Stormy Ray’s co-op bill introduced to Oregon Legislature – contact your Rep

On February 1, 2011, on the first day of the 76th Oregon Legislature Assembly, Representative Mike Schaufler (D, Happy Valley) introduced the controversial cooperative bill written by Stormy Ray as HB 3046. Stormy Ray was one of the co-chief petitioners of the original Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA) in 1998.  She was also the “poster child” that helped garner the public support for medical marijuana by providing an image of a woman with multiple sclerosis who is wheelchair-bound, to contradict the typical “stoner” image that is conjured up by conversations about marijuana reform and illustrate that real patients with real illnesses are affected by this topic.

Stormy Ray of Stormy Ray Cardholders' Foundation

However, in more recent years, Stormy has spent very little time coordinating with the rest of the medical marijuana patient community, and ironically, she has become highly focused on what law enforcement wants, instead of what the patients need.  Both times that a dispensary measure has made the ballot, Stormy has been very vocal in her opposition.  One of the main reasons she has claimed to be opposed is due to the high price patients would be forced to pay under a dispensary model.

Highlights of the Stormy Ray bill (read more explanation and criticism from the original source: Stormy Ray’s co-op bill introduced to Oregon Legislature – contact your Rep):

1. Requires at least 10 patients to join together to start a cooperative.
2. Requires that all gardens be for no more than two patients at any one location.
3. Patients that are said to “own” their medicine through a cooperative will have to “buy” it from themselves at a heavily taxed rate.
4. Mandates that all cooperatives sign a waiver allowing inspection by law enforcement anytime during business hours, and any other time that law enforcement deems necessary.
5. Grants immunity to law enforcement and other officials.
6. Requires that patients identify the tax lot of their medical marijuana garden.

Read the full text of House Bill 3046.

Contact Representative Mike Schaufler:

Rep. Mike Schaufler (D)
District: 048
900 Court Street NE
Suite H-382
Salem, OR 97301-4054
Phone: (503) 986-1448
Fax: (503) 986-1998
WebSite: http://www.leg.state.or.us/schaufler
E-Mail: rep.mikeschaufler@state.or.us

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