Pubdate: Fri, 29 Mar 2002
Source: Oregonian, The (OR)
Copyright: 2002 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Kristin Oechslin

MAKE GETTING MEDICAL POT EASIER

We already know that Oregonians overwhelmingly support the right of 
seriously ill people to use marijuana for medical purposes, but a recent 
poll shows that support has grown since Oregon's medical marijuana 
initiative passed in 1998.

According to the poll, administered to more than 1,000 adults by the Lucas 
Organization, 76.5 percent of Oregon voters "strongly support" or "somewhat 
support" the state law allowing "seriously ill patients to use and grow 
their own medical marijuana with the approval of their physicians."

This is a big jump over the 55 percent of voters who supported the 
initiative in 1998.

The poll results also indicate that Oregon voters would favor expanding the 
law to allow medical marijuana distribution by nonprofit medical clinics 
(69.1 percent) or the state government (64.4 percent).

An initiative to enhance the distribution of medical marijuana to the 
seriously ill could be on the ballot in 2004.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth