The idyllic coastal state of Oregon has been a popular choice among retirees and adventure seekers alike. With stories of gold rush that date back 200 years, there’s a charisma attached with Oregon. Oregon has also been a proactive state when it comes to social and legislative reforms. Now, Oregon is all set to be the newest state to legalize personal uses of marijuana in addition to their well established medical marijuana program. However, the purpose of this article is to overview the state of medical marijuana in Oregon. So, we’ll keep recreational marijuana aside during the course of this article.

The State of Oregon, on behalf of the people of Oregon, approved ‘The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program’ in 1998. One of the first of its kind in the US, the program saw fierce campaigning and resistance. When finally enacted, the program allowed for the use of medical marijuana in Oregon for palliative care. The initial diseases and conditions classified under the program were HIV/AIDS, cancer, cachexia, Alzheimer’s disease and severe physical pains through accidents. Newer conditions are added regularly as per the recommendations from the practitioners. Recently, nausea was added to the list of qualifying conditions for the medical marijuana treatment in Oregon. The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program and administered and regulated by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS).

Who can apply for the OMMP?

A resident of the State of Oregon, who may suffer from one or more of the following conditions, can apply for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Cachexia
• Unbearable pain
• Nausea
• Seizures caused by epilepsy or other diseases
• Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis or other diseases

Who can recommend the medical marijuana for treatment?

Any registered and licensed Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) in the state of Oregon who’s attending a patient with the said diseases can recommend medical marijuana to a patient. Marijuana is classified by the Federal Government as a Schedule 1 narcotic and hence a physician is not authorized to prescribe it.

Such practitioners need to fill out a form called ‘Attending Physician’s Statement Form’. More can be read about this here.

Information regarding caregivers:

If the said patient has a caregiver, the caregiver can be issued a registry card on patient’s behalf. However, if the patient doesn’t have a caregiver, he/she can apply on their own.

Possession and Cultivation of Marijuana in Oregon:

• For cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes, a person has to be 18 years of age or older.
• The grower has to submit for a cultivation licence which will only be issued upon satisfactory background check.

Detailed rules and regulations regarding possession and cultivation can be obtained from the official website of the DHS, Oregon.

Refrain from the following:

Having the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program card doesn’t put the user outside the jurisdiction of federal laws regarding marijuana possession and dispensation.

A cardholder must refrain from the following:

• Selling medical marijuana obtained for treatment
• Dispensing medical marijuana obtained for treatment to non-OMMP members
• Exceed the limits stipulated for growing
• Drive under the influence of THC
• Abuse the program in any other way

Oregon Medical Marijuana Program is one of the oldest of its kind in the US. It has set excellent precedents for other states and people availing from it must strive to keep it that way.