The Department of Human Services (DHS) office in Eugene, Oregon, originally accepted a food donation by the Women Leaders in Cannabis (WLC) for needy families on Thanksgiving, but changed its mind and refused the food for the poor because of the cannabis connection (video below).

"We discussed in detail [with the DHS office in Eugene] how we would make it happen,” Lindsey Jacobsen, the executive director of WLC, told KATU. “And a few days later we got a phone call back stating that they wouldn't be able to work with us due to too much time being spent on it."

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"It's disheartening,” Jacobsen added. “We have lives just like everybody else, families, jobs. We're just happy to be able to give back now that we have the opportunity to."

Gene Evans, a DHS spokesman, told the TV station that it was the decision of the office, not the state or the agency itself, but it's not clear why the state allowed the local office to refuse food for the hungry.

Evans stated in an email: "Their decision not to accept the donations was based on discomfort with the connection of a marijuana organization to DHS human services … The Eugene office felt that baskets sponsored by this organization could create the impression that we endorsed cannabis."

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While the DHS office contemplates its tender feelings about where food for hungry should come from, Eugene has a serious homeless problem.

The Register-Guard reported in September about the many homeless and mentally ill who live in downtown Eugene, which has been causing division among residents.

As far as the Thanksgiving food, KindTree Autism Rocks, a charity, accepted WLC's donation baskets, reports KMTR.

KindTree Autism Rocks had no problem with WLC being connected to cannabis, and was eager to get the food to needy members of the community.

Sources: KATU, The Register-Guard, KMTR / Photo Credit: KATU Screenshot