Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2012
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2012 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Noelle Crombie

MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES SEE OREGON ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLEN 
ROSENBLUM AS FRIEND

When Oregon's new attorney general walked into a gathering Wednesday 
of some of the state's most ardent medical marijuana advocates, she 
was greeted like an old friend.

Don Morse, director of The Human Collective, a Washington County 
medical marijuana dispensary, hugged Ellen Rosenblum, a 61-year-old 
former judge. More than once, participants referred to the state's 
top law enforcement official simply by her first name.

"Hopefully there is a message in my being here," Rosenblum told the group.

"I think the most important thing is to have trust, and hopefully 
there is at least some level of that," she said. "Trust doesn't come 
with a title. It comes with actions and, to a degree, with words."

Oregon's medical marijuana community hopes it has found a strong ally 
in Rosenblum. After all, pro-marijuana groups helped propel her into 
office, donating $200,000 to her campaign. That amount was about 
one-third of her fundraising total.

To understand the political significance of Rosenblum's visit to the 
Oregon Medical Marijuana Program's advisory committee, consider: The 
panel earlier this year issued a lengthy letter to Rosenblum's 
predecessor, John Kroger, detailing a host of complaints it had with 
advice his office had given to the medical marijuana program. Kroger, 
a former federal prosecutor, didn't bother to respond, panel members said.

Rosenblum, by contrast, squeezed a 45-minute visit with the advisory 
committee into what she described as an overloaded schedule 
Wednesday. It was the first time an Oregon attorney general met with 
the advisory panel since the Legislature created it in 2005.

The attorney general made no promises on policy changes sought by the 
committee. But her presence was a start, advocates said.

"I think the attorney general's heart is in the right place on this 
issue," said Anthony Johnson, executive director of the Oregon-based 
National Cannabis Coalition.

Johnson's group bought $10,000 in print advertisements for Rosenblum 
in her primary race against Dwight Holton, the former U.S. attorney for Oregon.

"Right now she is navigating the politics and practicalities of her 
office," he said.

Advocates said one of those practicalities is Rosenblum's 
responsibility to clients such as the Oregon State Police.

Rosenblum, as if to underscore her view of medical marijuana as an 
issue of public health, brought with her Linda Grimms, the staff 
attorney who advises the Department of Human Services and the Oregon 
Health Authority. The agency lawyer who advises the Oregon State 
Police didn't accompany Rosenblum.

Ben Mackaness, a panel member, wept as he spoke about his father's 
use of medical marijuana to cope with symptoms of cancer.

"I want to know that you have our back," he said.

He called the committee members "toothless wonders," due to their 
lack of influence on medical marijuana policies. The group has pushed 
repeatedly and unsuccesfully for the addition of post-traumatic 
stress disorder to the list of qualifying conditions for medical 
marijuana. And they've tried and failed to stop an increase in 
patient fees proposed by state officials.

"At every turn, the goal is just to quiet us and put us in a corner, 
and it just doesn't work anymore," Mackaness said. "I am begging for 
your help."

Rosenblum promised to meet with the group again.

"I can't promise you anything today," she said. "I have a position 
that has a lot of power, but the person with the power, that person 
is allowed to have compassion and personal views. My job today is 
really to listen to what you have to say."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom