With November elections on the horizon, voters are faced with a controversial change to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) in Measure 74, which would expand the OMMP by setting up a system of statewide medical marijuana dispensaries.
In addition, the measure establishes licensing processes for dispensaries and producers, who may possess 24 plants and 96 ounces of marijuana for legal sale to OMMP cardholders, according to a description prepared by the Oregon Secretary of State.
The OMMP, which is growing rapidly with more than 36,000 registered patients, is currently defined to strictly prohibit the sale of marijuana. This leaves OMMP patients to either grow their own medicinal pot or have it grown and provided by a caregiver without payment.
Advocates of Measure 74 see a problem here. They insist the current laws place too much burden on patients – many of whom are handicapped – to grow and maintain their own plants, or to find a grower who’s willing to provide these services free.
Some oppose the measure on the basis that it is unclear how the proposed changes will impact law enforcement.
Sgt. Erik Fisher of the Oregon State Police, though not an opponent of the measure, does voice concern about ambiguities in the law’s language.
“I think the way the law is written is confusing,” Fisher said. “It’s going to be hard for people to say how (Measure 74 is) enforced. We already have these types of problems with the current medical marijuana program. Those issues just become compounded when you add two new players – producers and dispensaries.”
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, an international organization focused on educating people on the harms caused by the global war on drugs, has joined with other anti-prohibition organizations to vanguard the vote “yes” campaign for Measure 74.
University SSDP director Samuel Chapman said the measure would produce large revenues, allowing the program to more than pay for itself. He said revenues would contribute money toward education and health care in the state.
“The state of Oregon could get sort of a bailout here,” Chapman said.
A survey conducted in June by opinion research company Grove Insight showed support for Measure 74 has dropped considerably since 2008, by about 13 percent.
The telephone survey, conducted with 500 likely voters around Oregon, showed overall support for the measure slip from 59 percent in 2008 to 46 percent in 2010, and opposition rise from 31 percent in 2008 to 42 percent in 2010. According to the survey, the most frequent support erosion occurred with certain young voters and older women.
Floyd DeGroff, a 25-year-old Eugene resident, said he wasn’t familiar with the specific changes proposed by Measure 74, but in general he was inclined to support movements against the prohibition of marijuana.
“I feel like weed’s a lot less dangerous than a lot of drugs out there.” DeGroff said. “It’s safer than alcohol, and (alcohol is) legal.”
Chapman remains optimistic about Measure 74’s chances with voters this fall.
“We believe medical marijuana should and will replace addictive pharmaceuticals, and we want to really get behind that,” he said. “And I’m very optimistic, but we’re not going to be able to do it without the young, student vote.”
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