Center supports medical marijuana use

Oregon Daily Emerald ^ | February 14, 2003 | Aaron Shakra

[MrLeRoy]

Nearly four years after the implementation of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, there are still few support services for OMMA patients in Eugene. But the Compassion Center, a nonprofit corporation that opened in Eugene two years ago, is striving to create a "model organization" for the support of medical marijuana users that the rest of the state could follow.

The center offers many services to its members, including classes on cultivation of the plant, confidential consultation and assistance for patients registering with Oregon Health Services. An "introduction" night that provides a basic understanding of the OMMA takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. the first Thursday of every month.

Teaching patients how to grow marijuana is especially important, because while Oregon allows possession and use of the drug for medical marijuana card-holders, it's still a crime to buy the substance.

The clinic, located at 1055 Bertelsen Road in Eugene, opened in December 2000. It is funded by donations, clinic revenue and membership dues. The center is also applying for non-profit status with the IRS, which will allow people to make tax-exempt donations.

Compassion Center President Todd Dalotto, who co-founded the organization, said he's pleased with the progress of the center during the last two years.

"We have people coming from all over the state for our services," said Dalotto, who has been involved with the nutritional and health aspects of marijuana use his entire adult life. "We're creating a model organization that we hope to duplicate in other places."

Dalotto emphasized that one of the center's main goals is to educate the general public about the OMMA, which exempts patients from criminal penalties related to growing and possessing the herb. In order to apply for a medical marijuana card, patients must first be diagnosed with one of nine qualifying ailments, such as HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's disease and cachexia, a condition of severe malnutrition.

Dalotto also said that he is in support of decriminalizing the drug.

"The American public seems to favor legalization, but it relies on politicians to pass legislation, he said. "There is no reason there should be a law against the plant unless they're using it to hurt someone."

Citing "Question 9," a recent Nevada initiative to legalize the drug, Dalotto said he believes money plays heavily into the politics of marijuana.

"Any voter initiative for legalization always gets outspent by corporate and government initiates," he said.

In spite of support from the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs -- the state's largest police organization -- the measure failed, with 61 percent of voters rejecting it. National drug czar John Walters made two trips to speak against marijuana use before voters went to the ballot.

But the Compassion Center has yet to raise ire from governing authorities in Oregon.

Dalotto said he's received no interference from state officials and minimal intervention from federal officials. Last year, medical marijuana patient Leroy Stubblefield's plants were seized by Drug Enforcement Administration agent Michael Spasaro. Doctor Phillip Leveque, a physician at the Compassion Center for two days each month, also works at a variety of other OMMA centers across the state, including Voter Power in Portland. He has signed medical marijuana applications for more than 4,000 patients and said that the law's "strange" criteria cause confusion.

"The biggest problem is that judges don't understand the law, the district attorney doesn't understand the law and the police don't understand the law," Leveque said.

Medical marijuana user John Walsh, a Compassion Center patient and cannabis activist for many local organizations, said the law's gray areas make it "difficult for there to be enough available when they need it."

A benefit for the Compassion Center and Emerald Empire Hempfest 2003 will be held Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Campbell Club Cooperative.

[thepitts]

This little dog and pony show you and cj have come up with is a classic example of how republicans manage to lose "sure thing" elections.
How about you clowns take it on the road.

[toothless]

OMG call the AM because I quoted someone. rofl.

[Cultural Jihad]

You quoted someone whose words the owner had removed from the forum. And here you are thinking you know better than the owner how to operate his own site, apparently.

[toothless]

I quoted him due to the content of that post. I will continue to do so.

[toothless]

"I am so tired of all the arguments for and against
legalizing. It should be legal because this is
America. People that claim anything else should never
be allowed to claim they value freedom and liberty
without being laughed at in the face."

59 posted on 02/14/2003 2:29 PM EST by ks2papa (I Love
Freedom More Than You)

[Cultural Jihad]

If you are unable to provide any valid links to anything other than to your cache then you might want to reconsider, especially since the words were purposely removed by the lawful owner of the server you are squatting on.

[Cultural Jihad]

For the record, newbie, you did say you were a self-avowed libertarian, no?

[toothless]

"For the record, newbie, you did say you were a self-avowed libertarian, no?"

How about a link?

[toothless]

And saying "People that claim anything else should never
be allowed to claim they value freedom and liberty
without being laughed at in the face." Is worthy of
banning but trying to slander me by calling me a libertarian
isn't?

I don't have any clue what happened to ks2papa, the only
interaction I ever had with him was that one post.

whatever.

[Cultural Jihad]

If it quacks like a duck, and waddles like a duck, and looks like a duck, and links to ducky cato.org articles, then it must be a duck, duck.

[Cultural Jihad]

"I am toothless!"

[toothless]

Since we are posting pictures:


JIHAD!

Alright, you have kept me up past my bedtime. Goodnight.

[VaBthang4]

Really? How'bout you...



...nevermind.

~Grin~

[MrLeRoy]

Well, lets look at today's (yesterday's) stats...
[...]
Oh no, no agenda...

I'm afraid I don't see your point.

[MrLeRoy]

it does have the effect of showing how medical marijuana is a joke and a scam.

From one data point you make this sweeping conclusion? BZZZZT! Thanks for playing ... Next!

[MrLeRoy]

MrLeroy is a Johnny-One-Note.

Much more rewarding to participate in Those-peace-marchers-are-flakes-Yeah-total-flakes-Ditto threads.

Hillarycare could be established and he'd be screaming for additional cannabinoid coverage.

That is a lie. I support no welfare-style giveaways of taxpayer money.

[philman_36]

I'm afraid I don't see your point.
Then what a waste my efforts were.

[MrLeRoy]

Then what a waste my efforts were.

You could salvage them by explaining your point (by freepmail if you prefer).

[philman_36]

What were the subjects? (rhetorical)
Where was "the resistance"? (also rhetorical)
Depending upon the article, the subject and "past performance" there either is, or isn't, resistance touting the "government line".
The Ed Rosenthal story, for instance, got little response because of the negative influence it had on the WOsD. Most are finding the actions reprehensible. An untenable, unwinnable situation warrants little attention while the other article had all kinds of room for "detractors".
The article showing how changing things could be better than the status quo got "banished to the badlands".

Maybe not the best or most concise analysis I could provide, but I'm not going to write a whole essay on what should be apparent with a cursory knowledge of the WOsD threads.

[TFMcGuire]

To: CJ

CJ Thank you for skilfully and single-handedly engaging in a firefight with the hempheads. You are a dragonslayer.

To: Hempheads

C'mon, Guys, Grow up!

Life is not about the next chemical induced euphoria.

Your strident gainsaying, seeking to bend truth around your views rather than your views avround the truth are characteristic not only of immaturity but of immorality.

One of you went into a tirade against someone as to who he's helped, etc.

Who have you helped by seeking to immerse American society in a haze of toxic smoke?

A characteristic of children is that they whine continually about their rights instead of getting on with their responsibilities.

We don't want our children and the rest of society turning out like you---that's why we oppose legalization of marijuana.

Do children need to be told what is good for them and what is harmful---yes.

Argue all you want. But the truth speaks for itself. If you support the legalization of this drug, you are not adult in your understanding and you need to be told what to do.