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WedNEsdAy, FebRUARy 27, 20 02
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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"
◄
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