Bend Gets First Medical Cannabis Club

BEND, Ore. -- A new club opening in northeast Bend on Wednesday, Dec. 8 aims to provide a secure location and safe access to medical cannabis for Oregon Medical Marijuana Program cardholders in Central Oregon.

There are six other similar clubs in Oregon.

“The Central Oregon Alternative Therapy Club, LLC (COAT) is a collective of patients and their primary caregivers who cultivate, exchange and use marijuana as medicine,” says Christopher Smith, manager of the club.

Smith said he has been a successful entrepreneur for more than 10 years and served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Registered cardholders simply follow Oregon State Law, which allows for the transfer of medical cannabis from cardholder to cardholder.

“Budtenders” are registered cardholders who transfer the medicine in exchange for a donation. There is also a monthly membership fee.

Delivery service in Bend, and to La Pine and Redmond, will also be available to pre-qualified members.

COAT is a smoke-free environment and club members will abide by a strict set of rules.

Some of the regulations include: no entry without a valid OMMP card; no loitering; no persons under the age of 18; members agree not to sell or attempt to sell any medical cannabis acquired by donation from COAT and they must agree to uphold the restrictions on amounts of medical cannabis in their possession according to Oregon medical marijuana laws.

Medical marijuana was legalized in Oregon in 1998. Medical marijuana is legal in fourteen other states and the District of Columbia. Arizona legalized medical marijuana in November this year.

COAT is located at 2600 NE Division Street, Suite, 101 at Cottage Square in Bend.

For more information, visit the Website at: http://www.centraloregonalternativetherapy.com. or call 541-647-2308. Hours are Monday – Saturday noon to 6 pm and Sundays noon to 4 pm.