The Oregon Legislature has just kicked off the 2013 legislative session and a hearing is already scheduled for a long-sought after change to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). On Thursday, February 7 at 3pm, the Health Care and Human Services committee will hold a hearing and work session regarding SB 281, which adds Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition under the OMMP.
Proponents for medical marijuana have tried to use the administrative process to add PTSD on two separate occasions, most recently last year. Both times, the efforts have been unsuccessful and pointed to the need to add the condition legislatively. A 2002 study from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry indicated that marijuana reduces memory of traumatic events. The Veteran’s Administration (VA) previously released a directive and new policy that acknowledged medical marijuana as a valid treatment, eliminating concerns for many patients that they might lose their VA services if they participated in medical marijuana programs.
Senator Brian Boquist is sponsoring SB 281. The complete notice of the hearing appears below:
Date: Thursday-February 7
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Room: HR A
Possible Introduction of Committee Measures
Public Hearing and Work Session
SB 281
Adds post-traumatic stress disorder to definition of "debilitating medical condition for purposes of statutes authorizing medical use of marijuana.
This measure will be referred to the Senate President for additional referral
If you plan to submit materials to the committee, please send PDF electronically to the email address near the top of the agenda by noon the prior business day. For printed documents, please provide 10 paper copies to the assistant when you testify.
Persons making presentations including the use of video, DVD, PowerPoint or overhead projection equipment are asked to contact committee staff 24 hours prior to the meeting.
ADA accommodation requests may be submitted to employee.services@state.or.us or by calling 1-800-332-2313 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting time.
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