Pubdate: Fri, 05 Sep 2008
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2008 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Tim Christie
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MARIJUANA HELP CENTER WILL TRY TO REOPEN

The Compassion Center, a medical marijuana help group  in Eugene, is
trying to regroup and reopen after a  power struggle on its board of
directors that  culminated when one board member removed patients'
medical files from the office, sued to dissolve the  organization and
tried to start her own rival medical  marijuana support group.

The center, founded in 2001, has been closed since July  22, leaving
about 2,000 marijuana cardholders in the  metro area without a place
to turn for advice and  support in dealing with Oregon's medical
marijuana law.

"Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are closed  until further
notice," reads a hand-written note, taped  to the door of the office
at 2055 W. 12th Ave. "We are  so sorry. The management."

As part of a settlement agreement approved by a Lane  County Circuit
Court judge, the two battling board  members agreed to resign, and
four new board members  have been appointed and charged with
appointing a fifth  board member. The organization will pay the board
members' attorney fees.

The center should reopen soon, said Casey Ferguson, a  former board
member who was just reappointed, but he  could offer no timetable.

"We're restructuring and we are very hopeful the center  will be open
for business very shortly," said Ferguson,  a medical student who
recently moved from Eugene to  Portland.

Once the fifth board member is appointed, then  corporation officers
need to be selected. Then the  board needs to work with accountants to
get finances in  order and bring back staff so the center can reopen,
he  said.

Originally called the Eugene Cannabis Grow-Op, the  Compassion Center.
It offered classes, support and  networking for people interested in
obtaining a  marijuana card from the Oregon Medical Marijuana
Program, as well as people who already held one. It  also hosted
clinics with a doctor who would examine  patients seeking a medical
marijuana card. Volunteers  offered tips on growing marijuana, finding
a doctor  willing to sign a medical marijuana application, and  helped
connect cardholders with people who could  legally grow marijuana for
them, known as "caregivers."

A state-issued medical marijuana card permits people to  possess,
consume and grow marijuana, provided it is for  medical purposes. A
doctor must attest that the patient  has at least one of nine
qualifying medical conditions,  such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS,
nausea and severe  pain. While 13 states have passed medical marijuana
  laws, the drug remains illegal under federal law.

Anthony Johnson, political director of Voter Power, a  Portland
medical marijuana advocacy group, said the  closure of the Compassion
Center "definitely puts  patients in a bind and forces them to travel
to  Portland or other areas that do have support groups."  He added:
"It does create a void and a need for some  kind of organization to
help patients meet their  needs."

The dispute in Eugene involved board members Brenda  Alley and Mike
Sage. In June, they were the only two  members left on the center's
board. State law requires  non-profit groups to have at least three
board members,  and the group's own bylaws require five. If a group
cannot maintain at least three board members, state law  requires the
group to cease operations and dissolve.

In June, Alley contacted the state Department of  Justice and
expressed concern that up to $300,000 of  the center's funds were
missing, according to an Aug. 5  letter from Elizabeth Grant, the
attorney in charge of  the DOJ's Charitable Activities Section, to
attorneys  for Sage and Alley.

However, an earlier audit of the Compassion Center, and  a review of
five years of financial reports, indicated  the group did not have
much in the way of charitable  assets except those necessary for its
routine  operation, Grant wrote. For instance, in 2007, the  group
reported it had $25,247 in cash, income of  $161,037 and expenses of
$147,968.

"We do not understand the factual basis for Ms. Alley's  assertions
that $300,000 in charitable assets is  missing or unaccounted for,"
Grant wrote.

According to court documents filed by Sage, Alley  entered the offices
of the Compassion Center sometime  from July 18-21 and removed patient
medical files,  forcing the clinic to close.

Ferguson said the records have been recovered.

"It appears right now all documentation has been  recovered," Ferguson
said. "It is all secure."

In an interview, Alley, a Eugene resident, confirmed  said she removed
the files from the office. She did so,  she said, on instructions from
her attorney and the  state Department of Justice.

She said she secured the files only "for a short period  of time," and
that the other board member had access to  the records.

Alley said she volunteered at the center for seven
years.

"I was trying to keep the organization as straight and  honest and as
pristinely clean as possible," she said.

On Aug. 18, Alley filed papers with the Secretary of  State's office
to establish a new non-profit  corporation called Green Cross of Oregon.

Some medical marijuana support organizations in other  regions have
used the name "Green Cross."

Alley declined to discuss why she incorporated a new
organization.

Sage, in an interview, said Alley tried to engineer "a  hostile
takeover" of the organization.

"She was trying to take over the center, and do things  her way, and
trying to fire the crew" of volunteer  staff members who ran the
clinic, he said. "I wouldn't  let her."

A complaint was filed with the Eugene Police Department  in connection
with the removal of the medical records.

A police spokeswoman referred inquiries to the Lane  County District
Attorney's office. Chief Deputy  District Attorney Alex Gardner said
it's unlikely  charges will be filed in the case unless further
evidence comes to light that indicates unlawful intent  by Alley.

Ferguson said the removal of medical files from the  Compassion Center
office represents a serious breach of  trust, and board members and
staff will need to work  hard to regain the trust of patients.

"The organization is strong enough to survive and we'll  be able to
get the doors open again soon," he said.  "Our patients are our No. 1
concern."

Jaqui Lomont:, general manager of the Compassion Center  for four 
years until resigning in May, said there were  rumblings of trouble 
on the board when she left the  organization.

The turmoil is "heartbreaking," she said, "because we  know there's a
lot of patients who need our services."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath