Winston alternative medicine center shut down

WINSTON — The Winston City Council has revoked the business license of Southern Oregon Compassion after finding the center was not forthcoming about plans to provide medical marijuana as one of its services.

In June, Winston resident Richard Bartoli approached the council to apply for a business license for a “donations and information center” to be run by volunteers.

According to City Councilor Sandy Lipphardt, Bartoli claimed Southern Oregon Compassion would donate food and equipment – such as wheelchairs, canes and crutches — to the public. He never mentioned that the center would also provide medical marijuana, she said.

“(Councilor) Christie (Glen-Knutson) asked them point-blank, ‘What exactly is your business?' And they said donations, wheelchairs for people,” Lipphardt said. “They never, never mentioned the medical marijuana and basically that's a lie. That's a lie by omission.”

Winston Police Chief Scott Gugel sought revocation of the business license after reports started coming in that marijuana was going out of the building on 22 Main Street.

When asked about the newly opened and quickly closed operation, Camas Valley resident Rudy Babbino, 69, said Southern Oregon Compassion has been collecting equipment and food donations, about 800 pounds, for the community and that a school supplies drive was in the works.

He described Southern Oregon Compassion as an alternative medicine and resource center that provided medical marijuana to people with a special card obtained through the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. He said there may have been a “miscommunication” between Bartoli and the council in June.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act was approved by voters in November 1998, allowing the cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana by patients with certain medical conditions. There are 13 states that permit use of medical marijuana. Federal law still prohibits the cultivation and possession of marijuana.

Babbino said individuals who stopped by Southern Oregon Compassion the past couple of months were provided with information and paperwork about how to apply for a medical marijuana license from the state and were directed to a doctor. Once registered as a cardholder, the individual could return to Southern Oregon Compassion for medicine, where Babbino said they could obtain marijuana free of cost and then donate food or equipment in return.

“They go to a doctor, the doctor sends the information to the state,” he said. “Then when the state registers them, they can come back to us.”

Babbino, a cardholder himself, said some people who suffer from chronic pain are interested in trying alternative medicine, but cannot obtain the marijuana.

“They hear about this and they think, ‘Let me try this,'” Babbino said. “They get the license and then they have no place to actually get the medical marijuana. They shouldn't have to get it from the street, that's not where you get something that's considered medicine.”

According to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, the purchasing or selling of marijuana received for medical use is unlawful at all times. Lt. Mike Dingeman with the Oregon State Police said there are three classes of cardholders — the patient, the primary caregiver and the grower. Individual cardholders may possess up to 24 ounces of medical marijuana and one patient can share excess marijuana with another patient.

Although Southern Oregon Compassion could reapply for a business license in 90 days, Babbino isn't interested in setting up shop in Winston again.

“Our purpose is not to fight City Hall, or make people uncomfortable,” he said. “We're here to help people as much as we can.”

• You can reach reporter Cara Pallone at 957-4208 or by e-mail at cpallone@nrtoday.com.