Pubdate: Wed, 17 Mar 1999
Source: Oregonian, The (OR)
Copyright: 1999 The Oregonian
Contact:  1320 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
Fax: 503-294-4193
Website: http://www.oregonlive.com/
Forum: http://forums.oregonlive.com/
Author: Patrick O'Neill

60 OREGONIANS DECLARE INTENT TO USE MARIJUANA

As A Result Of A Public Vote, State Law Permits Use Of The Drug To
Relieve Symptoms Of A Number Of Diseases

National medical experts are prepared to release a landmark scientific
review of the medical effects of marijuana today. But Oregon voters
decided for themselves in November that marijuana is good medicine,
passing a law that permits some sick people to use the drug.

So far, 60 Oregonians have formally declared their intent to use
marijuana for medical purposes under the law.

The Oregon Health Division won't issue registration cards, as required
by the new law, until May 1. But Dr. Grant Higginson, state health
officer, says 60 people have sent in the paperwork needed to get the
cards.

"I'm not sure whether that represents anything close to the number
we're going to get when the registration system goes into effect," he
said.

In July, Higginson estimated that 500 people would register to use
marijuana to relieve symptoms of such debilitating diseases as cancer
and AIDS and to alleviate the nausea of chemotherapy.

Under the law, sick Oregonians could begin using marijuana on Dec. 3,
1998, even though the Oregon Health Division's regulatory machinery
wasn't scheduled to begin running until May 1.

The law provides a legal loophole for users of medicinal marijuana who
are arrested and charged with drug law violations. As of Dec. 3, the
law provided an "affirmative defense" to criminal charges brought
against anyone who otherwise qualified to receive a state registration
card.

Higginson has recommended that medicinal marijuana users send his
office the necessary paperwork so that it would be on file in case
they were arrested.

To be eligible for medicinal marijuana, a patient must supply
documentation from an attending physician stating that he or she has
been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and that
marijuana might mitigate the symptoms. The documentation must include
the name, address and birthdate of the patient and the name, address
and telephone number of the attending physician.

The law permits the patient to designate a caregiver, an assistant who
will help with marijuana cultivation. The name and address of the
caregiver must be included with the information sent to the Health
Division. The law requires the Health Division to keep the information
confidential.

Specifically, the law permits marijuana to be used for cancer,
glaucoma, HIV infection, severe weight loss, pain, nausea, seizures
and muscle spasms.

Higginson says there's a lot of confusion about what the law allows.
Although it permits certain people to use medicinal marijuana, it
doesn't answer two of the most important questions. He said the most
frequent questions he's asked are:

Where can I get medicinal marijuana?

What if my doctor doesn't believe in using marijuana for medical
purposes?

Under the law, it's still a crime to buy or sell marijuana. The only
way for medicinal marijuana users to obtain the drug is for someone to
give it to them for free. Supporters of the measure have said that
over time, the number of medicinal marijuana users will grow and that
they will be able to share their plants and seeds with others.

Higginson said the Health Division can't give prospective medical
marijuana users guidance in finding supplies of the drug.

Nor will the agency maintain a list of physicians who will endorse the
use of marijuana for medical purposes, he said.

Geoff Sugerman, a spokesman for Oregonians for Medical Rights, said
both state and federal laws prevent his organization from helping
patients connect with sources of marijuana. And, like the Health
Division, the organization doesn't keep a list of doctors who will
recommend marijuana.

But patients can call the organization's toll-free telephone number to
ask for help in persuading their physicians to recommend the drug. The
number is 877-600-6767. The organization was the principal supporter
of the medical marijuana measure.

Today, the Institute of Medicine will issue a long-awaited report on
hundreds of marijuana studies. The review is expected to assess what
is known and not known about the medical applications of marijuana and
to give recommendations. The institute is a nonprofit organization
whose mission is to provide independent advice to the federal
government. A news report about the study will be included in
Thursday's newspaper.
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