Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Author: The Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) AUDIT FAULTS OREGON'S MARIJUANA PROGRAM SALEM, Ore., June 12 - Oregon's medical marijuana program failed to verify doctor signatures on applications, regularly missed its deadline for processing applications and has no clear procedure for denying incomplete applications, an internal audit has found. The review was ordered after the state discovered that three forged doctors' signatures had been used to obtain registration cards. Four applications carrying the same forged signature were caught before cards were issued to patients. All seven cases have been turned over to the Oregon State Police. "Oregonians expect our agency's services to meet the highest standards," said Bob Mink, director of the State Department of Human Services. "Unfortunately, our management of this program has fallen short of this goal." From now on, Mr. Mink said, every application will be verified in writing with the patient's doctor. He also pledged to eliminate a backlog of about 780 applications by adding staff members. Oregon's Medical Marijuana Act, which was approved by voters in 1998, allows people with cancer, glaucoma, AIDS and other conditions to use marijuana with a doctor's permission. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe