21 October 2015
Doctors will no longer sign for medical cannabis cards
Doctors with PeaceHealth Medical Group will no longer sign forms for medical marijuana according to a statement posted online this week.
That leaves patients who have been using cannabis to manage symptoms and pain in a little bit of limbo as to the future of their treatment.
In the statement, Dr. Robin Virgin, the Primary Care Medical Director for PeaceHealth said it is “important to comply with federal law”. That means doctors who may have previously signed state attending physician’s statements for medical marijuana, will no longer do so.
Virgin apologized for the “inconvenience” caused by the decision.
PeaceHealth did not respond to questions about whether or not the decision would allow doctors to help patients manage their medical marijuana treatments.
Virgin said the group would “be happy to share your medical records” with other providers with your permission.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner Set
Preparations for this year’s annual community Thanksgiving Dinner are already under way. Florence Kiwanis underwrites the expenses and also provides most of the labor; but additional volunteers come together to help prepare, serve and cleanup. Last year nearly 500 people partook of the dinner. It will be served once again at the Elks Lodge on 12th Street.
It’s free and open to anyone.
Donations of non-perishable food will go to Florence Food Share.
Police warn of “rash” of car breakins
At least nine cases of theft from, or illegal entry into a vehicle were reported to Florence police yesterday morning. Eight of those cases were in the area along Rhododendron Drive between Mariner’s Village and North Jetty Road.
Florence Police Lieutenant John Pitcher has some details..
John Pitcher – “We’ve had a rash of car clouts over the past few days. Most of those were unlocked cars.”
Pitcher urges residents to protect their property. Many times thieves will look for an easy opportunity. By simply locking your car door, they’re likely to move on.
Siuslaw School Board to Discuss ALICE
Members of the Siuslaw School District Board of Directors will meet ALICE this evening.
ALICE is the acronym used by authorities to help people react in the event of an armed intruder in a public space… such as a school.
The letters stand for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.
The ALICE method has already been introduced to school staffers and emergency responders.
Now, police and school administrators want to introduce it to students. That’s the purpose of tonight’s special meeting at the School District Office on Oak Street.
They meet at 6:30.
Florence is the place to buy gas
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas in Florence is two cents a gallon less this week than it was last week.
But, at $2.08 a gallon, it’s also $1.49 less than it was this time last year.
Retail prices for gas continue to slide… and the prices in Florence continue to track well below the statewide average. It’s also still below the national average.
Triple-A of Oregon reports the average price in the state at $2.36.
The national average price this week is $2.25.
