Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2013
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2013 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Noelle Crombie

GOV. JOHN KITZHABER SIGNS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL INTO LAW

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber Wednesday signed a bill legalizing medical 
marijuana retail establishments.

The law, which moves Oregon's booming medical marijuana industry into 
the mainstream, creates a registry of businesses that sell the 
medical marijuana.

Patients have long sought retail access to cannabis, arguing the 
state's rules -- grow your own marijuana or have someone do it for 
you --" are unrealistic.

The law comes a year after an investigation by The Oregonian showed 
that scant state regulation of medical marijuana allowed widespread 
diversion to the black market. Oregon joins a dozen other states that 
allow medical marijuana dispensaries or retail outlets.

Here's a detailed Q&A about the new law.

The Oregon Health Authority, which oversees the medical marijuana 
program, is charged with drafting rules for the new registry. State 
officials said the agency is still working out how the process will proceed.

Kitzhaber said he shares some of the concerns expressed by opponents 
of the bill, but noted that the legislation gives power to the health 
authority to audit financial records of the dispensaries.

"I believe it will be critical to set fees for dispensaries that will 
provide sufficient funding to OHA so that they can be extraordinarily 
vigorous in their enforcement of the rules that are developed," he 
said in his signing letter.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom