Measure 74: Always remember the patients first
source: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/09/measure_74_always_remember_the.html
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By James L. Klahr
The Citizens' Initiative Review recently spent a week hearing from proponents and opponents of Measure 74, which would allow for the establishment of licensed and regulated medical cannabis dispensaries. After a week of examining the measure, the panel of randomly selected, unbiased voters from all across Oregon endorsed the proposal, writing that "Measure 74 creates a safe, compassionate and prompt access program for Oregon medical marijuana patients, introduces regulation, and is financially sound." Patient advocates are confident that voters who thoroughly study the measure will come to the same conclusion.
Citizens' Initiative Review members heard from law enforcement officers and from Andrea Barhwell, deputy drug czar under President George W. Bush (and currently a consultant for GW Pharmaceuticals working toward FDA approval for its cannabis-based medicine, Sativex), who contended that marijuana is not a medicine and that Measure 74 leaves too many decisions up to the Oregon Health Authority. The intiative review panelists even read a recent editorial in The Oregonian that criticized the measure as "nothing more or less than a backdoor effort to expand marijuana use" and that questioned why supporters were continuing "the medical marijuana charade." In the end, the panel did just what Measure 74 advocates have done: They placed the needs of patients first.
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/09/measure_74_always_remember_t...
The Citizens' Initiative Review recently spent a week hearing from proponents and opponents of Measure 74, which would allow for the establishment of licensed and regulated medical cannabis dispensaries. After a week of examining the measure, the panel of randomly selected, unbiased voters from all across Oregon endorsed the proposal, writing that "Measure 74 creates a safe, compassionate and prompt access program for Oregon medical marijuana patients, introduces regulation, and is financially sound." Patient advocates are confident that voters who thoroughly study the measure will come to the same conclusion.
Citizens' Initiative Review members heard from law enforcement officers and from Andrea Barhwell, deputy drug czar under President George W. Bush (and currently a consultant for GW Pharmaceuticals working toward FDA approval for its cannabis-based medicine, Sativex), who contended that marijuana is not a medicine and that Measure 74 leaves too many decisions up to the Oregon Health Authority. The intiative review panelists even read a recent editorial in The Oregonian that criticized the measure as "nothing more or less than a backdoor effort to expand marijuana use" and that questioned why supporters were continuing "the medical marijuana charade." In the end, the panel did just what Measure 74 advocates have done: They placed the needs of patients first.
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/09/measure_74_always_remember_t...
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