Oregon Public Broadcasting

Medical marijuana users in Oregon would be able to buy their pot at a store if backers of an initiative petition get their way.

Supporters of the proposal turned in more than 60,000 signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State's office Monday.

The petition would allow non-profit marijuana dispensaries to sell pot to the state's 26,000 medical marijuana users.

Right now, patients have to grow their own or designate a caregiver to grow it for them.

John Sajo of the group Voter Power says convenience isn't the only reason to allow dispensaries.

John Sajo:  "Patients will be able to access better quality medicine, medicine that's labeled for strength so they know exactly what they're getting so that doctors will begin to be able to map out treatment plans for patients based on the specific strength of marijuana. That's something that's not even possible now."

California and four other states already have medical marijuana dispensaries. Backers of this petition have until July to collect the remainder of the signatures they need to qualify for the ballot.

A competing initiative would do away with Oregon's medical marijuana program and instead give patients a synthetic alternative to the drug.

On the Web:

Information about Oregon's Medical Marijuana program

Text of Initiative Petition 28

Text of competing Initiative Petition 32