The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act was passed by 55% of Oregon voters in 1998. It became state law embodied at ORS 475.300 - 475.346. This law has been modified by the Oregon Legislature several times. OMMA allows patients who have been qualified by their physician to use medical marijuana legally under state law. The law calls for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to manage a registry system of patients who are exempted from arrest for medical marijuana. DHS has promulgated Administrative rules about the OMMA and manages the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). OMMP maintains an informative OMMP website and can be contacted by phone at 971-673-1278.

To qualify for the OMMA a patient, a person must have been diagnosed with a listed condition and must have and have a doctor who states that marijuana might help. A list of qualifying conditions is at ORS 475.302 (2).   The list includes cancer, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, epilepsy, persistent muscle spasms, multiple sclerosis, and alzheimers disease.  A patient must have a written statement from an Oregon licensed M.D. or D.O. stating that marijuana might mitigate the effects of their condition. This can be the physician signing a form provided by the OMMP program or by the patient providing the OMMP with a signed copy of their medical records where an Oregon physician makes the required statement.

Patients must submit an application on a form provided by the OMMP and pay a $100 fee to register. Low income applicants on either the Oregon Health Plan or SSI qualify for a reduced $20 rate.

Patients who qualify receive a wallet card provided by the OMMP. A copy of a completed application and proof of mailing provides the same legal protections as the actual registration card.

There is no supply system for medical marijuana so patients are expected to produce their own medicine under the OMMA. To assist in this process each patient may designate a caregiver and a grower to assist them in producing and administering their medical marijuana. These people also receive registration cards. A placard is issued which must be placed at the site of the patients’ garden.

Cardholders are exempted from arrest under state law as long as they stay under specified limits, use in private, do not drive impaired from marijuana and do not sell marijuana.