11/18/2008 - Bend
by Matt McDonald
 
They have names like Mango Tango, Blueberry Hash and Champagne. It's marijuana and it's all legal, part of a medical marijuana growing operation in Bend. But it doesn't come without it's worries.
 
"We have to take security measures, we have a security system in here to be able to be able to handle any problems that come up," said Robert, a Bend man with a legal growing operation.
 
Last week, KOHD reported on law enforcement's concerns about medical marijuana's link to crime, highlighting two recent cases. One in which the card holder was a victim, the other where the card holder was the suspect. It's perhaps the second case that's most troubling to people in favor of the medical marijuana program.
 
"Where people are not compliant as a matter of fact trying to profit from it, what they get is well deserved," said a former card holder who asked to remain anonymous.
 
He still suffers from the pain that caused him to seek marijuana but has dropped his card for another reason.
 
"There's a fair amount of social stigma associated with it. You feel guilty even if you're doing it legally, you still feel guilty," said the former card holder.
 
Robert is trying to fight that stigma and he's enlisted some surprising help.
 
"We want to get along with the police department. We've reached out to the drug enforcement team, you know, we've reached out to the Bend Police Department," said Robert.
 
He's brought the police and legal marijuana growers together through an organization called Oregon Green Free, a group that helps new card holders stay within the law, providing them with plants, growing instructions and educational materials. All in an effort to keep crime and medical marijuana apart.