Thanks to stupid noob, I will soon be able to grow or buy marijuana in the great state of Oregon and essentially remain free from prosecution. For those of you who have some pain related need, I must say the process was incredibly hassle free and well worth it.

First, I contacted The Hemp & Cannabis Foundation (THCF), a truly amazing non-profit organization. The man I spoke with asked me to provide my last three doctors visits dealing with my chronic pain condition. The next step was setting up an appointment to see one of their doctors. Oddly enough, my appointment wasn't actually at a doctor's office. It was in a nice little room at the Best Western in beautiful Brookings, a coastal town just over the California line.

When I got there, I signed up in a conference room with probably twenty other "patients." The people running the show had me fill out a slew of forms, then watch a short film mainly discussing marijuana laws and such. After a good bit of socializing, I paid $140 for the doctor's fees, (a tax write-off BTW), and was accompanied by a staffer up to a hotel room where a nurse took my vitals and asked me questions pertaining to my injuries.

Afterward, I was ushered into an adjoining room where the doctor reviewed my chart and talked with me for ten or fifteen minutes before signing off on the form that the state requires to issue me my Oregon medical marijuana permit. After I was done with the doctor, I said goodbye to some really kindhearted souls.

One nice grandmotherly lady was going from table to table with a vial of "medicine" for everyone to sample. Another couple generously offered me and my fiancee a tour of their hydroponic setup, which I unfortunately had to decline due to time constraints. Yet another gentleman even offered me a fairly sizable bud which he had recently cultivated. Of course, being a good law-abiding citizen, I had to turn down his offer until I became legal.

I left the hotel and immediately went to the post office and mailed off my application, along with the required fee of $20 to the state office in Portland. After I get a receipt back from the state (I'm told the permit comes later), I'm going to pick up six clones from one of the contacts I made at the Best Western. He's giving me Indica plants, which I'm told have the most efficacious analgesic properties.

Once I get the plants home, it will be up to me to keep them alive over the winter until I am able to plant the marijuana in my backyard this spring.

I've never grown marijuana so anyone with a green thumb who can offer any pointers will be greatly appreciated. And anyone who wants any more information about the marijuana program only has to ask and I will gladly provide additional details.

Congratulations on your card. It's only 135$ down here, although you can find it cheaper elsewhere.

Also, you turned down free weed? I didn't even know that was possible.

Are you only allowed six plants in your county or is that just all you want?

I do believe you can legally hold around thirty plants if you have a card down here. I suggest you pick up some marijuana growing books and have a little bit of study time.

lol, hippies.

Turning it down wasn't easy. The guy who made the offer was well known to the volunteers and regulars who were in attendance. They all said he grew some of the best weed on the coast. He's already agreed to help me with the startup and the amazing thing is he won't take a dime for the clones. I talked to other people who were charging twenty dollars each for the plants.

Honestly, I'm brand new to marijuana and have no idea what it's supposed to cost. I'm hoping to buy all the equipment second-hand. Someone said it can easily cost $1000 for the hydroponics system. If so, it might take a while before I can afford to bring in the clones. Luckily, they have meeting once a month where the doors are closed and all the cardholders bring medicine to sample and take home.

Oregon doesn't differentiate by counties. It's a state reg. IIRC, you can possess up to six mature marijuana plants and 24 ounces of usable marijuana, and 18 marijuana seedlings.