(1) Except as provided in ORS 475.316, 475.320 and 475.342, a person engaged in or assisting in the medical use of marijuana is excepted from the criminal laws of the state for possession, delivery or production of marijuana, aiding and abetting another in the possession, delivery or production of marijuana or any other criminal offense in which possession, delivery or production of marijuana is an element if the following conditions have been satisfied:
(a) The person holds a registry identification card issued pursuant to this section, has applied for a registry identification card pursuant to subsection (9) of this section, is the designated primary caregiver of the cardholder or applicant, or is the person responsible for a marijuana grow site that is producing marijuana for the cardholder and is registered under ORS 475.304; and
(b) The person who has a debilitating medical condition, the person’s primary caregiver and the person responsible for a marijuana grow site that is producing marijuana for the cardholder and is registered under ORS 475.304 are collectively in possession of, delivering or producing marijuana for medical use in amounts allowed under ORS 475.320.
(2) The Department of Human Services shall establish and maintain a program for the issuance of registry identification cards to persons who meet the requirements of this section. Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the department shall issue a registry identification card to any person who pays a fee in the amount established by the department and provides the following:
(a) Valid, written documentation from the person’s attending physician stating that the person has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and that the medical use of marijuana may mitigate the symptoms or effects of the person’s debilitating medical condition;
(b) The name, address and date of birth of the person;
(c) The name, address and telephone number of the person’s attending physician;
(d) The name and address of the person’s designated primary caregiver, if the person has designated a primary caregiver at the time of application; and
(e) A written statement that indicates whether the marijuana used by the cardholder will be produced at a location where the cardholder or designated primary caregiver is present or at another location.
(3) The department shall issue a registry identification card to a person who is under 18 years of age if the person submits the materials required under subsection (2) of this section, and the custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions for the person under 18 years of age signs a written statement that:
(a) The attending physician of the person under 18 years of age has explained to that person and to the custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions for the person under 18 years of age the possible risks and benefits of the medical use of marijuana;
(b) The custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions for the person under 18 years of age consents to the use of marijuana by the person under 18 years of age for medical purposes;
(c) The custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions for the person under 18 years of age agrees to serve as the designated primary caregiver for the person under 18 years of age; and
(d) The custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions for the person under 18 years of age agrees to control the acquisition of marijuana and the dosage and frequency of use by the person under 18 years of age.
(4) A person applying for a registry identification card pursuant to this section may submit the information required in this section to a county health department for transmittal to the Department of Human Services. A county health department that receives the information pursuant to this subsection shall transmit the information to the Department of Human Services within five days of receipt of the information. Information received by a county health department pursuant to this subsection shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure, except as required to transmit the information to the Department of Human Services.
(5)(a) The department shall verify the information contained in an application submitted pursuant to this section and shall approve or deny an application within thirty days of receipt of the application.
(b) In addition to the authority granted to the department under ORS 475.316 to deny an application, the department may deny an application for the following reasons:
(A) The applicant did not provide the information required pursuant to this section to establish the applicant’s debilitating medical condition and to document the applicant’s consultation with an attending physician regarding the medical use of marijuana in connection with such condition, as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section;
(B) The department determines that the information provided was falsified; or
(C) The applicant has been prohibited by a court order from obtaining a registry identification card.
(c) Denial of a registry identification card shall be considered a final department action, subject to judicial review. Only the person whose application has been denied, or, in the case of a person under the age of 18 years of age whose application has been denied, the person’s parent or legal guardian, shall have standing to contest the department’s action.
(d) Any person whose application has been denied may not reapply for six months from the date of the denial, unless so authorized by the department or a court of competent jurisdiction.
(6)(a) If the department has verified the information submitted pursuant to subsections (2) and (3) of this section and none of the reasons for denial listed in subsection (5)(b) of this section is applicable, the department shall issue a serially numbered registry identification card within five days of verification of the information. The registry identification card shall state:
(A) The cardholder’s name, address and date of birth;
(B) The date of issuance and expiration date of the registry identification card;
(C) The name and address of the person’s designated primary caregiver, if any;
(D) Whether the marijuana used by the cardholder will be produced at a location where the cardholder or designated primary caregiver is present or at another location; and
(E) Any other information that the department may specify by rule.
(b) When the person to whom the department has issued a registry identification card pursuant to this section has specified a designated primary caregiver, the department shall issue an identification card to the designated primary caregiver. The primary caregiver’s registry identification card shall contain the information provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(7)(a) A person who possesses a registry identification card shall:
(A) Notify the department of any change in the person’s name, address, attending physician or designated primary caregiver.
(B) If applicable, notify the designated primary caregiver of the cardholder and the person responsible for the marijuana grow site that produces marijuana for the cardholder of any change in status including, but not limited to:
(i) The assignment of another individual as the designated primary caregiver of the cardholder;
(ii) The assignment of another individual as the person responsible for a marijuana grow site producing marijuana for the cardholder; or
(iii) The end of the eligibility of the cardholder to hold a valid registry identification card.
(C) Annually submit to the department:
(i) Updated written documentation from the cardholder’s attending physician of the person’s debilitating medical condition and that the medical use of marijuana may mitigate the symptoms or effects of the person’s debilitating medical condition; and
(ii) The name of the person’s designated primary caregiver if a primary caregiver has been designated for the upcoming year.
(b) If a person who possesses a registry identification card fails to comply with this subsection, the card shall be deemed expired. If a registry identification card expires, the identification card of any designated primary caregiver of the cardholder shall also expire.
(8)(a) A person who possesses a registry identification card pursuant to this section and who has been diagnosed by the person’s attending physician as no longer having a debilitating medical condition or whose attending physician has determined that the medical use of marijuana is contraindicated for the person’s debilitating medical condition shall return the registry identification card and any other associated Oregon Medical Marijuana Program cards to the department within 30 calendar days of notification of the diagnosis or notification of the contraindication.
(b) If, due to circumstances beyond the control of the registry identification cardholder, a cardholder is unable to obtain a second medical opinion about the cardholder’s continuing eligibility to use medical marijuana before the 30-day period specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection has expired, the department may grant the cardholder additional time to obtain a second opinion before requiring the cardholder to return the registry identification card and any associated cards.
(9) A person who has applied for a registry identification card pursuant to this section but whose application has not yet been approved or denied, and who is contacted by any law enforcement officer in connection with the person’s administration, possession, delivery or production of marijuana for medical use may provide to the law enforcement officer a copy of the written documentation submitted to the department pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section and proof of the date of mailing or other transmission of the documentation to the department. This documentation shall have the same legal effect as a registry identification card until such time as the person receives notification that the application has been approved or denied.
(10) A registry identification cardholder has the primary responsibility of notifying the primary caregiver and person responsible for the marijuana grow site that produces marijuana for the cardholder of any change in status of the cardholder. If the department is notified by the cardholder that a primary caregiver or person responsible for a marijuana grow site has changed, the department shall notify the primary caregiver or the person responsible for the marijuana grow site by mail at the address of record confirming the change in status and informing the caregiver or person that their card is no longer valid and must be returned to the department.
(11) The department shall revoke the registry identification card of a cardholder if a court has issued an order that prohibits the cardholder from participating in the medical use of marijuana or otherwise participating in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program under ORS 475.300 to 475.346. The cardholder shall return the registry identification card to the department within seven calendar days of notification of the revocation. If the cardholder is a patient, the patient shall return the patient’s card and all other associated Oregon Medical Marijuana Program cards.
(12) The department and employees and agents of the department acting within the course and scope of their employment are immune from any civil liability that might be incurred or imposed for the performance of or failure to perform duties required by this section. [1999 c.4 §4; 1999 c.825 §2; 2003 c.14 §306; 2005 c.822 §3; 2007 c.573 §3]
Note: See note under 475.300.
Section: Previous 475.295 475.300 475.302 475.303 475.304 475.305 475.306 475.309 475.312 475.315 475.316 475.319 475.320 475.323 475.324 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008