Democrats in Oregon will go to the polls to select their candidate for state Attorney General on May 15th, and since Republicans are not putting forth a candidate, whoever wins the Democrat primary will win the job.

And it seems that medical marijuana is becoming an issue in the race.

Former federal prosecutor Dwight Holton has called Oregon’s marijuana law a “train wreck,” and he was the U.S. Attorney for Oregon when federal agents raided marijuana farms that were legal under state law.

His rival, retired Court of Appeals judge Ellen Rosenblum, has staked out a mellower view, saying she’ll make marijuana enforcement a low priority.

She’s hammered Holton over the issue with the help of a political action committee that wants to legalize the drug.

“Mr. Holton is out of step with his own party on this issue,” said Bob Wolfe, director of Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement. “He’s trying to climb the career ladder on the backs of medical marijuana patients, and I don’t find that acceptable.”

Wolfe’s committee was fined last week for allegedly violating initiative laws while gathering signatures for a ballot measure to legalize marijuana. He disputes the allegation.

But both candidates agree that things could be improved.

The tough talk aside, Rosenblum, like Holton, sees deficiencies in the law. She described it as “an adolescent with growing pains.” Rather than a train wreck, it’s “a bumpy ride,” she said, and the law could use a look at improving the way patients get access to their marijuana.

She said she can’t recall if she voted for the 1998 ballot measure that legalized medical marijuana, or for a 2010 initiative funded by pro-marijuana groups that would have allowed marijuana dispensaries.

I find it hard to believe that Rosenblum can’t remember what she voted for, even as recent as a year and a half ago. But beyond that, awareness for the issue of medical marijuana is being advanced, and that is always a good thing. The more talk about cannabis the better, because the truth always wins out in the end.

- Joe Klare