Upcoming Legislature Could Benefit Medical Marijuana Users In Oregon, one can use marijuana legally for medicinal purposes if that individual obtains a special permit. It is possible that big changes could be in store for medical marijuana patients in Oregon, if a ballot measure to create medical marijuana dispensary systems passes in November. Currently, people who are enrolled in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, which consists of 36,380 people, have two options in terms of accessing their medical marijuana. They can either grow their own or buy from a producer who sells to four people or less. [continues 369 words]
Medical Marijuana Can Lead to Problems in Custody Cases Medical marijuana is a hot topic in the news. People are always hearing about whether it should be legalized in more states or if the legalization should be revoked. There is a side effect from the use of medical marijuana that people are not aware of. Medical marijuana use is viewed negatively in courtrooms during custody battles. Nicholas Pouch of southwest Washington runs an organic farm and glassblowing studio. In 2007, Pouch's former partner tipped off a drug task force who raided his property, according to The Oregonian. [continues 486 words]
Students Unable To Use Medical Marijuana On Campus The university is unable to accommodate medical marijuana usage on campus, regardless of a student's possession of appropriate medical marijuana authorization. A concerned Portland State student said he is frustrated by the fact that he is prohibited by the PSU policy to medicate on campus and feels he has been encouraged to use medical marijuana on campus with discretion. Due to the stigma he feels on campus, he wished to be identified only as David, an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Administrators say the policy is not specific to PSU-it is simply congruent with state law. [continues 719 words]
Medical Marijuana Social Clubs Are A Joke Oregonians have always held the stereotype that they smoke more marijuana than in other states--that we are hippies, that we are all vegans or even that we might not have running water. Oregon often seems to be misjudged. But some recent news, sadly, reinforces some of the aforementioned stereotypes. As of next week, Oregon's medical-marijuana patients will have two smoke-easies in Portland in which to medicate and socialize, the first such places in the country to open since the federal government indicated that it will no longer arrest or prosecute patients and suppliers," according to an article in The Oregonian from Nov. 3. [continues 399 words]
Correcting History's Mistake Benefits Oregon's Agricultural Industry Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced last week his intent to take pen in hand and make Oregon the seventh state to legalize the growing of hemp. By signing into law Senate Bill 676, which allows farmers to grow hemp statewide and was passed by a veto-proof 27-2 margin, Kulongoski is among the few politicians taking small steps to reverse an agricultural mistake made 72 years ago. Small steps, unfortunately, are the biggest ones Oregon lawmakers could take because hemp is still banned by federal law. [continues 433 words]
Taxing Marijuana Should Be Legal In California On Feb. 24 The LA Times released an article stating that California is considering taxing marijuana. Wait a minute . . . yes that means they would make it legal. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano proposed the bill under the impression that marijuana is California's biggest cash crop. A fact that can't be verified because well, it's illegal, so it is difficult to calculate how many people are growing it. It doesn't make sense to oppose this proposed bill. The industry could potentially be worth $14 billion. How can a government simply let an industry that is bigger than vegetables and grapes (which include wine grapes) simply go untaxed in the state of California? [continues 497 words]
Don't Go Halfway With Measure 57 Oregon voters are playing a gambling game with Measures 57 and 61. How are we gambling? There are three scenarios: 1. Neither 57 or 61 pass, and neither take effect, 2. Only one passes and takes effect, and 3. Both pass--but the one with more votes takes effect. If you want neither 57 nor 61, but happen to prefer one to the other, then there is a chance at getting the one you don't want. [continues 881 words]
Changes to State Marijuana Law Could Expand Drug Growth, Possession Rights A drafter of Oregon's marijuana law visited Portland State yesterday, advocating law changes, including increased rights to possess the drug as well as its limited legalization, which could be presented to the state legislature this session. Leland Berger, who helped draft the state law for medical marijuana, presented an initiative on behalf of the pro-marijuana group Voter Power that would give legal rights as well as cost reimbursements to patients who privately grow the drug for medical use. The initiative also calls for the creation of a regulated and licensed dispensary system and the legalization of the drug for adults. [continues 434 words]
According To Report 190,000 Students Denied Aid Nationally Over Span Of Five Years Oregon ranked second highest out of the 50 states among financial aid applicants denied because they responded yes to a conviction of selling or possessing drugs. On April 12, the U.S. Department of Education released the state-by-state breakdown of the number of federal financial aid applicants denied either part of or all of their financial aid award. In 2005, when the drug-conviction amendment came up for reconsideration, it was modified to deny aid only to those students convicted of drug sales or possession while in college. Past convictions will no longer be held against financial aid applicants. [continues 629 words]
Hooray for your honesty towards this subject ["Medical marijuana up in smoke," Nov. 1]. I first voted for the legalization of marijuana in the 1972 election. I have been a soldier for and been wounded in the drug war perpetuated upon America by the Nixon administration and all of the administrations since. We have come a long way in our struggle, but the fight for personal freedom is part of the struggle for humanity and has a ways to go. There are many wrongs done to many in this country and the world by the government of this country and their enforcers. We have tried to do things legally and peacefully; still they undermine the wishes and votes of the America people every day. There are very few in government who will stand up for the individuals right to smoke pot whether sick or not. [continues 197 words]
How Government Undermines Its Constituents As if the U.S. "war on drugs" was not absurd enough, a lawsuit filed in September has now proclaimed its first marijuana-related casualty. Jonathan Magbie, a quadriplegic, was sentenced in 2004 to a 10-day jail sentence in Washington, DC for possession of one joint. He died four days into his sentence. What makes his death even more horrific is that Magbie was arrested contrary to the will of DC voters. In 1998, 70 percent of voters approved a medical marijuana law, similar to the one here in Oregon. It never took effect, however, because Rep. Bob Barr (of the "get government out of our lives" Republican Party) legislatively killed the initiative on the federal level. He tacked on an amendment to an appropriations bill that would have denied the city any money at all for the year if local officials attempted to "enact or carry out" any democratically approved initiative that would reduce criminal penalties for possession of any kind of drug. [continues 596 words]
Thank you for raising awareness of the Higher Education Act's denial of student loans to youth convicted of drug offenses ["Denied for drugs," Oct. 12]. Instead of empowering at-risk students with a college degree, the HEA limits career opportunities and increases the likelihood that those affected will resort to crime. Speaking of crime, convicted rapists and murders are still eligible for federal student loans. Most students outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving illicit drugs. An arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be life-shattering. After admitting to smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President Bill Clinton opened himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism. And thousands of Americans have paid the price in the form of shattered lives. [continues 109 words]
Thousands of students denied financial aid for drug convictions, according to report Over 41,000 potential students were denied federal financial aid during the 2003-04 academic year because they either reported a drug conviction or refused to answer a question about drug convictions on their federal financial aid application, according to a Government Accounting Office report. The report, published in September, studied the impact of a provision added to the federal Higher Education Act in 1998, which added a question Free Application for Federal Student Aid asking applicants if they have ever been convicted of a drug crime. Applicants who answer yes or refuse to answer the question can be denied all federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and federal loans. [continues 567 words]
