Oregon medical marijuana clinics opens

By Andrea Calcagno
June 25, 2009


GRANTS PASS, Ore. - There is now a clinic in Southern Oregon where patients can potentially qualify for medical marijuana cards.

The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation Clinic is the first of its kind in the region. Dr. Thomas Orvald lives in Portland and makes trips to Grants Pass to see patients about four times a month. Clinic staff screen a patient's medical records before making an appointment. A patient must have a serious medical condition in order to be issued the paperwork for a medical marijuana card.

It costs $200 to make an appointment. There is a $60 discount for anyone on food stamps, the Oregon Health Plan, or other government assistance.

Clinic representatives say they've seen between 75 and 100 patients a month since it opened in April.

Oregon law states that once a patient acquires a marijuana license, they can then grow or obtain marijuana from a licensed grower.