What’s Happening

in Oregon state and NorthWest, and beyond - 2008

see below for details

UCSF Study Seeking Pain Patients For Vaporized Medical Marijuana Safety Study, Compensation Offered

Research participants are being sought to participate in a vaporized medical marijuana safety study. Participants must currently be taking a twice-daily dose of OxyContin or MS Contin (or Kadian). Participants will be given the ability to try medical marijuana in a safe and legal context. Participants will have travel costs to San Francisco paid for and receive an additional compensation of $520. Interested participants should complete the following steps to see if they qualify:

1. First, visit www.mpp.org/mpp.org/studyflyer to find out more about taking part in this groundbreaking study by University of California, San Francisco researcher Dr. Donald Abrams.

2. Second, if you are interested and still think you might qualify, contact Paul Couey at pcouey@php.ucsf.edu or (415) 476-9554, ext. 315.

3. Finally, if you have been told that you qualify for the study, you can contact MAPS' Josh Sonstroem at accounting@maps.org or (831) 336-4325 to request funding for your transportation and lodging.

Sponsored by the Community Consortium, a branch of the Postive Health Program of University of California San Francisco Medical Service, San Francisco General Hospital.

- Action Items and Alerts -

VOTE! And be sure everybody you know does so also

If you have any questions or problems visit www.HeadCount.org or Call - (866) OUR-VOTE.

And Vote Smart!  Visit NORMLs Campaign 2008 web page - http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6966

Also, Project Vote Smart has profiles about nearly all candidates for federal and state offices, to include what the candidates have stated is their position on drug issues. Biographical Information, Voting Records, Issue Positions, Interest Group Ratings,  Public Statements,  Campaign Finances, Voter Registration, Ballot Measures, Issues and Legislation, Political Resources, and more.  Politics is going to the Dogs!  So, Bite Back with Project Vote Smart.  Visit - http://www.vote-smart.org/

For example, Query every candidate running for office - from local dog-catcher to presidential contender - on how they would vote on these bills -

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1.  Federal Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced by Rep. Ron Paul

Washington, DC:  Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced H.R. 5842, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act,”.  This bill would make federal authorities respect states' current laws on medicinal cannabis and end DEA raids on facilities distributing medical marijuana legally under state law.

Representative Paul, whose presidential campaign prominently featured the ending of the drug war as a platform plank, was joined by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Sam Farr (D-CA) in co-sponsoring this bill.

“I think marijuana is a helpful medical treatment for the people who have intractable nausea,” Paul said in a 2004 House debate regarding a similar measure.  “I would like to point out this is not something strange that we are suggesting here. For the first 163 years of our history in this country, the federal government had total hands off, they never interfered with what the states were doing.”

Twelve states have approved the use of medical marijuana, beginning with California in 1996 with the passage of Proposition 215. The DEA continues to raid and harass medicinal cannabis dispensaries operating within these states' laws.  Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have both indicated they would end such raids should they be elected.

Michigan will vote on an initiative to adopt medical cannabis legislation this November.  Minnesota and Rhode Island's respective legislatures are also considering pro-reform legislation this year.

For more information, contact NORML Legal Director Keith Stroup at (202) 483-5500. Supporters can write their Representatives in favor of this bill at:
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=11280351&type=CO

2.  Voter Power Introduces Dispensary Initiative for Oregon

Where’s the Medicine? Too many sick and disabled patients are without medicine.  Initiative Petition 28 will allow for licensed and regulated medical marijuana dispensaries and establish a program designed to ensure that patients in need have an adequate supply of medicine.  The proposal will also generate revenue for the state and fund research.

Currently, there are four ways for patients to obtain medical marijuana:

1.                 Grow your own

2.                 Designate a grower

3.                 Buy on the black market

4.                 Have medicine donated from another patient

Voter Power’s vision: More freedom, more choices, help patients in need

Their proposal, Initiative 28, creates a revenue-generating regulated medical marijuana supply system that increases choices and freedom for patients (while not taking away the choices currently available).  Patient Resource Centers (PRCs) and dispensaries would be able to dispense medicine, plants and products to patients, providing patients with products and services that aren’t normally available, such as edibles, tinctures and lozenges.  PRCs would provide patients with numerous choices of strains and products while also providing socializing and networking opportunities.  Producers would be able to sell to dispensaries and PRCs and donate to cardholders, helping keep prices low.  10% of all gross revenue would go back into the OMMP.  The money generated from the system would allow for scientific research and provide a comprehensive plan to assist Oregon patients battling poverty, disease, and disability.

They are now collecting signatures.  You can download the signature sheet, sign it and mail it back to Voter Power.  To help their efforts please contact the Portland office at 503-224-3051 or the Medford office at 541-245-6634.

Voter Power
3236 S.E. 50th Ave.
Portland, OR.  97206

http://www.voterpower.org

Events

* November 2nd * Oregon Medical Cannabis Cultivators Club (O.M.C.C.C.) will be holding meetings on the 1st and the 3rd Sunday of each month.   Meetings will be held from 4 to 8 PM at Studio 6, which is at  6 Tillamook Street, Portland, OR 97212.  Call (503) 995-6604 for more info, visit - http://www.omccc.org/intro.htm   to get directions.

* Monday, November 3rd, 7pm * and Every 1st Monday of the month ( except September, no meet ) * Public Meet Up of Sweet.Net, a Medical Cannabis Resource NetWork for Patients as well as CardHolders-to-be.  In Sweet Home (OR) * Call   503.363-4588  –or- visit: 

http://www.mercycenters.org/events/Meet_PUB_Sweet.htm

* Tuesday, November 4th (1^st Tues.) * til the Polls close * Vote! in Oregon.   Read the Voting in Oregon Guide www.uhavavote.org/votingguide/index.html. Get to the link and others by visiting: www.oregonvotes.org/elec101.htm 

* Every Tuesday, next is November 4th * 7pm * Cannabis  T.V. Show filming in Eugene * Eugene Cannabis TV Weekly Production  happens every Tuesday from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at:   Community TV 29 Studio behind Sheldon High School  *  Call   541.517-0957  or visit:   http://mercycenters.org/events/Meet_CLF.htm  

* Wednesday, November 5th, 7pm * and 1st Wed of every month * an Oregon Green Free (OGF - PDX) meeting, at Stark Street Pizza, in Portland, Oregon * Social meeting, Open to public.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF

* Every Wednesday, next is November 5th * 7:00pm to 9:00pm * Patient MeetUp hosted by MERCY at Coffeehouse Cafe in Salem.  Located at 135 Liberty St. NE Salem, Oregon, 97301, their phone number is 503-371-6768  and they are letting us meet in the “Green Room”, This one will happen every Wednesday.  * for more info about Meetings and Meet-Ups,  call MERCY at:  503.363-4588  –or- visit: 

http://www.mercycenters.org/events/Meet_PUB_Café.htm

* Saturday, November 8th, the Annual Stoners Halloween Ball will be held at the Lorax Manner, 1648 Alder St, Eugene. They will be having costume contests (Best Cannabis & Best Overall), live music, information tables & a vegan dinner availble for a nominal charge.  This event is a benefit hosted by Willamette Valley NORML for the Emerald Empire Hempfest (EEH) * call:  541.517-0957  –or-  visit:  http://WillametteValleyNORML.org

* Saturday, November 8^th, at Noon * a Patient Resource NetWork Meeting in Portland hosted by Oregon NORML.  The Basics: 2nd Saturdays = OMMP Cardholders Meetings (Clones and Medicine); Doors open at 11am, close at Noon; You must be a cardholder in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program; You must be 21 years of age or older; You must show valid Oregon Photo ID; You must sign registration form indemnifying Oregon NORML & Mt. Tabor; You must be a member of Oregon NORML.  NO BUYING OR SELLING OF CANNABIS!  Visit: >   http://www.ornorml.org/events/cardmtg.html  < for the latest information.  

*  November 8th * and Every 2nd Saturday of the month * at DHS building, 1607 Gekeler Lane, in LaGrande at Noon * OGF East *  General Meet-Up, open to the public.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF.

* Saturday, November 8th, 3:30pm * happens Every 2nd Saturday of the month * an Oregon Green Free (OGF-Eug) meeting, in Eugene *   WOW Hall, 8^th and Lincoln, Eugene, Oregon. 

*  every other Wednesday, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm * Next Emerald Empire Hempfest (EEH) Core Volunteer Meeting in Eugene is November 12th * Location:  Herbs Toasted Subs, 1210 Willamette, in Eugene.  Call   541-517-0957   or visit:   http://emeraldempirehempfest.com/

* Forums.  A means to communicate and network on medical cannabis in Portland across Oregon and around the world.  A list of Forums, Chat Rooms, Bulletin Boards and other Online Resources for the Medical Cannabis Patient, CareGiver, Family Member, Patient-to-Be and Other Interested Parties.  *  Rsrcs > Pats (plus) > Online > Forums  *  Know any?  Let everybody else know!  Visit:  http://www.mercycenters.org/orgs/Forums.html   and Post It!

* Saturday, November 15th * 12:30pm * at the Tigard Town Hall (Tigard) * OGF-PDX-West * Meeting, open to the public. Happens every 3rd Sat. of the month.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF

*  Saturday, November 15th * from 1pm til 4pm *  at the Cape Ferrelo Fire Hall, north of Brookings - * OGF-South-Coast *  Meeting. Open to the public. * The Cape Ferrelo Fire Hall  is at 96349 Cape Ferrelo Road, Brookings, Oregon.  Cape Ferrelo Road East is off  HWY 101 north of Brookings, about 3 miles up on the left.  Happens every 3rd Sat. of the month.

* November 16th * Oregon Medical Cannabis Cultivators Club (O.M.C.C.C.) will be holding meetings on the 1st and the 3rd Sunday of each month.   Meetings will be held from 4 to 8 PM at Studio 6, which is at  6 Tillamook Street, Portland, OR 97212.  Call (503) 995-6604 for more info, visit - http://www.omccc.org/intro.htm   to get directions.

* every last Thursday of the Month, (usually) next is November 20th * 7:00pm to 9:00pm * TV Show filming and Patient MeetUp hosted by MERCY-TV at CCTV in Salem, at Capital Community Television,  585 Liberty St SE, Salem, Oregon, 97301 – Monthly Filming and Meeting  * call:  503.363-4588  or visit - http://mercycenters.org/tv/  - for more.

* Saturday, November 22nd, 2pm * Willamette Valley NORML Public meeting * Normally happens every 4th Sat. of the month and is held at Herbs Toasted Subs, 1210 Willamette, in Eugene * call:  541.517-0957  –or-  visit:  http://WillametteValleyNORML.org

*  Saturday, November 22nd at  2 pm * at Big Blue, the Oregon Green Free (OGF) Patient Resource Center 2375 SE 174th Ave., Portland * OGF-PDX-East * Meeting, open to the public.  Happens every 4th Sat. of the month.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF

*  Saturday, November 22nd at Noon * in the Westlake Restaurant in Seaside * OGF-North-Coast *  Meeting. Open to the public. Happens every 4th Sat. of the month.

* Saturday, November 22^nd, at Noon * a Patient Resource NetWork Meeting in Portland hosted by Oregon NORML.  The Basics: 4th Saturdays = OMMP 101 (Learn the Program, Learn the Law; Doors open at 11am, clo