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Here is my 250 word to Albany. I copied and pasted it into the website and hope they get it. I tried to specificially deal with the editors concerns.
To the editor;
In reply to “Reservations about BM 33” (10/20/04), the editor gets many
facts correct about Measure 33 correct but derives the wrong conclusion.
I was a chief petitioner for the medical marijuana act passed in 1998, and
although successful, it did not create a reliable supply of medicine for all
patients. Some need medicine immediately or are too sick to grow a garden.
Measure 33 amends the original act to improve safe access to medicine by
creating state-regulated dispensaries that act like pharmacies so that no
patient is forced to deal with the black market.
In response to where the dispensaries would get their supplies the answer is
from the current legal medical marijuana market. M33 as an amendment to the
current act uses the same caregiver model but would now allow sales just
like a regular pharmacy. The dispensaries should have to comply with state
regulations like other businesses because patients need safe access to safe
medicine. M33 would be a tremendous help to patients compared to what we
have now.
M33 is not legalization, which should also alleviate the editor’s concerns.
Just like current law, only patients who are qualified by licensed health
care providers can register. After M33, sales to persons not registered
remain a felony.
People who supported the original act should love M33, which is truly a
patient bill of rights to improve access to medicine and medical care.
Oregonians who support improved access to medicine should vote Yes on 33.
See www.vote33.org
or www.yeson33.org for more information.
Rick Bayer, MD |