Klamath Falls, Ore. – Sky Lakes Medical Center has come out against a ballot measure that would allow retail sales of marijuana in Klamath County.
Sky Lakes President and C.E.O. Paul Stewart agrees that it’s unusual for a medical center to take a stand on a political issue. “The board sees this as a direct threat to improving the health of our community, and has adopted a position formally opposed to that ballot measure,” said Stewart.
Measure 18-105 would overturn a ban on medical and retail sales of marijuana in Klamath County. Stewart said, “We don’t feel that wide spread use of marijuana is good for the community.”
Ilo Ferroggiaro is one of the petitioners behind the ballot measure. Ferroggiaro believes Sky Lakes is overlooking the potential medical benefits of cannabis. He said, “I’ve never seen the hospital publicly take out an article about alcohol, which is a legal intoxicant, and has no medical value at all.”
Marijuana laws differ between the city of Klamath Falls, and the rest of Klamath County. The city of Klamath Falls allows sales of medical marijuana, but not recreational sales.
Klamath County currently has an outright ban on all retail sales.
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