Pubdate: Wed, 18 May 2011 Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) Copyright: 2011 The Oregonian Contact: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324 Author: Kimberly Melton, The Oregonian LAWMAKERS PITCH LATE-SESSION BILL TO CHANGE OREGON'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM SALEM -- State lawmakers didn't move forward with any of the 20 bills that attempted to change Oregon's medical marijuana laws. But a small bi-partisan coalition of legislators has breathed new life into this controversial issue some thought tabled for the session. Today, the House Rules committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 3664, which aims to put more restrictions on who can receive a medical marijuana card and how many plants growers can produce. The bill also aims to give police greater access to patient and grower records. Medical marijuana advocates say the bill is too far reaching and attempts to criminalize those who use the drug. Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany, chief proponent of the bill, said he is not trying to kill the program but ensure that the option is available for patients who need it. "There's a real concern in this building among legislators when we have 20 bills on an issue," said Olson, a retired police officer. "The thing that drove most of those bills was a sense of abuse in the system. We wanted to move forward with something that puts in more accountability but still protects the patient and their needs." House Judiciary co-chairs Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach and Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, pushed for a workgroup to develop one bill to resolve what they say are clear problems and lax rules in the medical marijuana law approved by voters in 1998. Robert Wolfe, director of the Oregon Marijuana Policy Initiative, which represents 14 medical marijuana advocacy groups, predicted that the bill would lead to more limited access for patients and more targeting by law enforcement. "The bill itself is a big problem," Wolfe said. "It only loosens the reins for this cowboy justice by sheriffs to pick on medical patients." As proposed, the bill would require Oregon Medical Marijuana Program patients to be Oregon residents and require additional proof and monitoring for users under 18. Olson said he's been disturbed by the high rates of marijuana use among eighth-grade students in Oregon and believes part of that use is due to the loose rules about how minors qualify for medical marijuana. One of the most controversial proposals in the bill is a requirement to provide a database of marijuana growers and their locations to the Oregon State Police. The agency would then create rules about how police could access the information. Now, police can request information from the program during an ongoing investigation. Wolfe said attempts to expand that access will lead to abuse. Already, he says law enforcement make as many as 100,000 inquiries annually. Similarly, Wolfe opposes language that would force doctors to meet a higher standard before writing prescriptions, a move he believes will result in fewer doctors writing prescriptions and more patients going around the program to get marijuana. Under current law, doctors can prescribe marijuana if they believe it may be of value to the patient. With the changes, doctors would need to document specific "therapeutic value." About 2,000 doctors currently have patients registered in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, which has issued cards to about 40,000 patients and 21,000 caregivers. Within the past year, the program has received 23,000 new applications. About half are pending. In Montana, the state legislature last month voted to heavily restrict its medical marijuana law, effectively curtailing the growth of the industry over the strident protests of medical marijuana advocates. Since 2009, the number of Montana cardholders grew from 4,000 to 30,000. Federal and state authorities recently raided marijuana grow sites and state leaders said it was evidence that the program was out of control. Olson points to Montana as a cautionary tale. Barker says the state needs to move now to adjust the law because of the program's rapid growth and to prevent attempts to end the program altogether. "No one wants sick people denied medicine," Barker said. "But this bill does make doctors pay more attention when writing prescriptions, to know that they are going to be held accountable." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.