cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Opponents Mount Challenges! Medical Marijuana Opponents Mount Challenges! Posted by FoM on February 18, 1999 at 19:59:19 PT Portland, OR: Legislators in Oregon and Washington are proposing legislation to restrict patients' ability to use medical marijuana legally under initiatives passed in November. "This is completely unnecessary," said Oregon initiative backer Geoff Sugerman. "This is an effort to open the door to wholesale changes to a law the voters passed just a couple of months ago." Rob Killian, a Tacoma physician who spearheaded the Washington campaign, voiced similar concern. "It's a blind-sided attempt to basically bring the government back into regulation of patients' and doctors' relationships," he said. Oregon's new law allows patients holding state permits to possess limited quantities of medical marijuana, and provides a legal defense for non-registered patients who use the drug under a doctor's supervision. The state Health Division is responsible for issuing registration cards to patients, but has not yet done so. Proposed legislative changes to the law drafted by Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem) would remove legal protections for patients who possess more than one ounce of medical marijuana or cultivate more than three mature plants at one time. House Bill 3052 also eliminates provisions requiring police to return medical marijuana to patients if they seized it improperly. Washington's law allows patients who have a doctor's recommendation to possess up to a 60 day supply of medical marijuana. Proposed changes to the law in S.B. 5771 would require physicians who recommend marijuana to a patient to notify the state each time they do so. It would also allow law enforcement access to the records of all patients and physicians who use or recommend medical marijuana. "Senate Bill 5771 will make it as difficult as possible for patients and doctors to use medical marijuana," said Dave Fratello of Americans for Medical Rights. "This bill is all about regulating and intimidating doctors and patients so severely that they will not take advantage of Washington's new state law." For more information, please contact either R. Keith Stroup, Esq. of NORML (202) 483-5500 or Dave Fratello of Americans for Medical Rights (310) 394-2952. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by allison on September 02, 1999 at 07:42:27 PT: Medical Marijuana I am looking for a Doctor to prescribe medical marijuana for my debilitating and degenerative back injury (spondiolysis, disc degen., and spasms). If anyone knows of such a Dr. in the Portland area, please email asap. Thanks [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Donna on February 20, 1999 at 17:26:31 PT laws I am a nursing student presenting an ethical dilemma with the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. I am gathering data for my presentation Thanks [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: