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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
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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-
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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-
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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-
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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
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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.
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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
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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-
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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,
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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
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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.
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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
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plan to meet that need. The
economy and invest in edu-
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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.
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dent completion of a degree or
She announced in Novem-
Supporting existing busi-
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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-
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no timeline for hiring.
Oregon now has the fourth
lowest graduation rate in the
nation, up from the worst in
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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
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Our holistic, hands-on
approach to healing can
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Call today to make an appointment
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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