Oregon Ponders New Pot Law

[Freddie Stubbs]

Wednesday, July 07, 2004


PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon ballot measure expected to qualify this week would make it legal for medical marijuana (search) users to possess one pound of pot, create state dispensaries and allow nurse practitioners and naturopaths (search) to prescribe it.

If passed, a patient could possess six pounds of marijuana legally — spread out, it would be enough to fill two grocery carts. The medical marijuana law on the books there now limits legal possession to three ounces.

Backers of the initiative say the current law isn't working for many of the 9,000 cardholders because they're running out of cannabis (search) before they can line up a new supply.

Opponents of the measures — which include the Bush administration — argue that these initiatives are less about helping sick people than about legalizing marijuana, especially since only 7 percent of the cardholders in the state are suffering from cancer (search), glaucoma (search) or AIDS (search). And many in law enforcement say it would create a financial incentive for government to get people hooked on what they insist is a gateway drug.

more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124884,00.html