02-16-2010
UPDATE
According to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s office, Aaron Cheak was convicted on a felony charge of unlawful possession of Marijuana and a misdemeanor charge of theft in the second degree. There was a report of a weapon at the scene, but that weapon was not used during the commission of the crimes committed in October, 2008.
11/10/2008 - Bend
by Matt McDonald
Medical marijuana, it's been legal in Oregon since voters approved it ten years ago this month. But it's been surrounded by controversey and in central oregon, it's often been surrounded by crime.
"What we typically see is that someone will break-in, an associate, and take the medical marijuana based on the resale value on the street and the availability to sell that immediately and make a profit," said Detective Sergeant Mike Espinoza with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.
Last month, Aaron Cheak was arrested for breaking into these apartments on Boyd Acres Road in Bend and demanding a resident's medical marijuana at gunpoint. For the medical marijuana card holders in Central Oregon: 88 in Crook, 72 in Jefferson and 890 in Deschutes county, it's a scary reality.
"What we also see is that some of the people that are now growing marijuana are also arming themselves for their own protection," said Espinoza.
Detective Sergeant Mike Espinoza warns the escalation could lead to more violent crimes.
But there's another criminal side to the medical marijuana story, what happens when someone who legally grows the drug decides to sell it or share it with a friend.
Lieutenant John Gautney leads the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team.
"If you have a card and you take the marijuana and you go out and sell it, it's the same as not having the card then its looked at as delivery of, unlawful delivery of marijuana," said Gautney.
Joshua Zukoski a twenty six year old Bend man appeared in court Monday afternoon, facing charges after allegedly selling his medical marijuana in burns for $280 an ounce.
It's a frustrating position for law enforcement, especially when the only oversight for cardholders, a once a year renewal application.
Comments
Control it like Alcohol
Oregon's laws are a great step forward over the federal prohibition, but they still don't properly address the demand for marijuana. Until we control marijuana with the *same laws* as alcohol we're going to continue to have a problem with criminals using violence to get rich from it.
When we license the legal sale of marijuana we'll win the war against drug dealers! Just as legal alcohol sales got rid of the bootleggers, legal marijuana sales will get rid of the drug dealers and the cartels.
We owe it to our children to control marijuana like alcohol and keep it out of the hands of minors and keep drug dealers out of our schools.
Establish a Regulated Supply System
A growing concern with the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program is linked directly to its success. More and more patients are finding success with the program as medical cannabis has improved their quality of life and has made them less reliant on more intoxicating and addictive pharmaceuticals (the program likely saves our state millions of dollars, let alone the money it generates from licensing fees). However, each patient is forced to register a garden. We currently have over 20,000 patients, so thus over 20,000 registered gardens. The more patients that enroll in the program, the more registered gardens there are. Since cannabis is a very effective medicine, the program will probably double in just a few years.
A licensed and regulated medical marijuana supply system will provide more patients with safe access to medicine so they won't have to worry about a thieves breaking into their garden. Initiative petition 28 has been filed and will likely make the 2010 ballot. This initiative will add regulation, provide patients' safe access, generate millions of dollars for the state, and make criminal break-ins less prevalent. We don't make diabetics make their own insulin--we shouldn't force sick and disabled patients to each have to grow their own cannabis or rely upon someone else to do it for them. Patients deserve to have safe access and not be threatened by criminals.
Anthonyj
Well stated! Thank you!
As for the "frightening statistics" in the article, what are they? So far there have been TWO instances of ATTEMPTED theft from medical marijuana growers! Wow, how "scary!" By this same worrisome factoid, we should close down all the pharmacies that have been broken into successfully! And ONE, count 'em, ONE guy who chose to sell his crop outside the laws! Wasn't he already a felon as well? Those who have these facilities are "arming" themselves? Yeah, and according to the latest reports so are many, many more people who are apparently worried about Obama! Now what? This "refer madness" tactic backfired in the 60s and will fare no better now. This continued effort to scare people is tiresome and insults anyone of even limited intelligence! Marijuana WORKS! Sorry! It's been proven, and it is less harmfull than many of the FDA approved meds like Vioxx, or Celebrex!
Having nice things linked to crime
According to Bend Police records, owning nice things has increased crime in the greater Deschutes area. According to one source, burglary and Auto Thefts are up over 238% in the last five years. One remedy is to redistribute all nice things so that everyone has the same nice things. Says one very very high up source, the redistribution of wealth will fix everything.
IDIOTS
How can u have a story like this and say these lies but then have alcohol and pharmaceutical commercials play on ur station while this airs. Any person with at least one fourth a brain knows if any thing leads to crime it is alcohol and narcotics(no marijuana isnt a narcotic it is an herb hash and hash oil are narcotics) and to support that and condemn The HOLY MOTHER PLANT marijuana makes me disapointed in u oregon, I havent been this disapointed in oregon since the way they treated the hippies at the prineville gathering, I AM CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT OF THIS IGNORANT NEWS STATION