cannabisnews.com: Senate OKs Bill to Legalize Medical Pot Shops
function share_this(num) {
 tit=encodeURIComponent('Senate OKs Bill to Legalize Medical Pot Shops');
 url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/27/thread27531.shtml');
 site = new Array(5);
 site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500');
 return false;
}






Senate OKs Bill to Legalize Medical Pot Shops
Posted by CN Staff on July 04, 2013 at 15:28:45 PT
By Lauren Gambino, The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
Salem -- Seeking to make it easier for medical pot users to get their medicine and harder for the black market to get its hands on Oregon weed, the state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would legalize and license marijuana shops.Under current Oregon law, nearly 55,000 cardholders must grow the drug themselves or designate someone to grow it for them. Medical pot users say dispensaries are needed, to give them a reliable place to get their medicine.
Medical marijuana dispensaries that exist now operate without oversight and run the risk of being shut down by law enforcement. Some counties have taken a hands-off approach and allowed the establishments to remain open. But dispensaries in other counties have been raided by police and forced to close.Another major concern of Oregon’s medical pot program is that the weed supposedly intended for medical marijuana patients is getting sold on the black market.Architects of the bill passed on Wednesday say it will give cardholders certainty that they can acquire their medicine, and that it is safe. They also hope the bill will keep excess pot from being siphoned off to the black market.“This is a great way to impose a standard that will keep that from occurring,” said Sen. Floyd Prozanksi, D-Eugene.The bill, which passed 18-12, would establish a licensing system under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program to regulate the medicinal pot retail industry. This would bring the estimated 200 lounges, collectives and cafes already in operation under the purview of state law.Opponents say the bill doesn’t go far enough to stop what they see as abuses to the state’s medical marijuana program. And some lawmakers have argued that authorizing dispensaries is a slippery slope to legalizing marijuana for recreational use.The bill would authorize growers to legally sell their excess pot to medical marijuana establishments that connect patients with their medicine. Growers could only charge for the cost of supplies and utilities.Under the bill, medical marijuana retailers would pay $4,000 a year to remain registered. Owners would have to pass criminal background checks, document the marijuana coming into their establishments and verify it’s from state-registered growers. The bill also requires testing all marijuana batches for pesticides, molds and mildews.A legislative report estimates there will be 225 state-licensed dispensaries in the next two years if the bill is approved.The bill would also prohibit medical marijuana retail outlets from operating within 1,000 feet of each other or a school. And they would have to operate in agricultural, industrial or commercial areas.Supporters of the bill include Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and the League of Oregon Cities.In a letter endorsing the bill, the organization wrote: “While there are a number of divergent viewpoints on medical marijuana among Oregon’s cities, there is a common need to ensure that those providing medical marijuana do so in a responsible manner.”A Senate committee modified the bill last week to satisfy concerns raised by some district attorneys who initially opposed the bill. Among other changes, the revised bill would tighten a restriction prohibiting people convicted of certain drug crimes from running a medical marijuana dispensary. The district attorneys are now neutral on the bill.The legislation now goes to the House, which approved an earlier version of the bill but must agree to the Senate’s changes. A vote is expected this weekend. Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Lauren Gambino, The Associated PressPublished:  July 4, 2013Copyright: 2013 The Associated PressCannabisNews  Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help 
     
     
     
     




Comment #4 posted by museman on July 08, 2013 at 09:20:24 PT
FoM
It will all become moot in 2014, when Oregon becomes the first state to show the rest what "LEGALIZATION" is all about -notwithstanding as many last ditch efforts on the part of elitist 'law' and the 'legislature' to prevent it -like this.Every act they do right now, they may think is following the footsteps of one of their cronies -A. Schwarzenegger, to attempt to water down the vote, but there are many more real activists here than carpetbaggers, so I imagine the "BUTT OUT!" clauses pertaining to law codified by the vote and not the legislature will be included.BTW, did you know that 'Schwarzenegger' is in the Microsoft/Google spell check? Go figure. Just another sign of how it really is!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 08, 2013 at 05:16:30 PT
museman
I agree. That's what it is all about. They don't want this to be simple because if it's simple the cost will be affordable. They won't make big bucks that way.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by museman on July 07, 2013 at 21:52:15 PT
what they really mean...
When they say; "Salem -- Seeking to make it easier for medical pot users to get their medicine and harder for the black market to get its hands on Oregon weed, the state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would legalize and license marijuana shops." - What they really mean is; "Salem -- Seeking to make it easier for the wealthy constituents and capital investors to get their profit and harder for the people to get their hands on Oregon weed, the state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would legalize and license marijuana shops."LEGALIZE FREEDOM
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by The GCW on July 04, 2013 at 22:09:37 PT
Hemp Flag to Fly Over U.S. Capitol on July 4
Hemp Flag to Fly Over U.S. Capitol on July 4A U.S. flag made of industrial hemp will fly over the Capitol in Washington on Independence Day.Democratic Rep. Jared Polis announced Wednesday that his request for the hemp-made flag had been granted.Polis has long pushed for the plant to be legal for farmers to grow. Industrial hemp looks much like marijuana but does not have its psychoactive properties. Federal law prohibits growing hemp but not importing it.http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2013/07/04/Hemp-Flag-Fly-Over-US-Capitol-July-4
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment