[yortbogey]

Oregon allows for medical marijuana deduction

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Under a little-known practice, Oregon social service officials are allowing certain food stamp applicants to deduct medical marijuana costs from their income when qualifying for benefits.
Only elderly or permanently disabled Oregonians who qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance may file for the deduction, according to the Oregonian
The Oregon deduction puts the state at odds with the federal government. California and Washington defer to federal guidelines, which say the deduction is not allowed. Food stamps, also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are federally funded.
Gene Evans, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Human Services, said the deduction is so limited that it's seldom been used. But any government nod to pot's legitimacy is welcomed by Oregon medical marijuana patients.
"Awesome," said Bill Esbensen, who helps run The 45th Parallel Compassion Group, an Ontario establishment where medical marijuana patients can obtain pot. He said few medical marijuana patients are aware of the deduction.
Esbensen estimates 60 percent of the 800 or so patients who get medical marijuana from his establishment receive food stamps or are eligible for them.
"These aren't hippie kids coming to pick up some smoke," he said. "These are sick people."
In Oregon, when determining whether people are poor enough to receive food stamps, the state allows seniors or those who qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance to deduct medical expenses from their income. Along with such costs as prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, the state includes medical marijuana in its definition of medical expenses.
The medical deduction can include the fee for obtaining a state-issued medical marijuana card, the cost of growing marijuana or the expense of getting it from a pot grower.
"Medical marijuana gets treated just like any other prescription drug," Evans said.
Oregon state officials now plan to discuss Oregon's inclusion of medical marijuana as a deduction with federal food stamp administrators.

[Al Botross]

isn't it public record then?

a new saying:>>>> those that deduct....will be fuct!

[ClackamasCootz]

Originally Posted by Al Botross

isn't it public record then?

a new saying:>>>> those that deduct....will be fuct!

Al

Your OMMP card is a semi-public record. For example police departments have the OMMP cardholder's contact information on file.

Plus they doubled the fees from $100.00 >> $200.00 per year

Great guys and gals over at DHS, eh?

CC

[jrmedic]

How's it going with OMMP registrants and their exercising 2nd amendment rights?

[ClackamasCootz]

Originally Posted by jrmedic

How's it going with OMMP registrants and their exercising 2nd amendment rights?

A mixed bag having nothing to do with the state of Oregon - the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that issuing a gun permit (concealed carry) was not in violation of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 from a case that originated in Jackson County, Cynthia Willis vs. Jackson County

Jackson County appealed the case to the US Supreme Court which declined to hear their appeal this past January along with a similar gun-permit case from Washington County in Oregon.

But before the USSC declined to hear these appeals which would have denied MMJ patients to hold a concealed carry permit, the ATF wrote this memo to all federal firearm licensees.

CC

[jrmedic]

Yes, I am somewhat familiar with the Jackson and Washington Co. cases, as well as that memo, and was just wondering, anecdotally, if Oregon residents are successfully exercising their 2A rights. When you write "mixed bag" it gives me hope that some are, indeed, not being denied the purchase or permit.

[ClackamasCootz]

I got bored with the whole MMJ scene in Oregon several years ago. I worked hard to get the original law passed and a couple of ballot initiatives that would have limited civil rights in several areas. All were voted down by huge numbers.

But the shenanigans by the various 'MMJ' groups is appalling - a lot of FUD, piss-poor legal advice, etc. If I wanted legal advice I'd be inclined to pay the money and talk to a criminal defense attorney well versed in these matters - calling up a clown at OGF or ORNORML is how several people found themselves in the trick bag and in a couple of cases found themselves 'going away to school' as the expression goes.

I lost interest. The OMMP law is in place and no one is being bothered at all unless one listens to Jennifer and others and put in a 400+ garden down in Southern Oregon. I usually don't take advice from former strippers turned seed breeder but that's probably just me.

CC

[jrmedic]

No doubt there are Delta Bravos co-opting the "scene;" I am just curious how "Joe Six Pack", OMMP participant, is doing re: 2A exercising and asked you because you appear to be an "old soul" who gets around.