patient
Gourmet Medibles
Hungry, craving good food to enrich your day and help you stay medicated? Well, for patients living in Oregon there are a few choices available to them. The first cannabis serving eatery in the United States opened in Portland, Oregon over two years ago. The Cannabis Cafe was a smashing success when it debuted. Following most recently on its heels is the new Earth Dragon Edibles, in Ashland, Oregon. Now the state has coverage in both the North and South sides. Although the two restaurants are very different in look and feel, they both cater to the growing medical marijuana community.
The Cannabis Cafe is on its second iteration. Originally it opened at 4:20PM on November 13, 2009 in the Woodlawn section of North Portland. Madeline Martinez of Oregon NORML fame opened the establishment in concert with the building’s lessor Eric Solomon. The cafe itself was similar to those found in Amsterdam, a coffeeshop with accommodations for medicating. They offered baked goods, coffee, drinks and snacks. They had a few pool tables, HDTV, and Wifi access for patients to enjoy as they dosed. It was a nice, relaxing setting in a laid-back area of town. However, due to differences between NORML and the lease-holder, the Cafe shut down after six months. Luckily, Ms Martinez sorted things out and the Cannabis Cafe was reopened, albeit in a new location. Now it resides at 322 SE 82nd Ave, in the Montavilla section of Portland and business continues to do well, despite having an exclusive clientele. Visitors of the Cannabis Cafe must be card-carrying members of Oregon’s NORML chapter and must also have Oregon medical marijuana program (OMMP) cards. The cafe also has its own membership dues, $5 per visit in addition to the NORML dues. Also, no medical is sold on the premises. Patients may bring their own to the cafe. Cannabis Cafe keeps marijuana on hand for patients, and thanks local growers and dispensers for the donations.
Earth Dragon Edibles Restaurant and Lounge is an establishment of a different flavor. It is a full-fledged restaurant that has marijuana-infused items available on the menu. Located at 1662 Siskiyou Blvd in Ashland, Earth Dragon is a Mongolian barbecue joint that decided to spice things up a little differently than their competitors. They offer both regular and medicated items on their menu, with three levels of intensity to their hashish-infused grapeseed oil. They also have a desert menu for after dinner medicating. Patients must show proof of OMMP membership, though NORML membership is not necessary. Furthermore, they skirt marijuana sales laws by requesting donations for their dishes. The restaurant also contains a hash bar where patients may medicate while they wait, choosing from hash or herbs, vaporizers, pipes or bongs. However, in accordance with Oregon state laws, there is no smoking in the restaurant section. And, the medication at the bar is also free, though “donations suggested.” Earth Dragon has been doing well despite a legal challenge. They operate without a city-required business license, because they are in violation of Federal statutes. Local police chief Terry Holderness said that Earth Dragon is not a priority they are pursuing, “Nobody’s life is at risk here…We will prioritize this appropriately. But ultimately, if they are in violation of the law, they will be shut down.” Ashland authorities appear to be lenient for now, perhaps waiting for further marijuana law resolution from higher levels of government.
We’ve had plenty of exciting news from Oregon. Hopefully marijuana patients can see more growth like this in other states. Colorado is jumping on the bandwagon too. Maybe California and Washington will follow soon. Perhaps this phenomenon will find its way to the East Coast. New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Washington DC patients should keep their eyes open for opportunities. For those in Oregon, with the proper credentials, Bon Appetit!
Don’t Let Yourself Be Mislead: Hawaii not too Relaxed Regarding Medicinal Marijuana Program
Spotlight on Hawaii’s Medicinal Marijuana Laws and regulations
The majority of us are comfortable with the 16 states (and Washington D.C) that enable medicinal marijuana. However, much of the profession coverage tends to pay attention to Colorado and California with states like Hawaii flying individually distinct. In June of 2000, Governor Bill Cayetano signed Senate Bill 862 to determine the Hawaii Medicinal Marijuana Act. This bill removed condition-level criminal penalties for that use, possession and cultivation of medicinal marijuana by patients who’ve been given certification with a qualified physician. This program is overseen by Hawaii’s Drugs Enforcement Division (NED). Doctors should be licensed by NED and all sorts of patients must register with them also. Bill 862 enables for patients (or their care providers) to own as much as three oz . of functional marijuana, and could cultivate seven marijuana plants, although a maximum of three might be mature previously.
The passage of 862 was praised like a great advance for that Medicinal Marijuana movement, consider there’s been hardly any progress in Hawaii. In writing it appears fine when a patient has gotten their “Blue Card” they’re permitted to medicate using medicinal marijuana. But that is where what’s promising finishes. What the law states, because it stands, does absolutely nothing to help patients procure their medication. Actually, doctors aren’t even permitted to prescribe marijuana or perhaps enable them to find any. They can’t supply seed products for growing nor send these to a dispensary. You will find no shops in Hawaii, neither is it legal to possess or operate one. In addition, someone having a blue card cannot supply marijuana to a different licensed patient. Just how can these folks be treated should they have no use of medication? And you will find many patients who’re not able to develop their very own supply. Managing a private grow operation is costly, hard to continue, while offering a higher fail rate. Lots of people who be eligible for a blue cards are extremely disabled they can’t work and for that reason don’t have any earnings to operate a grow op or purchase a health professional. In addition, no insurance provider covers this kind of care.
You will find many factors making it even more complicated for patients in need of assistance. To begin with, there’s hardly any when it comes to access and knowledge for patients. You will find merely a couple of doctors inside the islands who’re licensed to award blue cards. However, many people state they legally provide blue cards but they are frequently misleading patients to be able to produce a profit. It ought to only cost you a $25 fee to try to get a blue card. If a person ended up being to turn to the classified section for information, you’d see an array of advertisements from intermediate services offering to facilitate buying of the blue card. These disadvantage-males offer “day treatment centers” that charge $200+ for any session to “help” people. They run group critiques from leased spaces that clearly aren’t medical offices. You will find even “doctors” offering blue cards within 24 hrs, if this typically takes 3-5 days for processing of the application. Many of these ads appear patently false. As though existence is not with enough contentration, someone seeking medical help shouldn’t have to be worried about being scammed while trying to legally navigate this method.
You will find a couple of other caveats to Hawaii’s law worth observing. Someone might not medicate whether it “endangers the or well-being of some other person. Nor will the law permit you to medicate inside a moving vehicle, within the place of work, on school grounds, inside a public place, inside a correctional facility, or perhaps in any condition supervised facility.” Which makes sense, although how self-medicating can “jeopardize” someone else is a little curious. You will find some protections though. If you’re legally licensed, what the law states states “You will not be punished by any means, or refused any right or privilege for that medical utilization of marijuana.” You can use to safeguard patients and care providers from losing their housing consequently of stated use. Although if you reside in housing that’s funded through the Federal HUD you’ve got no protection. That’s consistent with anything else the us government has been doing to persecute those who are following their condition laws and regulations. You will find no protections for employment either. It’s still considered an unlawful substance, so companies are inside their privileges to terminate patients who’re suspected useful, or individuals who fail physical tests. Also, Hawaii doesn’t recognize any out-of-condition programs, and therefore any marijuana patients going to the hawaiian islands may have no to medication or legal protections while they’re in-condition.
Individuals individuals who might be thinking about moving towards the land of Maui Wowie and Moloka’i Miracle to treat qualified illnesses should think hard. The passage of Bill 862 is like getting a fantastic lotto ticket, just the redemption office isn’t open.