Hundreds of out-of-staters make a pilgrimage to Oregon each year, because it is the only state to issue medical marijuana cards to non-residents.

Some users of medical marijuana go through the effort to acquire an Oregon card because it allows them to use the drug legally when they're in the state. Others hope it provides some legal protection if they're arrested in a state where medical marijuana is outlawed. Many out-of-staters see an Oregon card as important recognition that their use of the drug is legally recognized somewhere in the United States.

Since June 2010, when the state started issuing cards to non-residents, nearly 600 out-of-staters have traveled here to obtain one, according to the Oregon Health Authority, the agency that oversees the state's medical marijuana program. And while it's a small number compared with those issued to Oregonians — 72,000 in-state residents got cards during that period — it's a notable development for medical marijuana advocates and those who rely on the drug for medication.

Read more at OregonLive.com.