medical use. Earlier this year, officials found that a 77-year-old Molalla physician -- Phillip E. Leveque -- had signed 890 of the state's 2,168 approved applications for medical marijuana. Higginson said the large number of cases "makes us question whether this person could truly qualify as the attending physician for all of these patients." Program officials recently discovered seven cases in which patients apparently forged the signature of Leveque, an osteopath. Leveque said he fills a need for desperate patients, almost all of whom come to him after seeking help in vain from other doctors. Under current state law, approved users may grow three mature plants, four immature plants and possess 3 ounces of dried plant and flowers at one time. A doctor cannot prescribe marijuana, but can suggest it to patients who might benefit. Complete Title: Oregon Toughens Rules for Approving Medical Marijuana Requests Source: Associated PressPublished: Friday, August 10, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Associated Press Related Articles:Doctor Defends His Use of Medical Marijuana Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10292.shtmlDoctor OKs Almost 900 Medical Marijuana Cardshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10232.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by dddd on August 11, 2001 at 04:07:29 PT The new strategy ....This will be the new trend in foiling state voters initiatives...there will be a whole new bureaucracy,that is already developed,to monitor doctors nationwide.The DEA has already laid thegroundwork from previous scares concerning precribed drugslike Valium,Vicodin,,and now Oxycontin.It wont be long untilmedical Marijuana is allowed in the US at the federal level.This will only happen,after the feds have set up some sortof apparatus to mandate that any doctor who recommendsMMJ,must keep meticulous records,that are accessible bythe DEA,on who their patients are,and why they need weed.I am afraid that they will do their best to continue treating itas a schedule 1 controlled substance,so they can maintain thedarling of the drug wars profit,Marijuana...dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 10, 2001 at 22:04:06 PT Sucks & Blows When will our government let doctors be doctors. Our government is so bloated & inefficient that they can't even manage themselves properly. They screw up everything they put their hands on! The best government is the least government & that is why our government sucks & blows simultaneously. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ekim on August 10, 2001 at 16:44:27 PT: The People will vote to have all out Regulation Storys like this are going to drive the regulation of cannabis sooner not later. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment