Pubdate: 1 Apr 1999
Source: Willamette Week (OR)
Contact:  822 SW 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97205
Fax: (503) 243-1115
Website: http://www.wweek.com/
Author: Maureen O'Hagan PEDAL PUSHER

He calls himself the Jolly Dodger, but his pitch is quite serious. Under
the new medical-marijauna law, people with a debilitating illness can
qualify to use or grow pot without being charged with a crime. But because
of their conditions, Jolly says, many are too ill to get supplies. That's
where his "cannabis courier service" comes in.

Bike messenger Jolly says he delivers doses of the wacky weed straight to
the doorsteps of 15 medical-marijuana users he met through word of mouth.
For this service, he says, he charges a $10 delivery fee--the pot, he
explains, is free.

"I want to make it so cheap that I'll have every debilitated person
downtown calling me," he told WW. "I don't want to make money off pot....
This is really just a religious cause of ending suffering."

Because his supplies are limited, Jolly can now give each client only two
joints per delivery. He's hoping to set up a non-profit organization to
raise funds for a "valid, full-scale production facility." That way he and
other bike messengers can deliver up to an ounce for the same low fee.

In his press releases, Jolly calls his plan an "unassuming" proposal.
Unlawful might be more accurate. Deputy District Attorney Mark McDonnell
says the medical-marijuana law doesn't allow any money to change
hands--whether the fee is to cover the pot or the delivery.

Even Geoff Sugerman, who headed the medical-marijuana campaign, is a little
nervous about the idea. "I don't know if they're well-intentioned or if
they're trying to figure out a way to sell pot," he says, "but sales are
explicitly forbidden in the law." At the same time, Sugerman says the
cannabis courier proves that the federal government needs to get involved
in developing a regulated distribution system.

Jolly, for his part, isn't worried. He notes that another notorious bike
courier managed to evade authorities for a long time. "I know Ted Kaczynski
didn't get caught for a few years delivering packages on his bicycle," he
says. 
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MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski