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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2015)
State %OXH0RXQWDLQ(DJOH :HGQHVGD\'HFHPEHU A9 Cannabis research task force begins work By Paris Achen Capital Bureau SALEM — A new cannabis research task force began work Dec. 14 to try to clear the way for more research in Oregon on WKH PHGLFDO EHQH¿WV RI FDQQD- bis. Created by legislation ear- lier this year, the task force is laying the groundwork for a state-backed medical marijua- na research program that might include participation by state universities and the private sec- tor and establishment of a state garden. “Hopefully, at the end, we can put some kind of program in place or start the ball rolling for it,” said task force Chairman Mowgli Holmes, chief scientif- LFRI¿FHUDW3K\ORV%LRVFLHQFH Holmes said he envisions creating a grant review board that would make its own deci- sions about what research to do. Oregon legalized medical State rep pushes for student threat assessment system By Paris Achen Capital Bureau SALEM — A state rep- resentative on the Oregon Task Force on School Safe- ty says he’ll push for legis- ODWLRQ LQ WR HVWDEOLVK a statewide student threat assessment system. Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, chairman of the House Judiciary Commit- tee, already submitted a bill for February’s short session that would fund a state- wide student threat tip line, where anonymous reports could be made. The threat assessment system and tip line both come from a list of legisla- tive recommendations the task force made in Novem- ber to help prevent mass killings at schools. “Without the threat assessment, the tip line system would not be as strong,” said task force member Dave Novotney, superintendent of Willa- mette Education Service District. “The way the subcom- mittee envisioned the tip line and threat assessment system is it will work like a hand and glove go together, a system of giving infor- PDWLRQ WR VFKRRO RI¿FLDOV early and allowing them to interact in a very effec- tive way and have a mul- tidisciplinary, multiagency response,” Novotney said. “That is the best practice to deal with threats of vio- lence.” School representatives on the task force said Fri- day the tip line would VSDZQ DQ LQÀX[ RI WLSV WR which school staff have no additional capacity or train- ing to respond. “The data doesn’t speak well that we are handling tips as well as we should. Shootings and suicide are happening at accelerat- ed rate,” Novotney said. ³*HWWLQJDGGLWLRQDOWLSVDQG handling the exact same way we always have been is probably going to be in- effective.” “I think we are set- ting up our schools and districts for failure if we don’t empower them to know about how to assess those tips,” said Susan *UDYHV VDIHW\ FRRUGLQD- tor for Lincoln County School District. “The con- sequences can be enor- mous.” Barker’s bill asks for about $300,000 per bi- ennium for a tip line, but an exact cost has yet to be determined. Oregon 6WDWH 3ROLFH MXVW SXW RXW a request for proposals Wednesday for the tip line, said Capt. Tom Worthy. Initial estimates for the threat assessment system are about $1 million, No- votney said. Joshua Bessex/EO Media Group Jars of marijuana sit in a display case at Sweet Relief in Astoria on Oct. 1. A new cannabis research task force began work Dec. 14 to try to clear the way for more research in Oregon on the medical benefits of cannabis. marijuana in 1998. More than 60,000 residents have medical marijuana cards, according to a draft task force report. Task IRUFHPHPEHU3HWHU*HQGURQD marijuana grower in Josephine County, said the medical mar- ijuana participants are an un- tapped resource of data on the PHGLFDOEHQH¿WVRIFDQQDELV Most of the obstacles to doing research come from the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. Clinical studies on hu- mans require approval from an institutional research re- view board, the Federal Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Researchers may use only re- search-grade cannabis provid- ed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Three states — California, Colorado and Minnesota — already have medical canna- bis research programs that do either clinical or observational studies, according to a review by Oregon State University on behalf of Oregon Health Au- thority. California launched the University of California Cen- ter for Medicinal Cannabis Research in 1999 and has done 13 studies funded by $8.7 million, approved by the Legislature. Some of the stud- ies have looked at the effect of cannabis on neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis and AIDS, said Candice Beathard, an OSU postdoctoral research associate. Colorado began a Medi- FDO0DULMXDQD5HVHDUFK*UDQW 3URJUDPLQDQGKDVQLQH proposed studies, also funded with $9 million in state reve- nue. Minnesota, which has one of the strictest medical mari- juana programs in the nation, LVXVLQJWKHSDWLHQWVLQWKH program to study the effect of the cannabis on different med- ical conditions and symptoms, Beathard said. By joining the medical marijuana program, patients agree to have infor- mation about their purchases from dispensaries recorded DQG DUH UHTXLUHG WR ¿OO RXW D survey at time of purchase so researchers can track their pain levels, sleep, anxiety and other symptoms, she said. Task force members Mon- day began identifying cate- gories of research they would recommend the research program pursue. Some pre- liminary categories include clinical studies, observational studies, agricultural research and research related to public health. The task force is scheduled to have two more meetings in January during which they plan to narrow down legal barriers to doing cannabis re- VHDUFK DQG ¿QDOL]H WKHLU UHF- ommendations to the Legis- lature. The recommendations will be presented in a report to lawmakers in February. The Legislature created the task force with Senate Bill 844. Sen. Chris Edwards, D-Eugene, who helped craft the bill, sits on the task force. “Doing what we need to do to unlock the research poten- tial and open up the gates for that research to happen is Job 1 of the task force,” Edwards said. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Brown outlines three-part blueprint for state economy by continuing to seek out trade opportunities in growing Asian markets. 3257/$1'²*RY.DWH The governor suggested Brown outlined a three-part the state needs to invest more blueprint for the state Dec. 14 in education but provided no WR ¿[ JRYHUQPHQW JURZ WKH plan to meet that need. The economy and invest in edu- TXHVWLRQJURZVPRUHGLI¿FXOW cation. to answer as the state faces Brown unveiled her goals mounting costs associated during a keynote address at ZLWK WKH 3XEOLF (PSOR\HHV the annual Oregon Business Retirement System, as speak- Leadership Summit. ers at the summit pointed out. As part of her goal to in- Earlier Monday, Brown crease government trans- announced the addition of EO Media Group file photo parency and accountability, a new education innovation Brown plans to base agency Gov. Kate Brown released a three-part blueprint for RI¿FHU SRVLWLRQ WR KHU DG- IXQGLQJ RQ UHDFKLQJ VSHFL¿F the state to fix government, grow the economy and ministration to help boost RXWFRPHVVSHFL¿FDOO\LQHGX- invest in education. the state’s dismal high school cation, health care and public graduation rate. safety. partment of Energy. The De- MREV DQQXDOO\ WR WKH “The position will assist She said the plan for out- partment of Human Services state economy. me, my education team and come-based budgeting is “one is under scrutiny for its slow To that end, she said she the Legislature in dedicat- of the most important things” response to reported problems plans to propose legislation ing resources to increase she would do as governor. at state-licensed foster care in February to expand the the number of students who “State government must facilities. A probe into the 2I¿FHRI6PDOO%XVLQHVV$G- demonstrate to Oregonians Department of Energy centers YRFDWH 7KH RI¿FH SURYLGHV that they are getting the best on allegations that regulators assistance to small business return for their taxpayer dol- bent rules in its tax incentive owners and helps them cut lars, that their agencies are program for renewable energy down time spent mired in EHLQJ UXQ HI¿FLHQWO\ DQG HI- projects. bureaucratic red tape. Brown fectively,” Brown said. The governor said she also HVWDEOLVKHG WKH RI¿FH ZKHQ Outcome-based budgeting would propose legislation in she served as secretary of would be similar to a funding February to enhance govern- state, before an ethics scandal model developed for public ment transparency but gave IRUFHG *RY -RKQ .LW]KDEHU universities in which a portion no details on what the propos- to resign and elevated her to of state funding is tied to stu- al would entail. WKHVWDWH¶VKLJKHVWRI¿FH dent completion of a degree or She announced in Novem- Supporting existing busi- FHUWL¿FDWHVKHVDLG ber that she would create a nesses is important because “This has spurred uni- new public records advocate, 70 percent of job growth versities to invest in critical modeled after a role in other stems from expansion of supports that engage and states such as Washington. those companies, Brown empower our highest-need The advocate serves as a liai- said. students to overcome barriers son to assist the public in nar- She said government also and complete their college de- rowing records requests and would assist in boosting the grees,” she said. helping agencies to comply The announcement fol- with public records law. lows her call for independent Brown declared her sup- reviews of the Department of port for the Oregon Business Human Services and the De- 3ODQ¶VJRDORIDGGLQJDWOHDVW By Paris Achen Capital Bureau graduate from high school,” Brown said from prepared comments. “There is no question that our education system must be accountable to better student outcomes, including increas- ing our high school gradua- tion rate,” Brown said. “But accountability also means ensuring that, as a state we are empowering the best and most effective practices in our classrooms that support student success,” she said. The administration has yet to complete a job description for the position and to post the job, said Brown spokeswom- DQ.ULVWHQ*UDQJHU6KHJDYH no timeline for hiring. Oregon now has the fourth lowest graduation rate in the nation, up from the worst in WKHQDWLRQLQ Wishing you a very Merry C hristmas From Driskill Memorial Chapel Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com This holiday season, don’t let aches and pains slow you down. Our holistic, hands-on approach to healing can put an end to chronic pain Call today to make an appointment 541-575-1063 Blue Mountain Chiropractic HEALTH CLINIC 155 NW 1st Ave. • John Day THE GRANT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE reminds you to shop these local chamber members. Advantage Dental America’s Best Motel Arrow Appliance Repair Bank of Eastern Oregon Benchmark Land Surveying Bisnett Insurance Blue Mountain Care Center Blue Mountain Chiropractic Blue Mountain Eagle Blue Mountain Hospital Canyon Mountain Center CenturyLink Chester’s Thriftway City of John Day City of Long Creek City of Mt. Vernon City of Prairie City City of Seneca Claus & Paws Pet Sitting Columbia Power Co-op Community Counseling Services Community Hall Connections Country Preferred Realtors Debbie Ausmus Insurance Agency, Inc. Department of Human Services Doug’s Motor Vehicle Repair Driskill Memorial Chapel Duke Warner Realty Eastern Oregon Realty Eastern Oregon University Ed Staub & Sons ER Printing and Graphics Families First of Grant County Ferguson Surveying & Engineering, Inc. Four Seasons Plumbing Grant County Farm Bureau Grant County Geneological Society Grant County Historical Museum Grant County Kruzers Car Club Grant County Snowballers Grant/Harney County CASA John Day Farmer’s Market John and Linda Shelk Foundation John Day Golf Club John Say Senior Center Juniper Press KJDY Land Title of Grant County, Inc. Long Creek Historical Society Malheur National Forest Malheur Employees Association MD Enterprizes Mobile Glass of Oregon Mossy Oak/Cupper Creek Land Company Northfork John Day River Watershed Council Old West Federal Credit Union Oregon Guides Publishing Oregon State Employment Department Oregon Telephone Company Oregon Trail Electric Oster Professional Group Prairie Springs Fish Farm Robert Bagett PLS, CWRE Silvies Valley Ranch State Farm Insurance Step Forward Activities TEC Copier Systems Town of Canyon City Valley View Retirement Center Virginia McMillan D.D.S. Vocational Rehabilitation Grant County Chamber of Commerce 301 W. Main St. • John Day, OR 97845 541.575.0547 www.gcoregonlive.com 03047