By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

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The county drafted a concept law and sent it to legislators asking for more regulation of medical marijuana grow sites, including alerting law enforcement about new gardens.

Legislators might not carry the bill forward for the county until they see how voters respond to several initiatives regarding medical marijuana that could be on the November ballot.

Mel Barniskis, information manager for Southern Oregon NORML, a cannabis resource and information center at 332 W. Sixth St., Medford, criticized the tenor of the county's proposed legislation.

"It seems to serve the purposes of law enforcement, but doesn't address the welfare of patients," she said. "It seems to put more hardships on patients."

Commissioners propose limiting the amount of marijuana on hand at any one time and restricting patients to possessing one ounce. Instead of six plants for a patient, commissioners propose allowing only two mature plants plus two seedlings.

"Allowing so much marijuana provides a clear opportunity for abuse," the concept legislation stated.

With 2,418 medical marijuana cardholders, Jackson County has the third highest number of patients using the drug behind Multnomah and Lane counties, according to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.

Under current law, a grower can have up to six mature plants and 18 starts and seedlings per patient for up to four patients.

Barniskis said the concept legislation shows a lack of understanding about the way medical marijuana is grown and used.

Read the rest at Damian Mann's Blog

Contact Dave Gilmour, Dennis Smith, and Jack Walker (contact information here) and tell them to keep their hands off the OMMP.