Oregon Will Vote on Marijuana Legalization in November. The initiative made the ballot.

[Comrade Grumpy]

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2014/jul/22/oregon_marijuana_legalization_in

Oregon Marijuana Legalization Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot

by Phillip Smith, July 22, 2014, 04:05pm


The New Approach Oregon marijuana legalization initiative has qualified for the November ballot, the secretary of state's office reported today.

It won't get a measure number until next month.

First word came in an email from New Approach Oregon's Anthony Johnson. When the Chronicle contacted Johnson to confirm the email, he said "I got the call from the secretary of state's office today."

The initiative had needed some 87,000 valid voter signatures to qualify; it handed in about 145,000 a couple of weeks ago.

That means Oregon will join Alaska in voting on marijuana legalization this year. The District of Columbia is also likely to join that list; the cultivation and possession legalization initiative there is awaiting certification after handing in more than twice the number of signatures required to make the ballot.

Colorado and Washington led the way in 2012. Now, at least two more states, and probably DC, have the chance to legalize it this year. And then comes 2016.

[RainDog]

1. Hopefully, another brick in the wall

will be torn down in the next election cycle.

Have you read the legislation? Does it look like this time it will pass?

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Here's what New Approach Oregon says about the initiative:

http://newapproachoregon.com/the-initiative/

The New Approach Initiative
This November we will vote on a measure that will bring a new approach to marijuana policy in Oregon. The measure will:
Safely regulate marijuana sales and possession at all levels.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission will regulate marijuana similar to the system for alcohol, with even more rules:

Allows the OLCC to tightly restrict advertising, including banning advertising in places frequented by youth.

Licenses, regulates, audits and inspects cultivation and distribution.

Marijuana items may not be imported into this state or exported from Oregon.

Bans public use of marijuana and regulates amount that can be purchased.

Legalize use of marijuana for adults 21 and over while protecting youth.

Prohibits minors from buying, selling, manufacturing, possessing or consuming marijuana.

It remains a felony to sell to minors.

Keeps our roads safe by retaining current DUI and driving-while-impaired laws.

Helps medical marijuana patients by improving access to safe, secure, reliable, and quality-controlled marijuana.

Retains drug-free workplace rules, and allows landlords to prohibit marijuana use on their property.

Taxes marijuana to pay for state and local services.Generate millions in tax revenue in the first two years.


Read the full text of the initiative here

[Politicalboi]

6. I hope it passes

But I wish they wouldn't be so controlling over how much one can have and "Retains drug-free workplace rules, and allows landlords to prohibit marijuana use on their property. WTF???? Legal should be LEGAL. What's next, piss tests to rent places.

[LuvNewcastle]

16. I agree. There's too many controls.

And if I rent a place, I should be able to consume legal substances there, whether it's alcohol, mj, or coffee. "Drug-free workplace rules" sounds like they're still going to allow drug tests for jobs. This isn't legalization, it's some sort of halfway measure. If it passes, I certainly hope it's amended.

[LWolf]

25. I can't drink at work.

For good reason.

[bloomington-lib]

31. Yeah, but THC remains in the blood for weeks. Could you imagine alcohol was like that and you were

fired for drinking a beer over the weekend?

[LWolf]

32. That would be tough.

Given my job, I don't think that, outside of a medical reason, I could ever take advantage of legality if blood tests were required. I'll be voting "yes" anyway.

I'm a teacher.

[me b zola]

26. I agree

Washington state has over regulated (but then again they & Oregon over regulate alcohol) and the prices are sky high and they are not going to make near the tax revenue that Colorado is producing from the sales of cannabis.

FFS, its an herb that grows wild. Washington is treating it like a freaking narcotic, tracking each seed to bud to sale. Ack, way to make it stupid.

[davidpdx]

36. That was one of the reasons I voted against it in 2012

I have no idea what the difference in wording is this time around, but the last one seemed poorly worded overall. This time I think the legalization in Washington and Colorado will help it pass. I am generally in favor of marijuana legalization and voted for the medicinal marijuana measure several years ago. I haven't heard enough yet to know for sure how I will vote as I'm overseas and am not able to read and hear every bit of information on it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

39. Is smoking prohibited in the proposal?

Here in the NE, there was a wave a few years ago of landlords banning all smoking on/within their properties. This hit the courts and one after another found for the property owners. It wasn't about legality, it was about damage - fires, smoke in the carpets and drywall, etc...

NY just voted for MMJ, but smoking dry herb was specifically blocked (stigma, I reckon).

If the Oregon proposal doesn't block smoking raw flowers, I can (sorta) see the logic. Sorta.

Perhaps it was placating those who argued some "tenant fucks up while all 'potted up on weed' and I'll be sued" argument.

[Scuba]

19. I didn't see a single advertisement in Colorado when I was there ....

... unless you count the sign on the door to the shops.


I don't think anyone needed to spend any dough on ads to support their sales.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Will it pass this time? Yes, I think so.

It has consistently polled in the upper 50s. That's not great, but it's pretty good. You count on losing a few points once the opposition starts up.

It will be well-bankrolled, unlike Paul Stanford's effort in 2012. The big money people have already been putting big money in, and they will continue to do so. That means plenty of money for those critical campaign ads.

We already have the examples of Washington and Oregon, where the sky has not fallen. New Approach Oregon has a photo of Vancouver, WA, just across the river from Portland. Underneath one copy of the photo, it has a date before pot went on sale in Washington. Underneath another copy of the photo, it has a date after pot went on sale in Washington. Nothing changed.

Alaska has also qualified for the ballot and will probably win.

DC is waiting to qualify, which it should easily do (they handed in more than twice the number of required signatures), and it should win there, too.

[msongs]

4. fake legalization. the government becomes the dealer and cartels will undercut nt

[Bandit]

5. The Government licenses the dealer and the cartel will be sol.

Why would anyone risk selling pot when people can aquire it legally? I certainly would not want to be involved with a "cartel" or even common criminal if I could accomplish the same thing legally.

[me b zola]

29. Because the price in WA state is more than double what we buy now

~from our neighborhood farmer.

They are over regulating and actually tracking each and every freaking seed that produces bud. WA has it wrong, Colorado has it right.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. Wow. Aren't you a ray of sunshine.

The initiative would allow the government to tax and regulate legal marijuana commerce, you know, like alcohol.

The government does not become "the dealer."

It remains to be seen what will happen with the black market.

I would personally prefer that marijuana be regulated like tomatoes, but that doesn't seem to fly with people who aren't pot smokers. Also known as most voters.

[LWolf]

27. And I'd like to see a bit more regulation for tomatoes

and all produce. Not much. At the least, more detailed labeling.

I'd like regulation that encouraged organic growing and local distribution. Not mandated, but encouraged.

[IronLionZion]

9. Colorado alone has cut so deep into cartel profits

that they have already ramped down much of their mexican grow operations or switched to other crops. Its very expensive to smuggle pot into the US. Cartels are fucked on this issue.

[RainDog]

20. I saw a video about Uruguay's legalization

The big reason younger voters were in favor is because the most prevalent sort of cannabis in their country is brick weed from cartel grows. They want better marijuana.

So, whether state-ownership is the best thing or not - a person can also grow six plants at a time - the reality is that people prefer a product that does not come from cartels when given a choice.

This, by itself, will undercut cartels around the world.

[jeff47]

11. Yes, that's why people buy their alcohol from cartels

in states with state-run liquor stores.

Oh wait, that doesn't happen.

[Politicalboi]

8. More rules and regulations than guns or booze

Makes us pot smokes second class citizens because we prefer not to puke our guts up and dry our insides out like alcohol does. And mostly to protect "The Children". Oh how I hate that shit. But little Johnny can own a gun, but not weed.

[LordGlenconner]

13. Life's unfair

I'm old enough to remember when the prospect of legalization in any state was a fantasy. You're never going to get a perfect bill. Progress is progress, however.

[RainDog]

21. This nation is still dealing with the reefer madness they created

So they are erring on the side of caution to show that cannabis can be part of culture as a legal substance. I would assume, as time goes by, many of these regulations will change or be ignored, like blue laws.

[bravenak]

41. Thinking about you this Holiday.

We got MJ passed here, I know you would like that.
I have been writing more, like you said. It feels good to write stuff.
I know you can't answer, but i wanted to say hey anyway. The holidays are depressing... But we manage to make it through.

[Uncle Joe]

10. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Comrade Grumpy.

[CanonRay]

12. I believe it will pass here.

[passiveporcupine]

14. K&R keeping my fingers crossed

I don't use it, but think it is criminal to criminalize it.

[iandhr]

15. if memory serves

This failed in 2012. Why will this be different.

[Arugula Latte]

23. I think this one is worded differently ...

also, people might see the examples of Colorado and our neighbor Washington as inspiration. Who knows, though.

[LWolf]

28. That's the spirit.

If at first you don't succeed, give up for another generation.

[iandhr]

30. I didn't say this was a bad idea. I support it.

I was wondering if the supporters had a new strategy this time around since it failed last time.

[Bluenorthwest]

33. It's not the same bill. Voters rejected that bill on details, not on the larger question.

This is a better bill. Most people who support legalization will vote for it. That last one sucked, and was voted down by supporters of legalization.

[iandhr]

35. Got it

[americannightmare]

17. Good! As it should be!

As long as far more addictive drugs, such as alcohol and cigarettes, are legal, it will continue to be a sick joke that marijuana is illegal.

[Arugula Latte]

22. I'm voting "yes" in the fall.

I have teens and I'm not a toker (sometimes I'm a midnight joker, though) but I think illegal pot is ridiculous and has been a massive disaster on many levels.

[WovenGems]

24. What?

No mention of corporate farms this time? Good thing, as that made many go WTF on the last try.

[davidpdx]

40. Yeah, that was a big issue

and one reason why they tried to pass a measure that had no limits on it. I voted against that one, but am more likely to vote for this one depending on the wording.

[Blue_In_AK]

34. Good luck to Oregon!

[Dr Hobbitstein]

37. Good news for Oregon!

FL is poised to legalize MMJ this November. A surprising giant step in my home state.

[Ruby the Liberal]

38. Congrats Oregon!

K&R