Pubdate: Thu, 30 May 2002
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2002 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
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http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

POT SUPPORT GROWING

An initiative to enhance the distribution of medical marijuana to the 
seriously ill could be on the Oregon ballot in 2004, according to a recent 
statement from the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C.

Oregonians have consistently supported the right of seriously ill people to 
use marijuana for medical purposes, but a recent poll shows that support 
has grown since Oregon's medical marijuana initiative passed in 1998.

According to the poll, administered to over 1,000 adults by the Lucas 
Organization, 76.5 percent of Oregon voters "strongly support" or "somewhat 
support" the state law allowing "seriously ill patients to use and grow 
their own medical marijuana with the approval of their physicians." This is 
a big jump over the 55 percent of voters who supported the initiative in 
1998. The poll was conducted in three other states with medical marijuana 
laws, which also show increased levels of support since their laws were passed.

The poll results also indicate that Oregon voters would favor expanding the 
law to allow medical marijuana distribution by non- profit medical clinics 
(69.1 percent) or the state government (64.4 percent).

"Oregonians have already taken the first step by providing legal protection 
to people suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and other 
terrible illnesses," says Kristin Oechslin of the Marijuana Policy Projec. 
"Making sure sick people can easily obtain their medicine is the logical 
next step."

For more information, Oechslin can be reached at  ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel