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Center supports medical marijuana use
Oregon Daily Emerald ^ | February 14, 2003 | Aaron Shakra

Posted on 02/14/2003 12:35:18 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: wodlist
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1 posted on 02/14/2003 12:35:18 PM PST by MrLeRoy
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To: *Wod_list
Wod_list ping
2 posted on 02/14/2003 12:35:32 PM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: MrLeRoy
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.

"Thousand points of light" bump

3 posted on 02/14/2003 2:10:03 PM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: MrLeRoy
Well, lets look at today's (yesterday's) stats...
Legal pot would be budget boon...over 200 replies.
Thai drug-dealer purge [352 shot dead]...41 replies
Smoke And Mirrors Cloud 2003 White House Anti-Drug Budget...20 replies
Marijuana Mitzvah? Support Growing for 'Guru of Ganja'...8 replies
Marijuana, Gateways and Circuses...8 replies
Center supports medical marijuana use...3 replies

Oh no, no agenda...

4 posted on 02/15/2003 12:03:08 AM PST by philman_36
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: VaBthang4
Old schtick isn't funny. You're badly in need of new material.
6 posted on 02/15/2003 12:57:53 AM PST by philman_36
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To: philman_36; Carry_Okie; Avoiding_Sulla; PsyOp
...the Compassion Center, a nonprofit corporation...

Tax-exempt 501(c) corporation. No Left wing bias there in favor of true corporate welfare, no sir.

Mandatory drug testing of 501(c) employess as a condition for "non-profit" status would have these Leftist organizations drying up and blowing away like aging dung...

...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.

This is their agenda: Growing more Leftist non-profit organizations to subvert American civilization. Sort of like the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) thing...

The center offers many services to its members, including classes on cultivation of the plant, confidential consultation...

Openly conspiring to commit federal felonies...

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.

And to apply for federal, state and municipal grants to be awarded by Leftist politicians, which in turn are laundered for political campaigns in exchange for appointments of Left wing wackos to special district boards and funding for local Leftist candidates to climb the political career ladder.

"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."

Again, this is their agenda: Growing more Leftist non-profit organizations to subvert American civilization. Sort of like the "NGO" thing...

7 posted on 02/15/2003 7:02:41 AM PST by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: Sir Francis Dashwood
Gramsci's dystopian progeny.
8 posted on 02/15/2003 8:32:05 AM PST by Carry_Okie (Because there are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: MrLeRoy
"Doctor Phillip Leveque ... has signed medical marijuana applications for more than 4,000 patients .."

Well, I see our friend is back in the news. Up to 4,000 now? I guess suspending his medical license for 90 days and fining him $5,000 for signing medical marijuana applications without examining patients last year had no effect.

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

9 posted on 02/15/2003 10:02:08 AM PST by robertpaulsen
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To: philman_36; Mo1; xsmommy; justshe; Cultural Jihad
You 're absolutely right.

How'bout this one?


10 posted on 02/15/2003 10:22:57 AM PST by VaBthang4 (Jeremiah 51;24 "..Before your eyes I will repay Babylon for all the wrong they have done in Zion")
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To: VaBthang4
MrLeroy is a Johnny-One-Note. Hillarycare could be established and he'd be screaming for additional cannabinoid coverage.


11 posted on 02/15/2003 10:39:19 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: MrLeRoy
Ping
12 posted on 02/15/2003 10:42:28 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: VaBthang4
LOL!
13 posted on 02/15/2003 10:45:53 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: Cultural Jihad

I must admit, I so love to mock nitwits like him. I actually like mocking them over the [willing to admit it] Liberals.

These dopes are CINOs.

14 posted on 02/15/2003 10:46:41 AM PST by VaBthang4 (Jeremiah 51;24 "..Before your eyes I will repay Babylon for all the wrong they have done in Zion")
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To: VaBthang4
Needless to say, the anarcho-ideologues are dissembling when they talk about so-called 'medical marijuana' because they would support anyone consuming any recreational poison in any amount for any reason at any time, even unto an early death.
15 posted on 02/15/2003 10:47:48 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: Cultural Jihad
They're no different from the anti-war crowd. Same MO. Same characteristics. Same dogma. Same twisted anti-logic.

17 posted on 02/15/2003 10:50:55 AM PST by VaBthang4 (Jeremiah 51;24 "..Before your eyes I will repay Babylon for all the wrong they have done in Zion")
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To: Cultural Jihad
I mean c'mon....Neal Boortz is their friggin spokesman! Hahaha...Geez. He couldnt even put Donowho on the concrete. He threw a fit and stormed out like a little.....

...anyway.

18 posted on 02/15/2003 10:53:09 AM PST by VaBthang4 (Jeremiah 51;24 "..Before your eyes I will repay Babylon for all the wrong they have done in Zion")
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To: Carry_Okie
Check out this one...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/843975/posts?page=22#22
19 posted on 02/15/2003 11:36:27 AM PST by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: VaBthang4
They're no different from the anti-war crowd. Same MO. Same characteristics. Same dogma. Same twisted anti-logic.

You nailed it! They are one in the same, in most respects...

20 posted on 02/15/2003 11:39:21 AM PST by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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