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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2002)
Letters______________ 2__________ All signed letters to the editor should be 500 words or less and will be considered for publication if submitted by 1 pm the Friday prior to publication. Letters to the Editor are subject to editing. We reserve the WedNEsdAy, FebRUARy 27, 20 02 right to not publish any letter. Puffing away the pain legally Oregon patients who want to use marijuana for their ailments may be toking it up sooner than people think. The Life with Dignity Committee is going to be filing a state ballot initiative to modify the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act passed in 1998. It is titled Oregon Medical Marijuana Act II (0MMA2). The 0MMA2 will make some much-needed changes where medi cal marijuana is concerned. For one, patients wouldn’t have to pay the high premiums to have the OMMA card, which is currently priced at $150. Upon the passing of the new initiative, 0MMA2 pa tients would only have to pay $20. Instead of patients having to go to doctors for all of their marijuana needs, patients can take care of themselves. The new initiative would allow for more people to grow and possess marijuana. Rather than doctors having to fill out prescriptions and qualify pa tients for medical marijuana, nurse practitioners and naturopaths could do it as well. Lastly, it would allow caregivers the ability to be compensated for assisting patients who need medical marijuana. According to reports by KATU Channel Two News, Say It Loud & De La Cruz Proud! Salena Opinion Editor they wanted to change it because of numerous problems with the current medical marijuana law. I am glad there are changes be ing made to the current bill be cause most people who I’ve heard use medical marijuana are so de bilitated by their medical problems that they can’t work and are there fore barely able afford to live, let alone pay $150 to get something that helps them so much. Al though, it reminds me of the whole medical industry in general - usu ally the medicines people need the most are the most expensive. The people who back the initia tive have to come up with 66,786 valid signatures by July 5, 2002, for it to be added to the November 2002 Oregon ballot. I tell you what, I’ll be one of the first in line to sign for this. There are people out there who can’t cope without the help of the marijuana to lessen their pain. Some of you may remember the article in our Jan. 23, 2002 issue called “Local doctor supports puff ing for pain.” Dr. Leveque is the doctor who is up against scrutiny for issuing more that 40 percent of Oregon’s prescriptions for medical marijuana. Now, that may seem like a large number, but he’s trying to help people. Granted there will be those who will try to take advan tage of this new initiative, but there are always a few in every group who mess it up for the others. The way I figure it, I’d rather we make it readily available for these people instead of trying to stop Lucy Pinsonault Amanda Taylor Major: General High School Diploma "Yes. I condone it There is nothing wrong with it" people from doing it, but my view is “smoke it up” as long as you’re not driving. After all, Jesus wanted us to use all fruit- and seed- bear ing plants. Who can argue with that? To reach Salena De Di Cruz e-mail wonderwoman41477@yahoo.com or drop by B-104. "Yes. It can be a problem in some cases, but for honest medicinal use it is good." Photos and quotes compiled by Salena De La Cruz and Jeff Heilman ◄ Ryan Lishka Jamie Cross Major: History Major: Political Science "Yes. Medicinal purposes keep people from suffering." "Yes. If it is needed and if it really helps out" ◄ How many days until Spring Break? Editor-In-Chief: Business Manager: Maggie Jirasek (x2447) Opinion Editor/Productior Coordinator Salena De La Cruz Copy Editor: A Hi son Gerfin Sports Editor: Elena Boryska News Editor: Frank Jordan Photo Editor: Mike Pollock Nick Barron (x2578) Webmaster: Luke Mahan Staff: Willie Hendrix Jeff Heilman Bryan Davidson Jennifer Kane Jesse Gurzynski Erinn Lerten Elisabeth Meyer Secretary: 19600 S. M o I a II a A ve . O reçon City. O reqon 9704$ (507) 657-6958 exi 2709 C C C P * 1 N î @ C IA C k A M A S . C C . O R . U S ll1ip://dEpi$.ClACkAMAS.CC.OR.US/pRiNt A & E Editor: JoAnne Gale Adviser: Daisy B ain Patty Mamula (x2310) The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed in The Clackamas Print do not necessarily reflect those of the student body, college administration, its faculty, or The Clackamas Print advertisers. Products and ser vices advertised in The Clackamas Print are not neccesarily endorsed by anyone associated with The Clackamas Print. The advertising rate is $4.75 per column inch. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publicati on and is distributed every Wednesday except during Finals week. 77te Clackamas Print Copyright 2002.
