[420 Girl]

A local group looking to change Oregon's medical marijuana laws hosted a symposium Monday night at Southern Oregon University to build support for a proposed voter initiative.

Voter Power hopes to place Initiative 28, which would allow for medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon, on the November 2010 ballot. Voter Power representatives say that while medical marijuana is legal in the state, those who do qualify often can't get access to it.

"(Initiative 28) recognizes farmers that are going to produce this medicine need to be paid. Right now, the Oregon law does allow patients to designate somebody to grow their marijuana, but its a felony to pay that person, and that's crazy," says Director of Voter Power John Sajo.

The federal government does not recognize legalized marijuana of any kind.

"The federal government still maintains that marijuana has no medical value. Yet here in Oregon, we have 22,000 patients who have been qualified by 3,000 different physicians," says Sajo.

The federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, along with cocaine and heroin.

"A Schedule 1 drug would be something listed as a high level of abuse is used, no medical purposes, and if you use it your going to be more apt to use it again," says Sergeant Corey Falls with the Ashland Police Department.

California's medical marijuana laws currently allow for medical marijuana dispensaries.

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...osium-sou.html