[420 Girl]

You have been misled about the majority of Oregon Medical Marijuana Program patients. We, the patients, do not state what our qualifying condition is. The doctor completes the balance of the attending physician's statement.

Personally, I qualify under severe muscle spasm and severe pain. Severe pain covers everything from severe arthritis, broken backs and amputation to a horrid nerve disorder called tic de la rue whose most common side effect is suicide.

What you saw in the pictures represents what is going on for patients. Of the 40,000 patients in the state, half or less are self-providers, meaning they grow for themselves only. An additional 10,000 patients grow for themselves and one or two others. The remaining 10,000 patients have dedicated providers who supply an adequate supply of medicine for no consideration.

When was the last time you got medicine without having to submit your insurance card and/or payment? Why do I hear no outcry about what a pharmacist charges or makes?

I realize that some of these gardens appear to be huge. Currently these providers are allowed to be compensated only for their expenses, not labor. Theirs is a labor of compassion, not greed. By banding together they are able to better supply the patients.

Most of the backs you saw in the pictures are OMMP volunteer caregivers, who usually are learning how to grow medical cannabis for auntie or grandma. I volunteer at two different medical gardens.

A medical cannabis garden for four patients is a full-time job for two or more people. Which means that if you have an outside job, you need help from other providers and caregivers, creating much of the traffic you hear being complained about. Plus there is the night to worry about during late season.

Many of the providers in Southern Oregon are growing for patients who live in other areas of the state as we have a better growing climate than areas north of us.

What other farmer does not get fairly paid for their crop? When this country was founded, citizens were required to grow 1 acre of hemp (same basic plant, different farming method), which was used for oil, durable clothing, paper and as a profitable export.

It is legal to grow hemp in Oregon, but the federal government is interfering, as with our Death with Dignity law. There are many traditional farmers who do not want to grow medical cannabis, but would grow hemp to supply the large worldwide demand for this durable and versatile material. They are reluctant to plant a marketable hemp crop as that would be approximately 1,000 plants, and 100 years in prison at this time. Kentucky is staying alive due to its farming of hemp.

Please vote yes for Measure 74. The state has already used $1.5 million of our program fees to balance its budget. This measure will not only benefit new patients while they await their first harvest, but will benefit the state via fees and taxes which will be used to benefit the citizens of this state.

And yes, the feds would get their pound of flesh, too.

Cynthia T. Willis lives in Central Point.


NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Mailtribune.com - News for Medford, Ashland, Jacksonville and Southern Oregon
Author: Cynthia T. Willis
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Copyright: 2010 The Mail Tribune, Inc.
Website:'Swimming in weed' article was misleading | MailTribune.com


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