Oct Nov 2010 Page 1 to 5

N ORM L ' s Annual Conference Comes to Por tland

Recipes: Good Karmals G anja L as agna

Curing Your Medicine

A d d ic t io n Recover y a n d C a n n a b is

Percy Har vin Sidelined

Experts Provide Opinions on M74

Oct/Nov 2010 Vol. 1 Issue 3

Pr o p o g a t i o n T i p s f o r Next Years Crop

Hemp Fest Se a s o n

Th e E n d oc a n n a b i n oi d System

Fox Airs First T V Ad For Medical Marijuana

Citizens Initiative Review Backs M74

Har vest Security Tips

Connecting the Medical Cannabis Community Across Oregon

CANNABIS CONNECTION F R EE

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I n Th i s I s s u e

C a n n a bi s C o n n e c t i o n

Oregon News Citizens Initiative Review Backs M74

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Harvest Home for Cardholders

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NORML Says “Just Say Now!” in Portland

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Oregon Media’s Reefer Madness

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Representative Peter Buckley Will Introduce Legalization Bill to Legislature

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Oregon News Nugs - News from Around The State

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The Measure 74 Debate - Oregon Experts Provide Their Opinions

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The Rising Tide - OCC's Take on Measure 74

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1st Annual Jefferson State Hemp Expo a Huge Success

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Portland's Hempstalk is Still Going Strong

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National News FOX Affiliate Airs Nation's First TV Ad For Medical Marijuana Sidelined Because He Can’t Use the Medicine That Works Widespread Racial Disparities in Marijuana Enforcement in California's 25 Largest Counties

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Failed Marijuana Policies Are a Bi-partisan Boondoggle

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Citizens and Activists Network at the Seattle Hempfest

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Medical News Language of Cannabis: The Endocannabinoid System

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Marijuana is Medicine for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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Canadian Researchers Establish Scientific Basis For Medical Use Of Cannabis

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Cannabis Friendly Addiction Services

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R ec ip es Skor Weed Bites Good Karmals Page 17

Ganja Lasagna Serenity Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes with Bud Butter

Cultivation It’s Not Too Late to Get Ready for Next Year’s Crop Now - Jenifer Valley Page 18

Harvest Tips - Mr. FixIt

Clinics & Information A Listing of Oregon Clinics, Organizations, and Businesses

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C a n n a bi s C o n n e c t i o n

Citizens Initiative Review Backs M74

By Keith Mansur Oregon Cannabis Connection The newly formed Oregon Citizen's Initiative Review (CIR) panel spent the week of August 16th through 20th considering Measure 74 in order to make a recommendation to voters on the initiative. After 4 days of presentations from advocates and opposition, the panel voted 13 to 11 to endorse the measure.

The recommendation will appear as a ballot statement in the voters pamphlet which is mailed to all Oregon voters before November's election.

The Salem Conference Center in downtown Salem provided a great venue for the Citizens Initiative Review

I spent a few days covering the panel and found the process informative and effective. The panel was comprised of 24 Oregon voters selected randomly from a sample of over 300. The CIR mailed over 10,000 "invitations" to voters asking for their help in the CIR review process.

Panelists were chosen from over 300 voters that replied. The panel is provided lodging, meals, and $150.00 per day for each panelist's participation, which was

Oregon News paid for by private funding and donations through Healthy Democracy Now (HDN), a nonprofit which organized the review.

Krawitz (Veterans Administration Medical Patient), Christine McGarvin (Dir. Institute for Cannabis Theraputics), and quite a few more.

The review consisted of one day to CIR Panelists listening to presenters. The moderators did a good job with the sessions.

The con advocates organize the were few and far between. On the first upcoming presentations, three to four few days, the only presentations done in days of pro advocates and con advocates person were by Sheriff Tom Bergin of presenting testimony and information, Clatsop County and Clatsop County D.A. and about one day to draft the ballot Josh Marquis. A couple of other statement. The presentations were presenters provided information by formal, but not sworn testimony as a telephone, including Dr. Andrea courtroom would have. Presentations Barthwell M.D., Chief Scott Kirkland of were followed by question and answer the El Cerrito Police Dept. sessions from panelists, providing panelists a chance to review the Pro advocates spent their time explaining information and then follow up with the measures basic contents and then, clarifying questions. answering questions of panelists.

Focusing on regulations, fees, taxes, and Volunteers from HDN organized and the need for patient access, the pro moderated the event and provided the advocates covered many topics of the panelists meals and refreshments. The measure. To explain the importance of a moderators did a good job, but panelists well regulated supply system, Don sometimes expressed personnal experiences, inserted emotional outbursts, Duncan of ASA said, "Our research and our experience shows that sensible and often focused on irrelevant information, sometimes making it difficult regulations reduce crime and reduce complaints while providing the access that for the moderators to keep the panel patients need." focused on the basics of the initiative.

The pro advocates were well informed and very well prepared, and showed up in person. They included John Sajo (Dir. Voter Power, co-author M74), Greg Barton (Former Assistant Attorney General for Oregon), Anthony Johnson (Dir. Oregon Green Free Clinical Services and Co-petitioner of M74), Sunil Aggarwal M.D. (Univ. Of Washington Medical School), Don Duncan (CA. Dir. Of Americans for Safe Access), Mary Lynn Mathre (Patients out of Time), Mike

One panelist who clearly supported the OMMP program asked if the measure would discourage or incurr more expenses on current growers or caregivers. John Sajo explained, "We maintain every part of the current program and all the rights patients have, were just adding this dispensary system as an overlay on that...a safety net if you will". Sajo answered another panelists question regarding pricing, and whether it would be set by the state or determined through

Page 3 competition, saying "“we thought the best way to bring the price down was to have a competitive system where dispensaries and producers would be competing with each other.”

Cont. on Page 5

Harvest Home for Cardholders

By Melanie Barniskis, Pro-Oregon It's almost that time of year. Way back in the cold, grey days of April and early May, this seemed so far away! But now Medical Marijuana gardens all over Oregon are approaching harvest - and that means it is time to start thinking about making sure that you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Here are some ideas to make sure that your crop remains the safe and available medicine that you have been anticipating for months.

• Do you recall the old war slogan “loose lips sink ships”? Many garden robberies are a result of the wrong people knowing that the garden is there in the first place.

It is difficult to restrain your excitement at this time, but telling the world how great your plants look might be a tip-off for a rip-off. Remember what Gandalf told Frodo about that magic ring, “Keep it secret. Keep it safe.”

Cont. on Page 7

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NORML Says “Just Say Now!” in Portland

By Justin and Jaime Jenkins, Oregon Cannabis Connection For the last 38 years, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) has held a conference to educate the public on the facts of marijuana and to discuss the year’s progress in the push for marijuana reform. This year, the 39th Annual NORML Conference was held at the Governor Hotel in Portland, Oregon from Thursday, September 09, 2010 to Saturday, September 11, 2010; and this year felt a little different.

As NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre put it, “this is not the eleventh hour, this is thee hour”.

With the vote for PROP 19 in California for The beautiful old Governor the regulation, Hotel in Portland.

The conference used most control and of the facilities at the hotel. taxation of marijuana, and Oregon’s own Measure, M74, which, if passed, will allow for the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon, on the November ballot, this seems to be our time. People from all over the country attended to represent their state’s NORML Chapter, as well as an impressive array of doctors,

Oregon News lawyers, politicians, and public personalities.

Sadly, the most notable absence this year was that of Jack Herer, who passed away on Congressman Blumenauer April 15th, 2010, is one of the few Congressmen to come out so in his honor, in support of marijuana and from this year legalization forward, NORML has decided to keep his memory alive by permanently renaming all their conference vending areas, “The Jack Herer Hemposium and Exposition Hall”.

Thursday was opening day for the conference and consisted of talks from an Oregon congressman, NORML Chairmen, panels directed at the politics of marijuana legalization, and some breakout sessions on various topics from Tools and strategies for NORML chapters to the cultivation of marijuana.

NORML Board Chairman Steve Dillon, Esq. and Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of NORML, welcomed this year’s conference-goers and introduced us to Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Representative of Oregon’s 3rd District.

Congressman Blumenauer is a co-sponsor of both HR 2835 (Medical Marijuana Protection Act) and HR 2943(Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act). “Now is the time to reassess our nation’s policies” says Congressman Blumenauer, emphasizing that prohibition will not work.

The first day of panels included the panel, “Pot Politics 2010 and Beyond”, moderated by Keith Stroup, Esq., NORML

founder and Legal Counsel, and key speakers were John Sajo and Chris Conrad. John Sajo of Oregon Voter Power spoke of the importance of using the initiative process in order to see results for marijuana legalization and Chris Conrad spoke solely on PROP 19, California’s Regulate, Control and Tax on Cannabis Initiative that is on the November ballot.

On Friday there were various panels discussing topics such as marijuana prohibition and California’s legalization initiative (PROP 19), as well as the NORML Women’s Alliance discussing women, cannabis, and respect. The luncheon was scheduled to include a speech from Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. However, due to flight delays, he was unable to arrive in time. His speech was rescheduled for Saturday morning.

The highlight of the day was the speech given by best-selling travel author and Television host Rick Steves, best known for his PBS series “Rick Steves’ Europe”.

Rick Steves has long (Might I add, if been a supporter of marijuana legalization, you haven’t seen and is a board member the show, you of NORML. should.) Steves began by explaining why he is in the fight to decriminalize marijuana and shared that “being high is a place, and there is no good reason for the government to say I can’t go there”.

Steves believes that recreational use of marijuana by responsible adults is a civil

C a n n a bi s C o n n e c t i o n liberty, and does not believe that marijuana should be used by children or while driving. In his travels, Steves gains new perspectives on how the United States can learn and be inspired by Europe, emphasizing the Netherlands, where hard drugs are separated from soft drugs (of which he believes marijuana to be), and where marijuana is treated as a medical issue, and not an issue of crime.

Cont. on Page 7

Oregon Media’s Reefer Madness

By Sarah Duff Institute for Cannabis Therapeutics & Oregon Green Free Oregonians have a unique opportunity to vote yes on Measure 74 to establish licensed and regulated medical marijuana dispensaries. We can legalize an industry designed to finally help all patients access medicine. Very little opposition has come forward, but the media’s “coverage” does a fine job of confusing and frightening voters into voting against their best interests.

The anti-medical marijuana media’s central argument against M 74 is that the medical marijuana program has been corrupted beyond recognition and will legalize marijuana. This argument was echoed by the two people that have come forward to be the opposition to nonprofit dispensaries, Sheriff Tom Bergan and District Attorney Josh Marquis both of Clatsop County. They argue that medical marijuana has been corrupted beyond all recognition. Strangely enough, September 3rd, 2010 the Associated Press Cont. on Page 11

C a n n a bi s C o n n e c t i o n

Representative Peter Buckley Will Introduce Legalization Bill to Legislature

By Jennifer Alexander Oregon NORML from Salem-News.com In July of 2009, Willamette Weekly ran a story called “Legalize It” that discussed the various views of those involved with our political system. Among the prolegalization politicians, Representative Peter Buckley (D- Ashland) expressed support for legalization. “I’ve got to use my time and energy on proposals that I think have a sincere ability to get through the Legislature,” Buckley says. “And I don’t think this would.”

Apparently things have changed with California voting on legalization and Oregon voting to expand medical access through dispensaries in November, and Buckley has decided to place a legalization initiative before the legislature. This news was shared by Russ Belville on the NORML Show Live on Wednesday, September 22, who said Madeline Martinez, Executive Director of Oregon NORML, had called just that morning to tell him.

I contacted Representative Buckley on the 23rd to confirm the news and find out more about the framework he had in

Oregon News mind. When I inquired if the rumor was true, he happily stated that it was true. He stated that he was watching California closely to see what happens there, but said that he anticipated the bill going before the legislature in February for hearings.

I asked if he had a particular framework in mind, and was pleasantly surprised to hear that he was using the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act as a starting framework, because he felt that it was a “good proposal.” I had emailed Representative Buckley a letter urging support for the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act back in June; and while often it seems our legislature doesn’t “hear” us, this seemed to show that our letters and emails do matter.

I asked him if he had any potential cosponsors yet or knew of any other legislative officials that were likely to be supportive of the bill, and he stated that he knew that there were several others that would be supportive, but didn’t have any particular names readily available.

He pointed me back to the Willamette Weekly article “Legalize It” and stated that he knew that there were a few mentioned in that article. He said that with budget concerns and “the desire to make progress on this” – he felt that the OCTA was a good proposal for the legislature to consider.

I informed him that I was aware of some concerns with the framework expressed when I was petitioning for the OCTA 2010, and asked him what would be the best method for other citizens to share their suggestions, improvements and concerns, and he said to please send him an email at rep.peterbuckley@state.or.us.

I strongly advise all advocates of marijuana reform in Oregon to start sending their suggestions, concerns and kudos to Representative Buckley for

consideration in the upcoming legislature.

Activists should also continue to monitor the citizens’ initiative process, where Paul Stanford is reintroducing the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act with some changes for 2012.

Among the changes included in the 2012 version:

Page 5 that medical marijuana is now accepted widely, even the Veterans Administration (V.A.) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are changing their longheld views against its medical value.

Mathre explained how another independent medical association, the Intstitue of Medicine (IOM), published a report clear back in 1999 . She said “Their findings were that it does have medical value, it is safe for medical use, it's not highly addictive, it isn't a gateway drug.” Due to the age of the report, she also explains, "That's old science, we know so much more”.

The clause that defined a corporation as a “person” in addition to a private individual was removed. The Oregon Cannabis Control Commission (OCCC) was renamed the Oregon Cannabis Commission (OCC), and clarification on how it will be formed was added.

Stanford is currently working on the 1000 sponsorship signatures, and finalizing the paperwork to begin circulating petitions.

Progress can be monitored via the website www.cannabistaxact.org or at the Secretary of State’s website.

Jennifer Alexander is a current Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cardholder, and is on the Board of Director's for Oregon NORML

CIR Backs M74 Cont from page 3

Concerns concerning the medical value of cannabis were continually raised by some panelists and all of the con advocates throughout the review, which took focus off the real questions of the measure.

Mary Lynn Mathre R.N., Sunil Aggarwal M.D., and others repeatedly explained

Grow Better With Our Cultivation Tips!

One of the Pro Advocate Panels with (L to R) John Sajo, Don Duncan, Sunil Aggarwal, and Greg Barton

The con advocates presentations were mostly based on personal experiences, conjecture, and focused on the effectiveness of cannabis and the "true" intent of the measure. District Attorney Josh Marquis made a number of points which seemed straight from the Law enforcement playbook, such as "Do you really believe that most people who smoke marijuana are not smoking marijuana for the psychoactive effects?" and "Would you really feel comfortable knowing a person driving an eighteen wheeler the other way had their Medical marijuana?". He did bring up a few valid concerns, especially about employees of dispensaries being able to possess large amounts of cannabis, yet the rhetorical statements overshadowed the logical ones.

Even one of the absentee presenters for the con advocates spent the majority of her time questioning the effectiveness of cannabis. Dr. Andrea Barthwell M.D., a longtime opponent of medical cannabis, spoke by phone from California.

Barthwell, refering to a 20 year old AMA study, said "The only area where marijuana showed greater promise than anything that was currently approved by the FDA and available to physicians was nausea and vomiting", disregarding the AMA's recent change of policy regarding medical cannabis.

When all the presentations and testimony was given, the panel reviewed the information and debated the points.

Eventually the panel decided to support M74. Their ballot statement will appear in the voter's pamphlet, along with many others. You can watch the CIR presentations and much of the panelists debate at the HDO website http://cirarchive.org.

I believe the CIR panel is a good way to get voters involved and produce informative ballot statements that go beyond the usual rhetoric.